Living here
Day-one orientation, Healthcare, Schools & Universities. 10 min read.
Day-one orientation
10 Living essentialsHousing · Banking · SIM & data · Transport · Utilities · brief overview only
Quick Orientation
How daily life actually works.
A high-altitude overview, just enough to walk into your first week informed. Full procedural detail (FRRO, PAN, leasing, Form C, TDS, utilities) sits inside the destination-services workbook your IKAN consultant delivers separately.
Indian rentals are mostly unfurnished in modern gated communities with security, lifts, pools, gyms. Leases are typically 11, 24 or 36 months with a security deposit of 3 to 10 months' rent.
Start the search 45 to 60 days before move-in. Brokerage is one to two months' rent. Stamp duty and registration are mandatory for leases over 11 months in many states.
IKAN manages the full home-finding process, shortlist, viewings, due diligence, negotiation, registration.
Recommended banks: HDFC, ICICI, HSBC, Standard Chartered, Kotak Mahindra, Axis. Account opening requires PAN card and FRRO registration; takes 7 to 10 working days. Net banking, debit card and chequebook arrive in sequence.
UPI, India's Unified Payments Interface, is the world's most advanced retail payments rail. Once your bank account is live, install PhonePe, PayTM or Google Pay and you will rarely need cash again.
Indian SIM / eSIM can only be obtained after arrival in India. Two big networks: Jio (best 5G, best data plans) and Airtel (best voice quality, widest coverage). Vi is the third. Prepaid SIM requires passport + visa. Postpaid requires FRRO registration + local address proof.
Data is among the cheapest in the world, ₹250 to 400/month gets 1.5 to 2 GB/day. Keep the same number throughout your stay, all banking OTPs and digital identity rely on it.
Metro in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune, Ahmedabad. Delhi Metro is the most extensive (390+ km). Uber, Ola work in every metro; Rapido bike-taxis are a game-changer in congested cities. Auto-rickshaws are everywhere, insist on the meter or agree the fare in advance.
Most expat families hire a full-time car and driver. Vastly easier than driving yourself in Indian traffic.
Electricity: 230V; prepaid meters are increasingly common in newer apartments. Top up via mobile app. Power back-up (inverter or society generator) is standard. Water: mostly society-managed. Install an RO purifier, do not drink tap water. Gas: piped (PNG) in newer buildings; LPG cylinders (Indane / HP / Bharat Gas / SuperGas) in older ones, IKAN helps register and schedule replacements. Internet: 100 to 1,000 Mbps fibre widely available at ₹700 to 2,500/month.
Initial set-up payments can be card/UPI, sometimes cash. Be prepared with a working payment method on day one.
Most international arrivals come on an Employment Visa (X visa for dependents). The critical sequence: Form C → online PAN application → FRRO registration (within 14 days) → physical PAN → Bank account.
Full procedural detail is in the IKAN destination services document. Do not attempt this alone, the dependencies are unforgiving.
Healthcare
11 Hospitals & medical carePrivate system · JCI-accredited hospitals · Insurance · Pharmacy
Medical Care
India runs one of the world's most capable private healthcare systems.
Major private hospitals across India offer JCI-accredited facilities, English-speaking staff, international insurance acceptance and globally-trained specialists, at a fraction of OECD costs. The public system is improving but expats should default to private care. Hospital names, direct lines and cost figures here are indicative, confirm current details before relying on them.
Trusted private hospitals across India
A working list of the most-used hospitals for the international family community. Your IKAN consultant will tailor city-specific recommendations, including paediatric, maternity and speciality referrals, in your settling-in pack.
Multi-city chains
Mumbai
Delhi-NCR
Bengaluru · Hyderabad · Chennai · Pune · Kolkata
Carry comprehensive private health insurance that includes inpatient, outpatient, dental, maternity and medical evacuation. Confirm your insurer's cashless-network includes the hospitals above.
Top international insurers operating in India: Cigna, AXA, Allianz Care, Bupa Global, Aetna International. Local options: Niva Bupa, HDFC ERGO, Star Health, ICICI Lombard.
Pharmacies are everywhere, Apollo Pharmacy, MedPlus, Wellness Forever are dominant chains. 1mg, PharmEasy, Apollo 247, Tata 1mg deliver medicines, schedule lab tests and offer video consultations.
Most common medications are sold over the counter at a fraction of Western prices. Always ask for the printed bill and check expiry dates.
