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Tue, 20 Oct 2026
03:27:47 pm
Tue, 20 Oct 2026
03:27:47 pm
Rudransh Sangwan
Published at: October 19, 2026, 2:21 PM
Synopsis
Zerodha launches US stock investing on Kite beta, with access to 2,000 companies and fractional shares from $1. See brokerage, fees and eligibility.
The short version
Zerodha has started testing its international investing facility on Kite, allowing eligible Indian residents to buy US listed stocks and exchange traded funds through their existing accounts. The beta version is available on Kite web, with a wider rollout expected soon.
The facility gives Indian investors access to overseas equities without requiring them to open a separate brokerage or demat account. Users can activate the international investing segment, transfer funds from a linked Indian bank account and monitor their US holdings through Kite.
Investors can choose from around 2,000 US listed companies and 1,000 ETFs. Fractional investing is also available, allowing users to buy a portion of a share instead of paying for an entire share. The minimum investment can be as low as $1.
Zerodha has routed the facility through India INX Global Access, which is owned by BSE and based at GIFT City in Gujarat. This arrangement gives eligible Indian residents access to US markets through an international investing service connected to their existing Zerodha accounts.
Users can manage their domestic and overseas investments through Kite. However, the international segment has separate funding requirements and transaction charges. Money must be transferred from the investor's registered Indian bank account and converted into US dollars before it can be used to buy overseas securities.
The beta launch is currently limited to Kite web. Zerodha has indicated that a wider rollout is expected soon, although the supplied details do not specify a date for the full launch.
Zerodha charges 0.1% of the transaction value as brokerage, with a minimum of $0.01 and a maximum of $10 per order. These charges apply to both buy and sell orders. Investors also need to account for taxes and other transaction fees, which can increase the total cost of investing overseas.
| Charge | Details |
|---|---|
| Brokerage | 0.1% of transaction value |
| Minimum brokerage | $0.01 per order |
| Maximum brokerage | $10 per order |
| GST on brokerage | Applicable |
| IFSCA turnover fee | Applicable |
| US regulatory fees | Applicable where relevant |
| Currency conversion | Bank foreign exchange fee and applicable GST |
| Remittance costs | Additional charges may apply |
For a purchase worth $1,000, the brokerage would be $1 at the stated rate. The example provided by Zerodha also includes $0.18 in IGST and $0.05 in IFSCA turnover fees. This brings the listed charges to $1.23, before currency conversion and remittance costs.
The final amount can vary depending on the transaction and applicable charges. US regulatory fees from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) apply to sell transactions under the prevailing rules. Zerodha's published charges also state that the FINRA Trading Activity Fee was paused for the October to December 2026 quarter.
Currency conversion is a separate expense. When funds move from rupees to US dollars, the bank's applicable foreign exchange fee and GST can add to the amount paid. Investors need to check the latest fee schedule before placing an order because charges and regulatory fees may change.
The service is available to eligible resident Indian individuals with Zerodha accounts. Users must complete online verification before activating international investing. Their Aadhaar must be linked to their mobile number as part of the stated eligibility requirements.
The following categories are currently excluded from the facility:
Investors also need to consider the Reserve Bank of India's Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS). Under the scheme, resident individuals can remit up to $250,000 per financial year for permitted transactions. This is a combined annual limit across eligible remittances, not a separate allowance reserved for US stock purchases through Zerodha.
The applicable limit covers permitted transactions under the LRS framework. Investors must therefore account for other eligible overseas remittances when calculating how much of the annual limit remains available.
Activating the facility involves enabling the international investing segment and transferring money into the global wallet. Zerodha's stated activation process is online and usually takes around 30 minutes, subject to the required verification.
The process involves these steps:
Funding is restricted to supported transfer methods. UPI, debit cards and credit cards are not supported for these transfers. Investors need to use the specified net banking route to move funds from their linked Indian bank account.
Zerodha's international investing facility is designed for delivery based investing. Users can buy eligible US listed shares and ETFs, but the supplied rules exclude intraday trading, margin trading and futures and options.
This distinction matters for investors who are familiar with the full range of trading products available in Indian markets. Access to US securities does not automatically mean access to every trading strategy or product available in the United States.
Fractional investing lowers the amount required to own a portion of a high priced stock. For example, the stated minimum investment of $1 allows an eligible investor to start without purchasing a complete share. The actual amount needed for an order will depend on the selected security and the applicable transaction costs.
The facility adds another route for Indian residents who want exposure to overseas businesses. Investors can access eligible US listed companies and ETFs while managing their holdings through the same platform they use for domestic investments.
International investing also introduces costs and rules that differ from buying Indian shares. Currency movements can affect the rupee value of overseas holdings, while conversion and remittance charges add expenses beyond brokerage. Investors must also stay within the applicable LRS limit and follow the eligibility conditions of the service.
For readers following Indian market activity, recent Nifty IT sector movements provide domestic market context, while the outlook for Indian IT stocks covers another part of the relationship between Indian markets and global technology demand. These are separate market developments, but they help explain why investors may follow both domestic shares and overseas companies.
Before using the beta facility, investors need to review the latest brokerage schedule, bank transfer charges and eligibility conditions. The quoted $1.23 cost for a $1,000 purchase excludes currency conversion and remittance expenses, so it should not be treated as the complete cost of the transaction.
Users should also confirm that their intended security is available through Kite and that the order fits the facility's delivery based restrictions. The annual LRS limit must be assessed against other eligible remittances made during the same financial year.
The next development to watch is Zerodha's wider rollout beyond the current Kite web beta. Any changes to supported securities, funding options, fees or account eligibility would affect how investors can use the service.
Yes, eligible resident Indian individuals can buy US listed stocks through Zerodha's international investing facility on Kite. The service is in beta on Kite web and provides access to around 2,000 US listed companies and 1,000 ETFs. Users must activate the segment and fund their global wallet through a supported bank transfer.
The minimum investment can be as low as $1 through Zerodha's fractional investing facility. Fractional shares allow investors to buy part of a share instead of purchasing a complete unit. Applicable brokerage, taxes, currency conversion and remittance charges can increase the total amount paid.
Zerodha charges 0.1% of the transaction value, with a minimum of $0.01 and a maximum of $10 per order. Brokerage applies to purchases and sales. GST, IFSCA turnover fees and applicable US regulatory charges may also apply.
The Reserve Bank of India's Liberalised Remittance Scheme permits resident individuals to remit up to $250,000 per financial year for permitted transactions. This is an aggregate limit across eligible remittances, not a separate limit for US stock investments through Zerodha. Investors must account for their other eligible overseas remittances when calculating their available limit.
No, NRIs are excluded from the currently specified eligibility conditions for Zerodha's international investing facility. Joint account holders, HUFs, companies, LLPs and partnership firms are also excluded. The service is currently available to eligible resident Indian individuals with Zerodha accounts.
No, the facility is delivery based and does not support intraday trading, margin trading or futures and options. Investors can buy eligible US listed shares and ETFs and track their holdings through Kite. Orders are executed during US market hours.
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