Can I Buy Intel Stock in India?

Yes, you can absolutely buy Intel stock while living in India. If you’ve searched for it on your regular Indian trading app and found nothing, you’re not alone. Major US companies aren’t listed on our home exchanges, but there’s a simple and completely legal way to invest in them.

Think of stock exchanges like country-specific app stores. Your Indian trading app from Zerodha or Upstox gives you access to India’s exchanges—the NSE and BSE. Intel (ticker symbol: INTC), however, is an American company traded on a major US exchange called the NASDAQ. To invest in NASDAQ-listed companies from India, you need to use a specialized investment platform that acts as a legal and straightforward bridge to the US market.

The ‘Bridge’ to Wall Street: Platforms for US Stocks

A new generation of financial apps has been built specifically for Indians to invest in the US market. These platforms handle the tricky parts for you, like converting your Indian Rupees (INR) to US Dollars (USD) and ensuring everything complies with RBI regulations. They essentially open a US brokerage account for you, all from your phone in India.

While you should always do your own research to find the best platform to buy US stocks in India for your needs, some of the most popular and reputable options include:

INDmoney
Vested Finance
Groww (US Stocks section)
Interactive Brokers

Choosing one of these platforms is your first real step toward buying Intel shares.

A 3-Step Guide to Buying Your First Intel Share

With your chosen platform ready, you’re just a few taps away from owning a piece of a global tech giant. The process of how to buy Intel shares in India breaks down into three simple stages:

Complete Your KYC: First, you’ll complete a quick identity check called KYC (Know Your Customer). This is a standard, secure process where you upload a digital copy of your PAN and Aadhaar cards. Verification typically takes a few hours to a couple of days.
Fund Your Account: Once verified, you’ll transfer Indian Rupees (INR) from your bank account to the platform. The platform converts the funds into US Dollars (USD), handling the currency exchange for you.
Buy Intel Stock (INTC): Use the search bar to find Intel by its name or ticker symbol, INTC. You can then choose how much to invest. A great feature of these platforms is the ability to buy fractional shares of Intel stock, meaning you can start by investing as little as ₹500 to own a small slice of a share.

A clean, simple screenshot of a smartphone screen showing a mock brokerage app's search bar with "Intel" or "INTC" typed in, and the Intel Corporation result appearing below it

Is It Legal? Understanding the LRS Limit

Sending money abroad to invest in US stocks is completely legal and governed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The framework that permits this is called the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS).

Under LRS, an individual can send up to $250,000 USD (over ₹2 crore) abroad in a single financial year for purposes including investments. For anyone just starting out, your LRS limit for US stock investment is very unlikely to be a concern. The investment platform you use automatically handles the reporting under RBI rules, making the process administratively simple.

Start Small: How to Buy a ‘Slice’ of Intel with Fractional Shares

One of the biggest hurdles for new investors can be the price of a single share. A single Intel share might cost around $30, which converts to roughly ₹2,500. For many, that feels like a big first step. This is where fractional shares are a game-changer.

Instead of needing ₹2,500 for one full share, you can decide exactly how much you want to invest. If you decide to put in just ₹1,000, you will buy fractional shares of Intel stock—in this case, about 0.4 of a share. Your investment will still grow or fall by the same percentage as the full share, but you get to start with an amount that feels comfortable for you. This ability to invest in US stocks with small amounts opens the door to owning parts of the world’s biggest companies.

A simple graphic showing a full circle labeled "1 Intel Share (~$30)" and a small slice cut out from it labeled "Your 'Fractional' Share ($5)". Image should be minimalist with clear labels

Tackling Taxes: The Simple Form That Prevents Double Taxation

When it comes to US stock investing, a straightforward process prevents you from being taxed twice. It involves a simple digital declaration called the W-8BEN form. By filling it out, you are officially telling the US government, “I’m an Indian resident, not a US citizen.”

This is important because India and the US have a tax treaty. Normally, the US withholds a 30% tax on dividends. After you submit the W-8BEN form, this rate is reduced to 25%. Modern brokerage platforms will guide you through how to fill the W-8BEN form from India digitally during setup. It’s a one-time step that helps you manage taxes on US stock gains in India effectively.

What Are the Real Costs? A Simple Breakdown of Fees

The fees for buying US stocks from India are generally small and transparent. You’ll typically encounter three main types:

Currency Conversion Fee: A small charge for swapping your Rupees for Dollars.
Brokerage Fee: The cost to place your order. Many modern platforms now offer zero brokerage.
Withdrawal Fee: A charge for when you move money back to your Indian bank account.

For example, to invest ₹10,000, you might pay a small currency conversion fee of around ₹70. If the platform has zero brokerage, that’s your only cost to invest. The best platform to buy US stocks will always show you any costs clearly before you complete a transaction.

Intel vs. AMD: Which Is a Better Choice?

For anyone interested in computer chips, the Intel vs AMD stock debate is a classic one. However, from a new investor’s perspective, the process is identical for either company. You will use the same platform, follow the same steps, and fund your account in the same way.

Deciding which company is a better investment requires research into their business performance and future plans. For now, the most valuable step is to master the how. Once you’re comfortable with the process of buying your first US stock like INTC, you’ll be empowered to make more of these choices with confidence.

Your Blueprint to Global Investing

What might have seemed like a complex world of international finance is now a clear, step-by-step path. Modern platforms have turned a once-daunting task into a simple digital process. The ability to invest in NASDAQ-listed companies like Intel from India opens up a new world of opportunities.

This knowledge equips you to move from reader to potential investor. The next step, whether it’s downloading an app or buying your first fractional share, is simply the first move in a much larger, and now accessible, world of global investing.