Documents to carry: your checklist

Papers that are easy to get while you live abroad can take months to replace from India. Gather originals, keep scans in the cloud, and carry the important ones in your hand luggage.

Updated 29 October 2026 · 23 items

Identity

Passports for everyone, valid for at least a yearRenew before you leave if they're close to expiry: it's slower from India for foreign passports.
Old passports with entry and exit stampsProof of your years abroad, for tax residency and customs.
OCI cards, and surrender certificates if you gave up Indian citizenshipOCI and documents.
PAN card and Aadhaar, if you have themNeeded for banks, property and tax in India.
Residence permit or visa copies, and the cancellation papersShows when your residence abroad ended; useful for tax and customs.

Family

Birth certificates for everyoneWith an apostille, or attested by the Indian embassy, from the country that issued them.
Marriage certificateAttested the same way; needed for joint accounts, visas and property.
Adoption, divorce or custody papers, if they applySchools and passport offices may ask for them.

Education

Degree certificates and transcriptsAttested if you'll look for work, especially in government or regulated jobs.
Children's report cards and school leaving lettersThe new school will ask; get them before the school year ends.
Transfer certificates, attested if the new school asksGulf schools' transfer certificates often need attestation by the education ministry and the Indian embassy.

Work and money

Employment letters, contracts and the final settlementProof of income and service, and of any gratuity or end-of-service pay.
The last year of payslipsBanks in India may ask for them for a loan or account.
Tax returns from abroad for recent yearsFor your Indian tax return, tax credits and any later questions.
Bank, brokerage and retirement account statementsShows where your money came from, and what to report once you're resident in India.
Records of money sent to IndiaBank remittance advice or certificates (FIRA/FIRC) for large transfers.

Property and legal

Papers for property abroad and in IndiaPurchase deeds, leases, mortgage and tax papers.
Wills and powers of attorneyWills across two countries.
Insurance policiesLife, health and property policies, with policy numbers and contacts.

Health and driving

Medical records and prescriptionsSummaries from your doctors, with the generic names of medicines.
Vaccination records for everyoneSchools in India ask for children's records.
Driving licence and an International Driving PermitThe permit lets you drive in India for a while; you'll need an Indian licence after that.
Scan everything into secure cloud storageShare the folder with your spouse or someone you trust.

Questions

Which documents should I carry in my hand luggage?

Passports, OCI cards, birth and marriage certificates, degree certificates, children's school records, medical records and any papers needed at customs. Ship the rest, and keep scans of everything.

What is an apostille?

An official stamp that makes a document from one country valid in another. Countries in the Hague Apostille Convention use it, including India, the US, the UK, Canada and Saudi Arabia. For countries outside it, such as the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar, the document is attested by that country's foreign ministry and the Indian embassy instead.

Are my ticks saved?

Yes, in this browser on this device. Nothing is sent to us. Clearing your browser data, or opening the page on another device, starts a fresh list.

Will your money last after the move?

The free retirement planner works it out year by year, with Indian inflation, your children's costs and a stress test.

Open the retirement planner

General information for planning, not financial, tax or legal advice. Rules change: check anything important with the official source.