Many Indians now want to own famous global companies — Tesla, Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet. The prices are easy to find: in early October 2026, one Tesla share cost about $368, Microsoft about $518, and Alphabet about $344. But how do you actually buy them from India, and what are the rules? Here it is in simple words. It is for learning only.
You can buy US stocks legally from India
It is fully allowed. You do it in one of two ways:
- Through an Indian broker or app that offers US stocks. Many now do.
- Through a foreign broker that accepts Indian investors.
Either way, your money is sent abroad under a government scheme called the LRS (Liberalised Remittance Scheme).
The two rules you must know
- The LRS limit. As a resident Indian, you can send up to $250,000 (about ₹2 crore) abroad per financial year for all purposes combined — travel, education, investing. The limit resets every 1 April.
- TCS tax. From April 2026, when your foreign sending crosses ₹10 lakh in a year, a tax of 20% is collected on the amount above that. Important: this is not money you lose. It is adjusted against your income tax when you file your return, and any excess is refunded.
For most small investors sending under ₹10 lakh a year, no TCS applies at all.
You don't need lots of money: fractional shares
A single Microsoft share costing over $500 sounds out of reach. But most US platforms allow fractional shares — you can buy a small slice, say $10 worth. So you can start small.
The extra risks of foreign stocks
Owning global stocks brings risks you do not have with Indian shares:
- Currency risk. Your returns depend on the rupee-dollar rate too. If the rupee strengthens, it eats into your gains.
- Different hours and rules. US markets run at night India time, and taxes work differently.
- Harder to track. News and results come from far away.
None of this makes it wrong — just know what you are taking on.
Keep it a small, sensible part
Global stocks can add useful variety to a portfolio. But for most people they should be a small slice, not the core. The basics do not change: understand what you buy, spread your money, and avoid chasing whatever is in the news. For how we apply discipline to Indian equities, see our Model Portfolio, and to get started, how to start investing in the stock market. You can also start a free trial.
Buying Tesla or Microsoft from India is simple once you know the LRS limit and the TCS rule. Start small, mind the currency risk, and keep global stocks as one part of a bigger plan.
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