Indians are increasingly investing abroad, driving a record surge in remittances under the Reserve Bank of India’s Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS). Between January and September 2025, investments in overseas real estate and global equities crossed $2 billion, marking a 55% increase over the same period in 2024.
LRS Investments Surge
RBI data shows that Indian investors directed $350 million into overseas real estate, an 80% jump from last year, while investments in equity and debt instruments abroad rose more than 50% to $1.68 billion. Analysts attribute this shift to growing financial awareness, easier access to global markets, and a desire for portfolio diversification.
Diversification and Financial Awareness Drive Growth
Rahul Jain, President & Head of Nuvama Wealth, says, “Financialisation is accelerating in India. Investors now prefer to allocate a portion of their portfolio overseas to diversify. Earlier, investments were concentrated in domestic real estate; now even small allocations abroad are becoming common.”
Weaker domestic equity returns over the past year have also pushed investors toward international markets. Niteen Dongare, CEO & Head-GIFT City, IFSC, noted, “Muted returns in Indian equity markets over the last year prompted many to explore global opportunities. Technology and fintech platforms now make investing abroad as simple as buying local stocks.”
Digital Platforms and GIFT City Enable Global Investing
Fintech platforms and international brokerages have simplified access to foreign equities and ETFs, allowing investors to buy shares in companies like Apple with ease. Additionally, GIFT City in Gujarat has emerged as a key hub for offshore investments. Products such as NSE IFSC Receipts, global access trading accounts, and overseas mutual funds provide attractive returns for high-net-worth investors, often yielding 12–13%.
Dubai Leads in Overseas Real Estate
Dubai remains the top destination for Indian property buyers, thanks to its proximity, strong connectivity, familiar lifestyle, and a growing presence of Indian developers. Rahul Jain explained, “Mumbai to Dubai is just a two-hour flight, making it very convenient. Even Tier-2 cities are well connected, adding to its appeal.”
Education-driven migration and residency-linked investment programs, such as the US EB-5 visa and Golden Visa schemes, are further boosting LRS outflows. Families often align overseas investments with long-term priorities, including international education and potential settlement abroad.
With global aspirations rising and access to foreign markets expanding, wealth managers expect LRS-based overseas investments to maintain strong growth momentum in 2026.