India remittance: How money sent home shapes families and the economy

When someone working abroad sends money back to their family in India, that’s India remittance, the transfer of money by foreign workers to their home country. Also known as foreign remittance, it’s not just cash—it’s school fees, medical bills, home repairs, and sometimes the only reason a family doesn’t go hungry. In 2023, India received over $100 billion in remittances—the most in the world. That’s more than foreign direct investment or aid. It’s the quiet engine behind rural economies, small towns, and urban apartments where children study because someone in Dubai, the US, or Singapore made sure the money came through.

Most of this money comes from NRIs, Non-Resident Indians who live and work overseas. They’re teachers in Canada, engineers in Singapore, drivers in Saudi Arabia, nurses in the UK. They don’t always talk about it, but they send money regularly—sometimes monthly, sometimes when they can. And they care deeply about how much of it gets eaten up by fees. That’s why people in India are switching from traditional banks to digital wallets and fintech apps that cut costs and speed up delivery. The remittance fees India, the charges applied when sending money home, used to be as high as 10%. Now, many services charge under 2%.

But it’s not just about the money. Remittance trends, patterns in how, when, and why money flows into India from abroad are changing fast. More people are using UPI-linked apps. More families are tracking transfers in real time. More NRIs are choosing to send smaller amounts more often instead of big lump sums. And with India’s digital infrastructure growing, even grandparents in villages can now receive money directly into their bank accounts without walking to a branch.

Some of the posts below show how this affects your taxes—like how long you can stay in India before your NRI status changes. Others explain how to send money safely, avoid scams, or pick the best service. You’ll find tips on how to reduce fees, what documents you need, and how to make sure your money reaches the right person on time. This isn’t theoretical. It’s real money. Real lives. And if you’re part of this system—whether you’re sending it or receiving it—you need to know how it works.