How to Transfer Money from Saudi Arabia to India
Saudi Arabia to India Guide
Summary
Saudi Arabia and India have a strong bilateral relationship forged on trade, the exchange of information, and defense strategy. The Saudi riyal is pegged to the US dollar and is fully convertible, while the Indian rupee is on a managed float. Saudi Arabia is home to almost two million Indian nationals, or about 7% of the population, which has driven an increase in international money transfers between the two countries. There are few restrictions that limit international money transfers from Saudi Arabia to India.
Visas and immigration
India has largely outsourced visa and consular services, making the process of obtaining a visa more efficient. Citizens of Saudi Arabia will require a visa to visit India for work, to study, to visit friends or family, and to conduct business.
A business visa is required by any person entering India for commercial purposes with an India-based company. In order to qualify for this type of visa, applicants must present a letter of request from both their Saudi company as well as the Indian company with which they intend to partner. For more information on visas for Saudi nationals, visit the website of the Indian Consulate.
People to people links
An increasing number of Saudi nationals are visiting India for purposes of tourism and for medical treatment. India boasts a high number of highly skilled physicians, cost effective medical care, and relatively fast service.
There are over 2 million Indian nationals residing in Saudi Arabia in various capacities; they make up the largest community of expats in the Saudi Kingdom. In 2014, 135,914 Indian nationals visited Saudi Arabia for the hajj, an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca during the last month of the Islamic calendar. Additionally, about 300,000 Indians come to Saudi Arabia for Umrah each year, which is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca that can take place at any point in the calendar year.
Remittances
In light of the growing community of Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia, there is a steady flow of remittance payments to India as expatriates send money home to their family or remit salary payments to an Indian bank account.
Banking, money, and taxes
The Indian banking system is constantly improving and is now more convenient and efficient for both national and international clients. Electronic banking is increasingly widespread, replacing paper-driven processes. Expats from Saudi Arabia have a mixture of banking institutions to choose from, including private, public, and international.
The leading local banks in India are HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank. International banks are increasingly popular with expatriates; some of the more common international banks in India include Barclay’s, HSBC, and Standard Chartered. In order to open an Indian bank account, Saudi customers must provide proof of identity, a copy of a Saudi passport, proof of address in India, and a copy of a residence permit for India.
Trade between India and Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is India’s fourth largest trading partner and supplies India with approximately 175 million barrels of crude oil annually, which accounts for nearly a quarter of India’s need. Saudi Arabia is also the fourth largest market for Indian exports. India’s major exports to Saudi Arabia include basmati rice, machinery, garments and textiles. Saudi Arabia’s main exports to India include mainly metal scrap, gold, leather, chemicals, and oil.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the money transfer companies shown above safe to use?
Yes, all the companies are safe and fully-regulated money transfer services.
Each are authorised and regulated by the relevant authority such as the Financial
Conduct Authority(FCA) in the UK, FinCEN in the US, FinTRAC in Canada or ASIC in Australia.
How long does an international money transfer take?
The speed of delivery will depend on where the money is being from and to and how
you are sending and receiving the money. Transfers sent using bank to bank transfers
can depend take anywhere from minutes to days and you should check the time estimates
from the relevant provider. Debit and credit card payments sometimes allow for faster
transfers for smaller amounts.
How do I use FXcompared?
First review the comparison results (such as for a table above) for a given amount
of money sending from Saudi Arabia to India. Then select a provider based on
factors such as price, speed, their rating and click the green button to be taken to
their website. From there, you can register and sign up for an account. Once you have
done that and the provider has verified your identity to ensure the money can be send
safely, you will be ready to transfer money.
What payments methods can I use to send money overseas?
The results shown above are typically for bank to bank transfers. It is possible
via some providers to pay in your funds for the transfer via cash, debit or credit
cards as well but this is usually reserved for smaller amounts. Some providers also
give you different options for how the money will be received - to a bank account
(most common), to a debit card, to cash or to a digital or mobile wallet.
What if the price shown above isn’t exactly what I am offered when I try to transfer money?
There can be a number of reasons why the final price you are offered may be different
to that shown in the table above. Exchange rates between two currencies change all
the time and is the most common reason. Additionally, some providers offer different
pricing depending what method you are using to send funds or how the funds will be
received. Others may offer you a premium service for faster payments. In some cases
FXcompared has a special rate with a provider and this is reserved for first time
customers who sign up to the provider starting from FXcompared’s website.
As prices do change often, be sure to confirm the total cost with the provider
before transferring money.
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