Checklist Worth Saving Before You Fly Back
- Jul 2
- 2 min read
You land in India for 3-4 weeks. Between the travel home, relatives competing to feed you ghar ka khana first, friends messaging you to hang out after years, your vacation is packed with an itinerary not planned by you. Between the laughter and catching up with loved ones, these weeks go by quickly, and you may think of making a permanent move in the future.
Sounds familiar? Almost every NRI we speak to at Turtle has had a version of this trip. The intention is always there, but the time, somehow, is not. And there are tasks that we believe are rarely urgent on any single visit, which is exactly why they keep getting pushed to "next time."
The trouble is that a few of them are genuinely hard to do from abroad, and one or two can quietly cost you money or land you in a compliance mess if you keep ignoring them. So here is the checklist worth saving. None of it takes long once you are physically in India, and getting it done turns your next visit into a relaxed one.
Fix your PAN
Most NRIs think the problem is Aadhaar linking, but it's usually that the tax department still has you as a resident and auto-marks your PAN inoperative. Update your residential status to Non-Resident on the income tax portal (or get your CA to do it). If you already hold an Aadhaar, you'll need to link it too.
Health insurance for India
Your foreign insurance won't cover you here. Waiting periods exist, so start the clock now if you're planning frequent visits or eventual return in the next few years.
Indian mobile number
OTPs, bank alerts, Aadhaar verification - you need an Indian number for everything here. Get a postpaid connection and enable international OTPs if you can (not prepaid as it gets deactivated)
Get dental work done
Root canal, crowns, cleaning - whatever's pending. India mein fraction of the cost.
Consolidate those random bank accounts
Multiple accounts across different banks? Keep only what you actually need, close the rest. Managing 7 accounts from 8,000 miles away isn't fun.
File pending ITRs & claim TDS refunds
Many NRIs have FDs with TDS deducted - filing returns correctly can get you refunds. Don't leave money on the table.
If planning permanent return - start logistics now
Kids' school admissions have waitlists, scout neighbourhoods, and understand current property prices. The families who plan 12-18 months have smoother landings
Last thoughts
None of this is complicated once you are sitting in India with a few free mornings. The reason it stays undone is simply that visits fill up with everything except admin. Treat the list above as the small, boring foundation that makes the rest of your relationship with money back home far less stressful.
