India

Southern Asia

Asia

A low-cost Asian country with English as a main language, a startup visa and low university tuition, but a long 11-year naturalisation wait and no dual citizenship.

Overall score

Limited · Penalty applied · 98% data coverage

Language

Hindi, English

Currency

INR

Citizenship

Typically 11 years in the previous 14

Personal tax

Progressive; top effective rates exceed 30% with surcharge and cess

Cost of living

$800 / mo (single)

Rules change often. Confirm any immigration, tax or legal decision with a qualified professional.

Score breakdown

Access

17%

41Residence12%

21Citizenship and passport5%

Earning power

25%

53Salary and work12%

79Buying power13%

Business and wealth

20%

58Taxes7%

62Business8%

61Investment5%

Daily life

25%

56Quality of life18%

55Education7%

Rights and institutions

13%

60Freedom6%

52Rule of law7%

Severe environmental risk (18) cut the overall score from 56 to 41.

Pros

English as a main language
A startup visa
Low university tuition

Cons

A long 11-year naturalisation wait
No dual citizenship

Best for

FoundersStudentsEnglish speakers

Score profile

Access

Residence

Citizenship

Passport

Earning power

Salary & work

Buying power

Cost of living

100

Economy

Business and wealth

Taxes

Personal tax

Corporate tax

Business

Investment

Wealth building

Daily life

Safety

Healthcare

Environment

Infrastructure

Education

HDI

Rights and institutions

Freedom

Rule of law

How the scores are calculated

Access

Residence

Openness to residents

Limited

Migrant stock0.3% of population (2024)

Regulatory quality-0.10 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways

EmploymentStudyFamily reunificationBusiness or investment where eligible

Student	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Work	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Self-employed	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Permanent	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

Citizenship

Citizenship accessibility

Low

Years required	Typically 11 years in the previous 14
Dual allowed	No
Language	Check the current naturalisation rules for the selected route
Residence	Typical headline route: Typically 11 years in the previous 14; qualifying residence and absence rules apply
Notes	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

Passport

Passport power

Limited

72 / 198

Mobility

#70

Global rank

Yes

Biometric

Visa-free24
On arrival44
eTA4
Visa required126

Placeholder estimates for 2024 to 2025. Check entry rules with each destination before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work

Labour-market strength

Moderate

Output per worker$24,430 PPP (2024)

Unemployment4.2% (2025)

Participation55.7% of 15+ (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Mean monthly earnings of employees

Overall$179 · $758 PPP (2024)

Tech (IT & comms)$508 · $2,020 PPP (2024)

Source: ILOSTAT (International Labour Organization)

Freelance	Market access depends on language, sector, and work authorisation
Job market	Use current local vacancy and salary data for role-specific decisions.

Buying power

Purchasing power score

Good

GNI / person$11,600 PPP (2025)

Consumption / person$6,969 PPP (2024)

Price level23 (US = 100) (2025)

Income inequality25.5 Gini (2022)

Inflation2.4% / yr (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living

Affordability

Excellent

100

Price level23 (US = 100) (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Rent	Varies substantially by city and neighbourhood
Monthly	$800 / mo (single)
Cities	Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad

Economy

Economic strength

Good

Output & income

GDP$4T (2025)

GDP / person$2,702 (2025)

GNI / person$11,600 PPP (2025)

GDP growth6.5% / yr (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Stability & labour

Inflation2.4% / yr (2025)

Unemployment4.2% (2025)

Output per worker$24,430 PPP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition

Agriculture16.2% of GDP (2025)

Industry25.2% of GDP (2025)

Services49.3% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries

Information technology & servicesPharmaceuticalsTextilesAgricultureAutomotiveChemicals

Top exports

IT & business servicesPharmaceuticalsRefined fuelsGems & jewelleryTextiles

Type	Lower-middle-income, services-led
Key sectors	IT services & outsourcing, Generic pharmaceuticals, Agriculture
Summary	A fast-growing major economy led by IT services and pharma, with a vast agricultural workforce and rising manufacturing.
Currency	Indian rupee

Business and wealth

Taxes

Tax friendliness

Moderate

Personal	Progressive; top effective rates exceed 30% with surcharge and cess
Corporate	Domestic company rates commonly 22% or 25%, subject to conditions
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit tax	Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Foreign companies	Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply

Personal tax

Moderate

Personal	Progressive; top effective rates exceed 30% with surcharge and cess
Freelance	Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit tax	Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence

Corporate tax

Limited

Corporate	Domestic company rates commonly 22% or 25%, subject to conditions
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Foreign companies	Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply

Business

Business friendliness

Moderate

Regulation & bureaucracy

Regulatory quality-0.10 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Government effectiveness0.40 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules

Foreign company	Generally possible, subject to sector, registration, tax, and substance rules
Local company	Available company forms and capital requirements vary
Freelance	Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply

Investment

Investing environment

Moderate

Market cap267% of GDP (2025)

Private credit44% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, residence, holding period, and treaty position
Dividends	Data not available yet
ETFs & funds	Data not available yet
Wealth tax	Check current national and subnational rules
Brokers	Local and international availability varies by residency and compliance checks
Foreign access	Data not available yet
Tax-advantaged	Data not available yet

Wealth building

Wealth accumulation

Moderate

Salary & work

Moderate

Business

Moderate

Investment

Moderate

Tax friendliness

Moderate

Cost of living

Excellent

100

Daily life

Safety

Safety & stability

Moderate

Personal safety

Homicide rate2.8 per 100,000 (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Institutions & stability

Control of corruption-0.30 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Political stability-0.79 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Healthcare

Healthcare score

Moderate

Outcomes

Life expectancy72.2 years (2024)

Under-5 mortality26.6 per 1,000 births (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing

Physicians0.72 per 1,000 (2020)

Hospital beds1.59 per 1,000 (2021)

Health spending$346 PPP / person (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs

System	Public/private mix varies by eligibility and residence status
Insurance	Check residence-permit and local coverage requirements
Average cost	Depends on eligibility, income, insurer, and chosen coverage

Environment

Environment score

Low

Environmental pressure

PM2.5 exposure54.1 μg/m³ annually (2023)

Water stress66.5% (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure

Infrastructure score

Good

Digital infrastructure

Internet use70.0% (2025)

Internet resilience53 / 100 (2026)

Fixed speed67 / 100 download index (2026)

Mobile speed74 / 100 download index (2026)

Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators · Internet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Index

Utilities

Electricity access99.5% (2023)

Grid losses14.2% of output (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Transport

Transport quality3.20 / 5 (2022)

Rail density22.9 km / 1,000 km² (2021)

Air connectivity843 departures / million people (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education

Education score

Moderate

Attainment

Expected schooling13.0 years (2023)

Mean schooling6.9 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Participation & investment

Tertiary enrolment34% gross (2025)

Education spending4.1% of GDP (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tuition	$2,000-15,000 / yr
Public university	Varies by institution, programme, and student nationality
Languages	Hindi, English
Student work	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

HDI

Human development score

Good

HDI0.685 (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Long & healthy life

Life expectancy72.0 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Knowledge

Expected schooling13.0 years (2023)

Mean schooling6.9 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025