Quick answer: Yes — NRIs can fully recover old Indian shares, unclaimed dividends and IEPF holdings from abroad. The route is the same Form IEPF-5 (or transmission) process used by residents, with three differences: the shares are credited to an NRI demat account (NRO or NRE), documents signed abroad usually need attestation by the Indian embassy or an apostille, and a Power of Attorney is often used so the claim can be pursued in India without you travelling.
Can NRIs claim shares and dividends in India?
Absolutely. Non-resident Indians, and NRI legal heirs of a deceased Indian shareholder, have the same right to reclaim holdings as residents. Many NRIs are sitting on decades-old physical shares or dividends that were never encashed after they moved abroad — and there is no deadline on an IEPF claim.
Our dedicated NRI share recovery page covers this in full.
Extra documents NRIs need
The claim documents are the same, but signatures and identity proof executed outside India need extra authentication:
- Passport and, where applicable, OCI / PIO card as identity proof
- Documents attested by the Indian Embassy / Consulate, or apostilled under the Hague Convention
- Overseas address proof
- A Power of Attorney (PoA) if you want a representative to handle the filing in India
- For a deceased holder: death certificate plus legal heir or succession proof
The demat account and repatriation
IEPF and companies release shares only in electronic form, so you need an NRI demat account — usually on the NRO route for shares originally bought as a resident. Dividends are credited to the linked NRO bank account. Whether the proceeds can be repatriated depends on the account type and RBI rules, which is worth checking with your bank early.
Doing it from abroad, without flying back
The biggest worry for NRIs is having to travel to India repeatedly. In practice you usually do not — a properly drafted PoA lets ClaimMyFunds handle the India-side filing, RTA follow-up and IEPF interaction for you. We coordinate the attestation you need in your country and manage everything here.
We regularly recover holdings for NRIs across the Gulf, US, UK, Canada, Australia and Singapore. Email support@claimmyfunds.in or WhatsApp +91 90818 47140 with the name on the certificate for a free assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Can an NRI claim unclaimed shares and dividends in India?
Yes. NRIs, and NRI legal heirs, can reclaim old Indian shares, unclaimed dividends and IEPF holdings using the same IEPF-5 or transmission process, credited to an NRI demat account.
Do NRIs need to travel to India to claim shares?
Usually not. A Power of Attorney lets a representative such as ClaimMyFunds handle the filing and follow-up in India, so the NRI can complete the process from abroad.
What extra documents do NRIs need?
Documents signed abroad generally need attestation by the Indian embassy or an apostille, plus passport / OCI proof and an NRI demat account. A PoA is commonly used.
Can ClaimMyFunds help NRIs recover shares?
Yes. ClaimMyFunds regularly handles NRI recoveries across the Gulf, US, UK, Canada and Australia, coordinating attestation abroad and managing the entire India-side process. Contact +91 90818 47140.
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NRI share recovery →IEPF claim service →Share transmission →