NRI home loans: HDFC vs ICICI vs SBI vs Axis compared

TL;DR

NRI home loans are available from all major lenders — but LTV, rate, and tenor differ.
Typical NRI LTV: 75-80% (vs 85-90% for residents).
Rate spread above resident loans: 0.25-0.50% higher (varies by lender, relationship tier, and income source country).
Tenor: typically capped at 20 years or retirement age minus 5, whichever is earlier.

HDFC NRI Home Loan

Rate: repo + 2.65-2.90% (as of April 2026). Max LTV: 80%. Max tenor: 20 years. Requires PoA + at least one Indian co-applicant for servicing. Strong for NRIs in Gulf + Singapore — dedicated relationship managers.

ICICI Bank NRI Home Loan

Rate: repo + 2.75-3.00%. Max LTV: 80%. Max tenor: 20 years. Strong online origination — can sanction without physical India visit. Good choice for US/UK NRIs.

SBI NRI Home Loan

Rate: repo + 2.55-2.80% (often the cheapest). Max LTV: 75%. Max tenor: 15 years for NRIs (vs 20 for residents). Slower processing but public-sector rate advantage. Best for buyers with long SBI relationships.

Axis Bank NRI Home Loan

Rate: repo + 2.85-3.10%. Max LTV: 80%. Max tenor: 20 years. Competitive for Axis Priority / Burgundy relationship customers. Stronger digital workflow than public-sector banks.

How to pick

Compare effective rate (advertised + processing fee + hidden charges). Run the math across 3 lenders minimum. Ask about pre-approval letters — useful when you’re still shortlisting projects (see our project reviews).

FAQs

Do I need an Indian co-applicant?

Most lenders require at least one resident Indian co-applicant (often a parent or sibling) for servicing convenience. Check with each lender — SBI is stricter than private banks.

What’s the fastest way to get NRI loan pre-approval?

ICICI and Axis offer fully digital pre-approvals within 7-10 days if documentation is clean. HDFC typically takes 10-14 days. SBI: 3-4 weeks.

Keep reading: NRI FEMA guide · home loan eligibility · RERA portals · how we score projects · latest reviews