Mutual Funds in India are gaining immense popularity since the past few years. It is a great way to grow your money in the long run. Non-Indian Residents (NRIs) who are planning to invest in Mutual Funds in India, you are at the right place to know the details on investment options in India. NRIs based in the US and Canada, there are some fund houses in India that allow you to invest in Mutual Funds in India. Non-US-and-Canada based NRIs can invest in across Asset Management Companies in India. Let's understand the KYC procedure to begin your Mutual Fund investments in India, Taxation for NRIs along with the Best Performing Mutual Funds schemes to invest 2025 - 2026.
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To invest in Mutual Funds in India one is supposed to open any of the following accounts with an Indian Bank:
This is Non-Resident External (NRE) account which can be in the form of savings, current, fixed or Recurring deposit. You need to deposit the foreign currency in this account. To be able to deposit Indian currency, you must open NRO account. There is no upper limit on the transaction amount in an NRE account.
The NRO or Non-Resident Ordinary account is in the form of savings or current account that is meant for NRIs to manage their Income earned in India. In NRO account, foreign currency gets converted into Indian rupees after it gets deposited. An NRO account can be held jointly with another NRI as well as resident Indian (close relatives).
This stands for Foreign Currency Non-Repatriable account deposits. In this account, NRIs can remit their Earnings in one of the six currencies such as Canadian $, US$, Euro, AU$, Yen, and Pound. Funds can be transferred from other FCNR or NRE accounts. In FCNR, the principal and interest don’t accrue any tax.
Once you open any of these accounts, you need successfully complete your KYC (Know Your Customer), under KYC norms, which is set by SEBI (Securities Exchange Board of India). One can complete their KYC with any of the SEBI-registered intermediates.
NRIs based in the USA and Canada would be able to invest in only some of the Mutual Fund Houses in India. Many AMCs in India are yet to allow investments from NRIs based in USA or Canada. This is due to the complex compliance requirements under Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). Under FATCA, all the financial entities like mutual fund houses, Insurance companies, banks are supposed to furnish their client information to the Government of India that will further be shared with the US/Canadian Government.
Since the time FATCA have come into place, many AMCs have stopped accepting investments from NRIs based in the US and Canada as it involved a lot of paperwork and compliance on the part of AMCs.
These are the list of the following AMCs that accept investments from US/Canada based NRIs:
Each of these AMC has a different condition to accept investments from US or Canada based NRIs. Some of the fund houses amongst these accept investments only in paper application forms, whereas a few may accept online application through NSE NMFII or BSE STARMF platform etc.
Following are some of the best performing schemes from the above mentioned fund houses that accept NRI investments from US & Canada:
Fund 3 MO (%) 6 MO (%) 1 YR (%) 3 YR (%) 5 YR (%) 2024 (%) Sub Cat. UTI Healthcare Fund Growth 7.3 12.9 4.8 26.9 17.6 42.9 Sectoral UTI Transportation & Logistics Fund Growth 16.5 29 6.2 23.6 26.7 18.7 Sectoral Sundaram Mid Cap Fund Growth 6 17.4 0.6 23 26.2 32 Mid Cap Sundaram Infrastructure Advantage Fund Growth 3.9 16.1 -0.7 21.6 26.9 23.8 Sectoral Sundaram Global Advantage Fund Growth 10.9 15.7 23.4 21.3 13.9 13.1 Global UTI Core Equity Fund Growth 2.8 12.1 -1.2 21.1 24.9 27.2 Large & Mid Cap UTI Dividend Yield Fund Growth 3.8 11.2 -3 20.9 21.5 24.7 Dividend Yield Sundaram Small Cap Fund Growth 4.9 20.1 -1.6 20.8 27.1 19.1 Small Cap UTI Multi Asset Fund Growth 3.7 9.9 3.7 19.5 15.8 20.7 Multi Asset UTI Infrastructure Fund Growth 1.6 10.9 -5.1 19.4 25.7 18.5 Sectoral Note: Returns up to 1 year are on absolute basis & more than 1 year are on CAGR basis. as on 19 Sep 25 Research Highlights & Commentary of 10 Funds showcased
