Claiming Indian shares from outside India
NRIs may hold shares from the time they lived in India, or may be legal heirs of a family member who died in India or abroad. Whether in IEPF or still with the company, these holdings can usually be claimed — but the practical hurdles are real.
Typical difficulties include documents that must be notarised or attested abroad, death certificates issued in another country, identity and bank-account requirements, and applying within rules that also involve foreign-exchange and tax considerations.
What this service involves
Planning overseas documentation
What needs notarisation, apostille or consular attestation, and what can be shared as a copy.
Demat and bank account planning
Identifying a suitable demat account and bank account for credit, in line with applicable rules.
Coordinating across time zones
Arranging calls and document hand-offs that work for you.
Overseas death certificates
Understanding how documents issued abroad are accepted for transmission.
Who may need this service
NRIs with old Indian shares
From employment or investments before moving abroad.
Overseas legal heirs
Of a shareholder who died in India or abroad.
OCI and PIO holders
With Indian investments to retrieve.
Common problems we see
Notarisation abroad
Different formalities in each country.
Account type questions
Which demat and bank account to use as an NRI.
Courier and timing
Original documents that must travel.
How the process generally works
The exact steps depend on the company, the type of holding and the facts of your case. This is a general outline.
- 1
Share your situation
Where you live, the holding details you know and your relationship to the holder.
- 2
Get the document plan
A list of what to prepare locally and how to authenticate it.
- 3
Set up credit accounts
Confirm the demat and bank accounts into which credit will be made.
- 4
File and follow up
Claim filing and coordination with the company, RTA and authority.
How IEPF Assist can help
- Mapping out what to do abroad and what to do in India
- Document checklists for overseas claimants
- Coordination with Indian companies and RTAs
- Regular status communication
We are an independent consultancy. We help you prepare, organise and follow up — the decision on your request always rests with the company, the Registrar and Transfer Agent (RTA), the depository or the relevant authority.
Expected stages and possible delays
We cannot promise a completion date, because processing depends on third parties. Common reasons for delay include:
- Courier and attestation time
- Mismatched names across passports and Indian records
- Additional questions from the company or RTA
Frequently asked questions
Can an NRI claim shares from IEPF?
Do I need to travel to India?
Related services
IEPF Claim Assistance
Help preparing and following up an IEPF-5 claim for shares or dividends transferred to the Investor Education and Protection Fund.
Read moreLegal Heir Share Claims
Help for legal heirs claiming shares and dividends of a deceased shareholder — from tracing to transmission or IEPF claims.
Read moreShare Transmission
Help transferring shares to nominees, joint holders or legal heirs after a shareholder's death, under SEBI's July 2026 framework.
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Discuss your case with us
Tell us what you know about the shares or documents. We will explain the likely route and what to keep ready.
Request ConsultationLast updated 18 Oct 2026. This page is general information, not legal or financial advice.