Invest in US Stocks from India
Invest directly in US stocks. Open US investment accounts through Indian platforms using the RBI Liberalised Remittance Scheme.
*On platforms/accounts that support fractional shares; SIPC coverage applies through the underlying US broker, not through LRS itself. See comparison table for platform-by-platform details.
Simple LRS Remittance
Fund directly from Indian bank accounts.
Fractional Investing
From $1 on platforms that support it.
Indian Tax Reports
Simplifies Schedule FA and capital gains reporting.
SIPC Coverage
Eligible accounts protected up to $500,000, subject to SIPC rules.
Last updated: July 2026
Leading LRS Platforms
NEO-BROKERS & BANK PLATFORMS
★ Ratings are editorial opinions based on pricing, fractional access, tax-reporting quality, ease of use, and overall investor experience — not paid placements.
Looking for a direct international broker instead of a routed platform? See our Interactive Brokers & Charles Schwab comparison guide.
Platform Comparison
| Platform | Clearing Partner | Fractional | Tax Reports | Fees | Best For | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INDmoney | DriveWealth / Alpaca* | ✓ | ✓ | Zero account opening | Net worth tracking, beginners | |
| Vested Finance | DriveWealth / Alpaca* | ✓ | ✓ | Standard | Thematic portfolios | |
| ICICI Direct Global | Interactive Brokers (white-label) | Limited | ✓ | Bank-tier | Existing ICICI customers | |
| HDFC GlobalInvesting | Stockal (DriveWealth) | Limited | ✓ | Bank-tier | Existing HDFC customers |
"Limited" means fractional-share support is inconsistent, account-tier dependent, or not confirmed at the time of writing — check directly with the platform.
*New accounts on INDmoney and Vested are increasingly onboarded onto Alpaca Securities; some existing accounts remain on DriveWealth. Confirm which broker holds your specific account.
Fees and clearing arrangements change frequently — always confirm current terms directly with the platform before opening an account.
We may earn a commission if you open an account through a partner link on this page. Our rankings and ratings remain editorially independent of any commercial arrangement.
US stocks held directly may attract up to 40% US estate tax for non-resident aliens, above a $60,000 exemption, upon death.
Irish-domiciled UCITS ETFs generally avoid this exposure, since investors own units in the Irish fund rather than the underlying US securities directly — worth considering for investors building a large US-stock corpus.
Read Guide →References
- RBI — Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) master direction
- FEMA — Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999
- US SEC — Securities and Exchange Commission investor disclosures
- SIPC — Securities Investor Protection Corporation coverage rules
- IRS — US estate and gift tax for nonresidents (Form 706-NA)
Links point to official government/regulator resources — verify against the latest version, as these pages update periodically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Resident Indians can invest in US stocks and ETFs through platforms like INDmoney, Vested, or bank-led offerings, funded via remittances under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme.
The Liberalised Remittance Scheme is an RBI framework that allows resident individuals to remit up to $250,000 per financial year abroad for permitted purposes, including investing in foreign securities.
No separate approval is needed for remittances within the LRS limit for permitted investment purposes — this falls under FEMA's general permission. You do need to complete standard KYC and remittance documentation with your bank.
Yes — most LRS platforms support US-listed ETFs alongside individual stocks, since both trade on the same US exchanges through the same clearing partners.
Yes, most neo-broker platforms in this list support fractional investing, letting you buy a slice of a high-priced stock for as little as $1. Bank-led platforms are more likely to require whole shares — check the comparison table above.
US-situated assets held directly by non-resident aliens are subject to US estate tax of up to 40% above a $60,000 exemption. Investors with a large US-stock corpus often use Irish-domiciled UCITS ETFs or other structures to avoid this exposure.
Among current options, INDmoney tends to be one of the lower-cost entry points, with zero account-opening fees and competitive trading costs. Bank-led platforms like ICICI and HDFC typically carry higher fees in exchange for an integrated banking experience. Fees and FX spreads change over time, so compare current terms before opening an account.
This depends on the underlying US clearing partner. Some platforms support an ACATS transfer to move holdings directly to another US brokerage without selling, while others require you to liquidate and re-invest. Confirm with the platform before assuming a transfer is possible.