Country guide · India
Get an ITIN as an Indian citizen
Last updated: August 2026
Bottom line
Get an ITIN as an Indian citizen is straightforward once the India paperwork is in order. As a Hague Convention member, India issues a single apostille that the US recognizes without further legalization. Treaty status (for ITIN holders): Active US treaty available, use Form W-8BEN to claim reduced withholding once the ITIN is assigned.
India’s LRS framework + RBI controls make a US LLC a regulatory question, not just a tax one. Get a CA opinion on the structure before deploying capital through it. This is the country-specific guide for Indian citizens to get an itin, apostille, banking, and treaty notes that change by jurisdiction. For the canonical procedural sequence (the steps everyone follows regardless of citizenship), see the main ITIN application page.
An ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) is the IRS-issued tax ID for non-US residents without an SSN. It unlocks US tax filings, US bank accounts at issuers that require a TIN, and, most importantly for digital nomads, a US credit file. The application is Form W-7 + a valid reason code + original ID documents. Wrong reason code is the #1 cause of rejection.
What Indian citizens need to apply for an ITIN
Apostille
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)
~2·4 weeks, ~USD 15. As a Hague Convention member, India issues a single apostille that the US recognizes without further legalization.
Banking flow
Indian residents open Mercury remotely. USD wires to HDFC/ICICI/Axis work; INR outbound via Wise is competitive vs LRS-band banks.
Timezone
UTC+5:30 (IST), 10.5 hours ahead of IRS Austin. IRS Austin is on UTC-6 / Asunción Migración on UTC-3.
Country-specific note
Common: Indian SaaS founders and IT consultants billing US customers who need an ITIN + Mercury to operate clean USD revenue outside LRS limits.
Treaty status (for ITIN holders): Active US treaty available, use Form W-8BEN to claim reduced withholding once the ITIN is assigned.
Questions Indian citizens ask about itin application
How long does the apostille take for Indian citizens? +
2·4 weeks through Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), at roughly USD 15. As a Hague Convention member, India issues a single apostille that the US recognizes without further legalization.
How do Indian-resident clients usually handle banking with their US LLC? +
Indian residents open Mercury remotely. USD wires to HDFC/ICICI/Axis work; INR outbound via Wise is competitive vs LRS-band banks.
What is the most common reason Indian citizens apply for an ITIN? +
Common: Indian SaaS founders and IT consultants billing US customers who need an ITIN + Mercury to operate clean USD revenue outside LRS limits.
Apply for your ITIN, Indian citizen
See the full procedural sequence on the canonical ITIN application page, or jump straight to the apply form.
Apply for your ITINKeep going
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