Schools & Universities
12 International educationIB · IGCSE · American · British · Indian boards · Apply early
For Families
World-class schools · apply early.
India's top international schools compare well internationally, with deep IB, IGCSE, American and British curricula. The schools named below are a representative sample, not an exhaustive list, several profiled cities (Ahmedabad among them) have strong options beyond those shown. The single most important fact: waitlists are real for the leading schools. Apply 6 to 18 months ahead of move-in where possible.
| School | City | Curriculum | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Embassy School (AES) | New Delhi | American IB | The premier American school in India. Priority for US-government families. Long waitlist. |
| The British School | New Delhi | IGCSE IB | The established British community school. Strong academics across the board. |
| Pathways World School / Pathways Aravali | Gurugram · Aravali | IB · CIE | Premier IB schools in Delhi-NCR with strong international acceptance. |
| DPS International | Delhi-NCR | IB IGCSE | Multiple campuses; strong reputation; good fit for Indian-origin returning families. |
| The Japanese School (Nihonjin Gakkō) | New Delhi (Dwarka) | Japanese MEXT | MEXT-curriculum school operated by the Japanese expat community. The default choice for Japanese families relocating to Delhi. |
| Lycée Français International de Delhi | New Delhi (Chanakyapuri) | French AEFE | Accredited French school in the diplomatic enclave. Curriculum runs from Maternelle through Terminale, with the French Baccalaureate. |
| American School of Bombay (ASB) | Mumbai (BKC, Juhu) | American IB | Gold standard for US families in Mumbai. 1,200 students. Apply 12-18 months ahead. |
| Dhirubhai Ambani International (DAIS) | Mumbai (BKC) | IB DP IGCSE | Central BKC location. Outstanding science and arts. UK/US university placement. |
| Singapore International School | Mumbai (Powai) | Singapore MOE | Ideal for Singapore-India transfers. Strong in the Powai tech corridor. |
| The Japanese School (Mumbai) | Mumbai | Japanese MEXT | MEXT-curriculum school for Japanese expat families based in Mumbai. Strong cultural and language continuity for returning students. |
| The International School Bangalore (TISB) | Bengaluru | IB IGCSE | Large campus, residential boarding available, strong sports programmes. |
| Canadian International School | Bengaluru | IB Canadian | Premier IB World School in the city. Strong North-American community. |
| Indus International School | Bengaluru · Pune · Hyderabad | IB IGCSE | Multi-city IB chain with consistent quality and boarding options. |
| Stonehill International School | Bengaluru (Tarahunise) | IB | One of Bengaluru's leading IB World Schools. Day & boarding, expansive 33-acre campus, strong UK/US university placement. |
| Harrow International School Bengaluru | Bengaluru | British IB | The Indian campus of one of the UK's most storied schools. Premium British curriculum and boarding. |
| Oakridge International | Hyderabad · Bengaluru · Mohali | IB Cambridge | Top expat choice in Hyderabad. Outstanding campus, Nord Anglia network. |
| International School of Hyderabad (ISH) | Hyderabad (ICRISAT campus) | IB American | Long-established not-for-profit international school inside the ICRISAT campus. Strong international community across 40+ nationalities. |
| New York Academy | Hyderabad | American IB | American-curriculum school with growing reputation for STEM, sports and personalised learning. |
| Aga Khan Academy | Hyderabad | IB | Part of the global Aga Khan Academies network. Full IB continuum (PYP, MYP, DP), residential boarding from Grade 7, strong emphasis on pluralism and service learning. |
| American International School Chennai (AISC) | Chennai | American IB | The American school for the Chennai expat auto-industry community. |
| The British International School Chennai | Chennai | IGCSE IB | Modern facilities; growing British-curriculum community. |
| Mercedes-Benz International School | Pune | IB | Pune's premier international school; sponsored by Mercedes-Benz India. |
| Mahindra International School | Pune | IB IGCSE | Full IB World School with PYP / MYP / DP, one of Pune's most established international schools, with strong corporate and diplomatic family enrolment. |
| Wellington College International | Pune | British IB | The Indian campus of the UK's Wellington College. Premium British curriculum, day & boarding, strong leadership programme. |
| Calcutta International School | Kolkata | IGCSE IB | Long-established expat school in Kolkata. |
Already moving with IKAN?
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Open your move Not moving with IKAN yet? Write to enquiry@ikan.com or message IKAN on WhatsApp and a consultant will reply.