Commentary UTI Healthcare Fund UTI Transportation & Logistics Fund Sundaram Mid Cap Fund Sundaram Infrastructure Advantage Fund Sundaram Global Advantage Fund UTI Core Equity Fund UTI Dividend Yield Fund Sundaram Small Cap Fund UTI Multi Asset Fund UTI Infrastructure Fund Point 1 Bottom quartile AUM (₹1,119 Cr). Upper mid AUM (₹3,741 Cr). Highest AUM (₹12,501 Cr). Bottom quartile AUM (₹935 Cr). Bottom quartile AUM (₹130 Cr). Upper mid AUM (₹4,861 Cr). Upper mid AUM (₹3,794 Cr). Lower mid AUM (₹3,282 Cr). Top quartile AUM (₹5,941 Cr). Lower mid AUM (₹2,108 Cr). Point 2 Oldest track record among peers (26 yrs). Established history (21+ yrs). Established history (23+ yrs). Established history (19+ yrs). Established history (18+ yrs). Established history (16+ yrs). Established history (20+ yrs). Established history (20+ yrs). Established history (16+ yrs). Established history (21+ yrs). Point 3 Rating: 1★ (lower mid). Rating: 3★ (top quartile). Top rated. Not Rated. Rating: 2★ (lower mid). Rating: 3★ (upper mid). Rating: 1★ (bottom quartile). Rating: 3★ (upper mid). Rating: 1★ (bottom quartile). Rating: 3★ (upper mid). Point 4 Risk profile: High. Risk profile: High. Risk profile: Moderately High. Risk profile: High. Risk profile: High. Risk profile: Moderately High. Risk profile: Moderately High. Risk profile: Moderately High. Risk profile: Moderately High. Risk profile: High. Point 5 5Y return: 17.60% (bottom quartile). 5Y return: 26.65% (upper mid). 5Y return: 26.20% (upper mid). 5Y return: 26.88% (top quartile). 5Y return: 13.91% (bottom quartile). 5Y return: 24.91% (lower mid). 5Y return: 21.50% (lower mid). 5Y return: 27.14% (top quartile). 5Y return: 15.85% (bottom quartile). 5Y return: 25.69% (upper mid). Point 6 3Y return: 26.89% (top quartile). 3Y return: 23.65% (top quartile). 3Y return: 23.03% (upper mid). 3Y return: 21.61% (upper mid). 3Y return: 21.30% (upper mid). 3Y return: 21.11% (lower mid). 3Y return: 20.94% (lower mid). 3Y return: 20.77% (bottom quartile). 3Y return: 19.50% (bottom quartile). 3Y return: 19.37% (bottom quartile). Point 7 1Y return: 4.81% (upper mid). 1Y return: 6.20% (top quartile). 1Y return: 0.65% (upper mid). 1Y return: -0.71% (lower mid). 1Y return: 23.40% (top quartile). 1Y return: -1.21% (lower mid). 1Y return: -2.98% (bottom quartile). 1Y return: -1.57% (bottom quartile). 1Y return: 3.66% (upper mid). 1Y return: -5.14% (bottom quartile). Point 8 Alpha: 0.79 (upper mid). Alpha: 0.00 (upper mid). Alpha: 2.99 (top quartile). Alpha: 0.29 (upper mid). Alpha: 0.00 (lower mid). Alpha: -2.00 (bottom quartile). Alpha: -4.47 (bottom quartile). Alpha: 0.97 (top quartile). 1M return: 2.31% (upper mid). Alpha: -5.39 (bottom quartile). Point 9 Sharpe: -0.15 (top quartile). Sharpe: -0.33 (upper mid). Sharpe: -0.33 (upper mid). Sharpe: -0.48 (lower mid). Sharpe: 0.81 (top quartile). Sharpe: -0.69 (bottom quartile). Sharpe: -0.93 (bottom quartile). Sharpe: -0.47 (upper mid). Alpha: 0.00 (lower mid). Sharpe: -0.84 (bottom quartile). Point 10 Information ratio: 0.10 (upper mid). Information ratio: 0.00 (upper mid). Information ratio: 0.22 (upper mid). Information ratio: -0.07 (bottom quartile). Information ratio: 0.00 (lower mid). Information ratio: 0.89 (top quartile). Information ratio: 0.84 (top quartile). Information ratio: -0.47 (bottom quartile). Sharpe: -0.52 (lower mid). Information ratio: -0.46 (bottom quartile). UTI Healthcare Fund
UTI Transportation & Logistics Fund
Sundaram Mid Cap Fund
Sundaram Infrastructure Advantage Fund
Sundaram Global Advantage Fund
UTI Core Equity Fund
UTI Dividend Yield Fund
Sundaram Small Cap Fund
UTI Multi Asset Fund
UTI Infrastructure Fund
In case of Non Residents from other countries, i.e. other than based in US or Canada, the Investing procedure is quite simplified. You can invest in any of the mutual fund houses in India. To ease your investments, we have shortlisted some of the best performing mutual fund schemes that you can prefer investing in.
