Disclaimer: Everything shared here is based entirely on my personal experience as an Indian who moved to Germany. I am not a financial advisor, tax consultant, or banking professional. Please treat this as a helpful starting point — always verify the exact requirements directly with your bank or a qualified advisor before taking any action. Requirements may vary from bank to bank.
Why I Am Writing This
When I moved to Germany, one of the things nobody really warned me about was sorting out my Indian bank accounts. I had to figure most of it out on my own — through emails, calls, and a lot of back and forth with my bank’s NRI helpdesk. This blog is my way of sharing what I learned, so your experience is a little smoother than mine.
What Are NRO and NRE Accounts?
Once you move abroad for work, your Indian savings account needs to be updated to reflect your new residency status. Here is a simple way to think about the two account types:
- NRO (Non-Resident Ordinary) Account — This is where you manage money earned in India, such as rent, dividends, pension, or interest from existing investments. Interest earned on an NRO account is taxable in India.
- NRE (Non-Resident External) Account — This is meant for parking your foreign earnings in India. The interest on an NRE account is generally tax-free in India, but you may still need to declare this income in your country of residence as foreign income. Check with a tax advisor to be sure.
From my experience: Your existing savings account can only be converted to an NRO account. The NRE account is opened separately — my bank processed it after the NRO conversion was complete.
When Should You Do This?
Staying outside India for 182 days or more in a financial year is generally when your residency status changes to NRI. At that point, updating your bank account becomes important. Confirm this timeline directly with your bank or a tax advisor, as individual situations can vary.
Specific note for those moving to Germany: Getting your Residence Permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) can take several months due to long appointment wait times. In my case, the bank initially did not accept my Category D visa alone. I had to wait until I had both my Tax ID (Steueridentifikationsnummer) and Residence Permit before the bank could move forward. I contacted my bank’s NRI helpdesk by email from Germany once I had all the documents ready.
Documents I Had to Arrange — NRO Account Conversion
Every bank has its own list, so please check with yours. Based on my experience, here is a general idea of what you will likely need:
- Resident to NRO conversion form (signed by all account holders)
- Self-attested PAN Card (or Form 60 if you do not have a PAN Card)
- Self-attested valid Passport and Visa (if you need to renew your passport first, see my PSK passport renewal guide — a few common mistakes are worth knowing before your visit)
- Address proof — Indian or overseas (generally any one is accepted)
- All KYC documents self-attested, with your name matching your bank records exactly
Tip: Send scanned copies of all documents to your bank via email first. My bank verified them online before I sent the originals. They also arranged a free document pickup — I did not have to pay for postage. Ask your bank if they offer this.
Things I Learned About the NRO Conversion Process
- Your existing debit and credit cards will likely be cancelled as part of the conversion. A new NRO domestic card will be issued — proactively request this so you are not left without a card.
- Any pending dues or active reimbursements should ideally be cleared before you begin the conversion.
- If your account is jointly held with a resident Indian, the mode of operation may need to be updated — my bank changed it to “Former or Survivor.”
- You will need to provide your overseas Tax Identification Number (TIN) — in Germany this is your Steueridentifikationsnummer. This is needed for FATCA/CRS compliance.
- If you are a joint second or third holder on an existing resident account, an additional declaration may be required.
Documents I Had to Arrange — NRE Account Opening
Once my NRO account was active, the bank proceeded with opening my NRE account. Based on my experience, you will generally need:
- Account opening form, duly filled and signed
- Valid Passport and Visa / Work Permit / Residence Permit / OCI or PIO Card
- PAN Card (or Form 60 if not available)
- Address proof — Indian or overseas (any one)
If you cannot provide sufficient address proof, banks may also accept:
- A cheque from your foreign bank account
- An appointment or employment letter from your overseas employer on company letterhead (generally not older than 3 months)
- A rent agreement along with a utility bill
- A student ID or university letter (for NRI students)
A Few Practical Tips Before You Submit Documents
- Self-attest all KYC documents before submitting
- Your name and signature across all forms must match your passport exactly — if there is a mismatch, you may need to submit a Signature Change Form
- Provide your overseas Tax Identification Number (TIN) wherever the form asks for it
- If you register an overseas mobile number for banking alerts, enter it as country code followed by the number — without “0”, “+” or “-”
- Carry a few recent passport-size photographs when you travel — getting them done in Germany is possible but can be costly as a newcomer
Can You Do All of This Remotely?
In my experience — yes. I handled the entire process from Germany through my bank’s NRI customer care email. Most private banks have a dedicated NRI helpdesk that supports online document verification. If you are not sure who to contact, ask your bank for their NRI customer care email ID. Private banks in my experience tend to be more responsive and flexible with the online process.
Pro tip: If you are still in India before your move, visit your bank branch and ask for the NRI customer care email ID and helpdesk number before you leave. It is much easier to get this directly from the branch than to hunt for it on the internet from abroad — official bank websites are not always easy to navigate, and contact details can be hard to find.
Once your accounts are in order, the next practical step is figuring out how to send money home efficiently — see my guide on transferring money from Germany to India. And if you are still working out your take-home pay, the net salary calculator guide is a good starting point.
A final reminder: Everything above is from my personal journey and is meant to give you a head start. Banking requirements, timelines, and processes can differ significantly from bank to bank and may change over time. Always verify directly with your bank or consult a qualified financial advisor before making any decisions.
Questions or comments?
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