Banking
India — Banking: Required Documents
Opening an NRI/foreigner bank account in India requires a valid passport, visa/work permit/residence permit, overseas address proof (utility bill or bank statement), passport-sized photographs, and — for NRO accounts specifically — a PAN card. Documents are usually submitted as self-attested copies; banks either require notarization/embassy attestation for documents couriered from abroad, or accept in-person verification at an Indian branch. No document notarization or courier is needed if the applicant visits a branch in India directly.
VerifiedGovernment / official sourceIDFC FIRST Bank / Reserve Bank of India KYC normsLast reviewed: 2026-07-20
Key facts
- Core documents: passport, visa/work/residence permit, overseas address proof, photographs.
- PAN card is mandatory specifically for NRO accounts (India-sourced income accounts), though not always for NRE.
- Documents submitted from abroad typically need notarization or embassy attestation; in-person branch verification in India avoids this requirement.
- Self-attested copies are standard practice for most identity/address documents.
Required documents
- Valid passport (self-attested copy)
- Visa/work permit/residence permit
- PAN card (mandatory for NRO)
- Overseas address proof (utility bill/bank statement)
- Passport-sized photographs
Common mistakes
- Sending unattested document copies from abroad — most banks require notarization or embassy attestation for remote applications.
- Forgetting to apply for a PAN card in advance when opening an NRO account, which delays account activation.