Fund 3 MO (%) 6 MO (%) 1 YR (%) 3 YR (%) 5 YR (%) 2024 (%) Sub Cat. Franklin India Short Term Income Plan - Retail Plan Growth 192.1 192.1 192.1 47.3 32.5 Short term Bond DSP World Gold Fund Growth 26.2 51.2 78.7 46.3 12.7 15.9 Global SBI PSU Fund Growth 3 12 0.4 29.7 31.1 23.5 Sectoral Franklin India Opportunities Fund Growth 5.9 18.5 1.4 29.4 28.8 37.3 Sectoral Invesco India PSU Equity Fund Growth 2.4 17.3 0.9 29.3 28.7 25.6 Sectoral SBI Gold Fund Growth 10.2 23.1 46.4 29 14.9 19.6 Gold IDBI Gold Fund Growth 10.5 22.6 47.5 28.8 15.1 18.7 Gold ICICI Prudential Regular Gold Savings Fund Growth 10.1 22.9 46.4 28.8 14.7 19.5 Gold Nippon India Gold Savings Fund Growth 10.2 22.7 46.3 28.7 14.6 19 Gold HDFC Gold Fund Growth 10.2 23.1 46.2 28.7 14.7 18.9 Gold Note: Returns up to 1 year are on absolute basis & more than 1 year are on CAGR basis. as on 2 May 25 Research Highlights & Commentary of 10 Funds showcased
Commentary Franklin India Short Term Income Plan - Retail Plan DSP World Gold Fund SBI PSU Fund Franklin India Opportunities Fund Invesco India PSU Equity Fund SBI Gold Fund IDBI Gold Fund ICICI Prudential Regular Gold Savings Fund Nippon India Gold Savings Fund HDFC Gold Fund Point 1 Bottom quartile AUM (₹13 Cr). Lower mid AUM (₹1,421 Cr). Upper mid AUM (₹5,179 Cr). Highest AUM (₹7,509 Cr). Bottom quartile AUM (₹1,341 Cr). Top quartile AUM (₹5,221 Cr). Bottom quartile AUM (₹254 Cr). Lower mid AUM (₹2,603 Cr). Upper mid AUM (₹3,439 Cr). Upper mid AUM (₹4,915 Cr). Point 2 Established history (23+ yrs). Established history (18+ yrs). Established history (15+ yrs). Oldest track record among peers (25 yrs). Established history (15+ yrs). Established history (14+ yrs). Established history (13+ yrs). Established history (13+ yrs). Established history (14+ yrs). Established history (13+ yrs). Point 3 Rating: 2★ (upper mid). Top rated. Rating: 2★ (upper mid). Rating: 3★ (top quartile). Rating: 3★ (upper mid). Rating: 2★ (lower mid). Not Rated. Rating: 1★ (bottom quartile). Rating: 2★ (lower mid). Rating: 1★ (bottom quartile). Point 4 Risk profile: Moderate. Risk profile: High. Risk profile: High. Risk profile: Moderately High. Risk profile: High. Risk profile: Moderately High. Risk profile: Moderately High. Risk profile: Moderately High. Risk profile: Moderately High. Risk profile: Moderately High. Point 5 1Y return: 192.10% (top quartile). 5Y return: 12.66% (bottom quartile). 5Y return: 31.11% (top quartile). 5Y return: 28.77% (upper mid). 5Y return: 28.71% (upper mid). 5Y return: 14.91% (lower mid). 5Y return: 15.13% (upper mid). 5Y return: 14.75% (lower mid). 5Y return: 14.61% (bottom quartile). 5Y return: 14.74% (bottom quartile). Point 6 1M return: 192.10% (top quartile). 3Y return: 46.30% (top quartile). 3Y return: 29.70% (upper mid). 3Y return: 29.38% (upper mid). 3Y return: 29.26% (upper mid). 3Y return: 28.99% (lower mid). 3Y return: 28.81% (lower mid). 3Y return: 28.81% (bottom quartile). 3Y return: 28.74% (bottom quartile). 3Y return: 28.74% (bottom quartile). Point 7 Sharpe: -90.89 (bottom quartile). 1Y return: 78.68% (top quartile). 1Y return: 0.37% (bottom quartile). 1Y return: 1.36% (bottom quartile). 1Y return: 0.88% (bottom quartile). 1Y return: 46.45% (upper mid). 1Y return: 47.49% (upper mid). 1Y return: 46.40% (upper mid). 1Y return: 46.26% (lower mid). 1Y return: 46.20% (lower mid). Point 8 Information ratio: -2.42 (bottom quartile). Alpha: 3.15 (top quartile). Alpha: -0.35 (bottom quartile). Alpha: 2.40 (upper mid). Alpha: 5.81 (top quartile). 1M return: 10.85% (upper mid). 