How to Send Money from India to the UK: Complete Remittance Guide

Most people find out how remittance actually works the hard way: mid-transfer, with a form rejected because a SWIFT code was wrong, or some money missing because nobody explained TCS. This guide skips that part.

The three things every first-time sender searches for, all answered here: how much you're allowed to send, what it costs in tax, and what your UK recipient's bank actually needs from you. All figures below are current for FY 2026-27 under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme.

Get the mechanics right, and LuLu Forex turns this into a same-day branch visit instead of a week of back-and-forth with your bank. Their RBI guidelines resource breaks down the compliance side in more depth if you want it. 

How Much Money Can You Actually Send to the UK?

Under LRS, you can remit up to USD 250,000 annually (April to March) for permitted purposes. These permitted activities include family maintenance, education, medical treatment, gifts, property, or investment. This is a single limit covering all the banks and exchange counters, and it is tracked against your PAN instead of a per-transaction cap.

How Much Tax (TCS) Do You Actually Have to Pay?

In fact, there is more than one figure. For FY 2026-27:

1. If your remittance is ≤ ₹10 lakh per year, you are not subject to TCS whatsoever, no matter the purpose.
2. If your remittance is > ₹10 lakh and it's a general remittance (family support, gifts, investment, property), you'll be charged 20% TCS on the amount above ₹10 lakh.
3. If your remittance is > ₹10 lakh to pay for self-funded education or medical treatment abroad, you'll be charged just 2% TCS on the amount over ₹10 lakh.
4. Education funded by an eligible loan means nil TCS, no matter the amount.
5. If it is an overseas tour package, flat 2% from the first rupee, no threshold.

TCS isn't a fee you lose. It's advance tax, adjustable against your final tax bill and refundable if you have no liability. But it hits your cash flow the day you send the money, and if you're sending ₹15 lakh to a relative in London for general support, that's ₹1 lakh sitting with the tax department until you file your return.

What Documents Do You Need Before You Start?

1. PAN card (mandatory for any LRS remittance)
2. Form A2, declaring the purpose of the transfer
3. KYC documents at your money changer or bank branch
4. Proof of purpose where applicable (fee invoice for education, medical estimate, gift deed for large personal transfers)

Skip any of these and your transfer stalls at the authorised dealer's compliance desk, not at the bank on the receiving end. This is the step people rush and then wait three extra days for.

What Bank Details Does Your UK Recipient Need?

Indian banks don't issue IBANs, so you won't need one on your side. What you do need to collect from your UK recipient:

1. Full name exactly as it appears on the account
2. UK bank account number (usually 8 digits)
3. Sort code (6 digits, format XX-XX-XX): this identifies the bank and branch; it's the UK equivalent of an IFSC code.
4. SWIFT/BIC code of their UK bank, required for any international wire

Sort code alone works for domestic UK transfers. For money arriving from India, the receiving bank needs the SWIFT code too. Get one digit wrong on the account number and the transfer either bounces or, worse, lands in the wrong account with no easy reversal.

Bank Transfer or a Forex Specialist Like LuLu Forex?

Your bank will do this. It'll also mark up the exchange rate more than you'd expect, route the payment through two or three correspondent banks, and give you a 3 to 5 working days estimate with no real accountability if it runs long.

An RBI-authorised Category II dealer like LuLu Forex runs the same regulatory process but with:

1. Rates that don't hide the markup in fine print
2. A single point of contact for the transfer
3. Branch staff who handle the Form A2 and documentation with you instead of leaving you to figure it out

Both routes are equally legal and equally regulated. The difference is what you lose to the spread and how many people you have to call if something goes wrong.

How Long Does a Transfer to the UK Actually Take?

SWIFT transfers typically arrive within 3 to 5 working days, though timing depends on your bank's correspondent network and how quickly your paperwork is sorted. Delays almost always come down to one of three things: missing KYC documents, a mismatched purpose code, or incorrect beneficiary details. Get the paperwork right, and the transfer itself is the fast part.

The Bottom Line

Sending money to the UK isn't complicated. It's just unforgiving of small mistakes: a wrong sort code, a missed PAN, an underestimated TCS bill. Know your LRS limit, know which TCS bracket you fall into, and verify your recipient's bank details before you walk into a branch.

LuLu Forex handles the RBI compliance, the documentation, and the transfer itself, at rates that don't sneak up on you. Whether it's paying tuition for your kid in Manchester or supporting parents settled in London, that's one less thing to get wrong.

FAQs

1. What is the maximum amount I can send from India to the UK in a year?

Up to USD 250,000 per financial year (April to March) under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme, combined across all your bank and forex accounts.

2. Do I have to pay tax on money I send to the UK?

Not on the first ₹10 lakh in a financial year. Above that, TCS applies at rates ranging from nil (loan-funded education) to 20% (general remittances like family support), depending on purpose. It's adjustable against your income tax.

3. Can I send money to the UK without a PAN card?

No. PAN is mandatory for any remittance under LRS, regardless of amount.

4. Do I need an IBAN to send money to a UK bank account?

No. Indian banks don't issue or require IBANs. You'll need the recipient's UK account number, sort code, and their bank's SWIFT/BIC code.

5. What actually causes delays in a transfer to the UK?

Get the paperwork right, and the transfer itself moves fast; most of the delay in a remittance comes from the steps before the money leaves.

6. Is it cheaper to send money through a bank or a forex company like LuLu Forex?

Banks and RBI-authorised forex dealers are equally regulated, but exchange rate markups and fees vary. Compare the live rate offered, not just the advertised "zero fee," before choosing.

7. Can I send money for a purpose other than family support, like buying property in the UK?

Yes, LRS covers a range of permitted current and capital account transactions, including property purchase, investment, and education, each with its own documentation and TCS treatment.