This is the most common repatriation case — you have rupees in your NRO account (rent, dividends, pension, interest) and want to wire them back to your foreign bank. Two forms, one CA, ~10 days end to end. Total cost typically ₹4-8K (CA + bank fees combined).
The 4-step process
Check the $1M cap
You can repatriate up to USD 1 million per financial year from NRO accounts (Apr-Mar). This is your TOTAL across all NRO accounts at all banks combined, not per account.
Hire a CA → get Form 15CB
Form 15CB is a Chartered Accountant's certificate confirming taxes are paid on the funds you want to remit. Required for any single remittance above ₹5 lakh in a financial year. Typical CA fee: ₹3,000-5,000. Takes 1-3 working days once you share documents.
File Form 15CA online
You (or your CA) file Form 15CA on the Income Tax Portal — it's your self-declaration of the remittance details. 15CA Part C applies when 15CB is required. The acknowledgment is generated immediately and submitted to the bank.
Submit to bank → wire goes out
Walk into your NRO bank branch (or upload via online banking — only IDFC First and some HDFC branches support fully online repatriation today). Submit signed Form A2 + 15CA acknowledgment + 15CB. Bank typically wires within 3-7 working days. Bank fees: ₹1,000-3,000 + SWIFT charges.
What triggers extra scrutiny
- Remittances above $25K in one shot often get an RBI / FEMA officer review at the bank — adds 5-10 days
- Property sale proceeds — bank wants the sale deed + TDS challan + capital gains statement (handled differently — see property sale guide)
- Mismatch between PAN-Aadhaar — both must be linked and active before you start. Check at incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal
- Inherited money needs the probate / succession certificate first (see inheritance guide)
- NRO account that hasn't been redesignated from prior resident status — bank will pause until KYC is fully NRI-current
Where it goes wrong (common stuck cases)
- Old TDS not credited: If your tenant's TDS deduction wasn't filed correctly, your 26AS won't show it — CA can't issue 15CB. Fix by chasing the tenant first.
- NRO with resident-mode KYC: Account opened as resident long ago, you became NRI but never updated. Bank flags the mismatch at repatriation. Fix: file NRI redesignation forms BEFORE attempting repatriation.
- Form 15CB rejected by IT Portal: Usually a PAN mismatch or expired digital signature on CA's end. CA re-files within 1-2 days.
What it actually costs
- CA fee for 15CB: ₹3,000-5,000 (varies by city + relationship)
- Bank repatriation charge: ₹1,000-3,000 (HDFC charges most, IDFC First / Federal cheapest)
- SWIFT wire charge: $15-25 equivalent in INR
- FX spread on the conversion: 0.5-1% of remitted amount (depends on bank)
- Total typical cost: ₹5,000-10,000 on a $10K wire