1M return: 10.27% (lower mid). 1M return: 10.84% (upper mid). 1M return: 10.87% (upper mid). 1M return: 10.79% (lower mid). Point 9 Yield to maturity (debt): 0.00% (top quartile). Sharpe: 1.80 (lower mid). Sharpe: -0.81 (bottom quartile). Sharpe: -0.43 (lower mid). Sharpe: -0.58 (bottom quartile). Alpha: 0.00 (upper mid). Alpha: 0.00 (upper mid). Alpha: 0.00 (lower mid). Alpha: 0.00 (lower mid). Alpha: 0.00 (bottom quartile). Point 10 Modified duration: 0.00 yrs (top quartile). Information ratio: -1.09 (bottom quartile). Information ratio: -0.37 (lower mid). Information ratio: 1.75 (top quartile). Information ratio: -0.46 (bottom quartile). Sharpe: 2.58 (top quartile). Sharpe: 2.38 (upper mid). Sharpe: 2.55 (top quartile). Sharpe: 2.52 (upper mid). Sharpe: 2.55 (upper mid). Franklin India Short Term Income Plan - Retail Plan
DSP World Gold Fund
SBI PSU Fund
Franklin India Opportunities Fund
Invesco India PSU Equity Fund
SBI Gold Fund
IDBI Gold Fund
ICICI Prudential Regular Gold Savings Fund
Nippon India Gold Savings Fund
HDFC Gold Fund
Parameters | NRE Account | NRO Account | FCNR Account |
---|---|---|---|
Purpose | NRE is an account of an NRI to transfer foreign earnings to India | NRE is an account of an NRI to transfer foreign earnings to India | NRIs can remit their earnings in one of the six currencies such as Canadian $, US$, Euro, AU$, Yen, and Pound |
Current account & Savings Account | Yes | Yes | No, these are FD accounts |
Joint Account with NRI | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Joint Account with Resident Indian | Yes, with close relatives only | Yes | Yes, with close relatives only |
Income generated in India can be held? | No | Yes | No |
Funds can be transferred to any Bank in India? | Yes | Yes | No |
Repatriation | Yes | No. Only interest income generated from deposits can be repatriated | Yes |
When settled back in in India permanently | Account gets converted to resident account | Account gets converted to resident account | Account gets converted to resident account |
To successfully complete your KYC procedure, NRIs need to complete certain important steps and furnish documents like:
An NRI needs to submit the KYC Form with all the necessary details filled to the SEBI registered intermediate. The documents can be sent by courier/post to the intermediate.
Following are the necessary documents that need to be submitted:
In case of NRIs in the Merchant Navy, a mariner’s declaration or certified copy of Continuous Discharge Certificate must be submitted.
NRIs or PIOs (Person of India Origin) can get the above documents attested by the authorised officials of overseas branches of scheduled commercial banks registered in India, judge, court magistrate, public notaries, or the Indian embassy/consulate general in the country that they are located.
As per SEBI rules, IPV is mandatory for KYC process. The intermediate should conduct the IPV of NRIs/PIOs.
Please note that all the above documents/proofs while submitting should be in the English language.
Capital Gains Tax Rates on NRI Mutual Fund Investments for the Financial Year 2017-18 (Assessment Year 2018-19) are as below:
Gains | Equity Linked Funds | Debt Linked Funds |
---|---|---|
Tax on Short Term Capital Gain | 15% | As per Tax Slabs of NRI |
Tax on Long Term Capital Gain (with Indexation) | NIL | 20% |
Tax on Long Term Capital Gain (without Indexation) | NIL | 10% |
STCG & TDS Rate | 15% | 30% |
LTCG & TDS Rate | Nil | 30% On listed funds- 20% (with indexation), unlisted funds- 10% (without indexation) |