November 6, 2024 · 11 mins read
Santosh Kumar
We live in a world that is becoming rapidly global with each passing day. Today, Indians are living and working in literally all parts of the world. However, many of these Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) are still connected to India financially. What this means is a lot of them have financial investments and bank accounts in India even while they are living abroad. There is a common misconception that it is impossible for the NRIs to monitor all of this efficiently from abroad. However, this is not true at all. It is not only essential for the NRIs to stay updated with their finances in India, but it is also easy and can be done online. For instance, many people often wonder if it is possible for NRIs to check their CIBIL score from abroad. Yes, it is possible for NRIs to do so, and we will help you out with the process.
Before we inform you of the methods using which NRIs can check their CIBIL score from abroad, it is imperative for you to know what is CIBIL score is and why exactly it is of such importance that Indians living outside the country should keep track of their CIBIL score.
An individual's CIBIL score is a number that depicts how well or how poorly they have managed credit in the past. This includes everything: their loan repayments, payment of EMI bills, credit utilization ratio, credit mix, default payments, etc. The CIBIL score is also called the credit score since it reveals a person's entire credit history over the past 7 years. Your CIBIL score will always range between 300 and 900. 300 being the lowest and the poorest credit score and 900 being the best score when can have. The higher your credit score is, the better it is for you since it reflects greater creditworthiness to banks and lenders.
In India, the responsibility of calculating the CIBIL score of all individuals rests with the primary credit bureau called CIBIL (Credit Information Bureau (India) Limited) or TransUnion CIBIL. It collects the aforementioned data of people and, based on that, generates their detailed credit report, which also includes their credit score.
Just because you live outside of India does not mean you can avoid your financial going on over here. Many NRIs have bank accounts, properties and even loans back in India, and it is crucial for them to stay updated with all these things. Checking their CIBIL score is similarly of utmost importance for NRIs. Here is why:
1. Important for Loan Eligibility: Many times, NRIs wish to apply for loans back in India. This could be for a lot of different reasons. For instance, you might intend to invest in property or start a business. You require loans for all such purposes, and whenever you approach a bank for the same, they will first and foremost look at your CIBIL score to judge your creditworthiness.
If you tend to be careless with frequently checking your CIBIL score just because you are living abroad, it could cost you if you ever require a loan. If you regularly check your credit score, you can take the required measures to maintain or improve it. Only when you have a good and high credit score will you be able to qualify to get a loan from an Indian bank at satisfactory loan terms, as it will act as a sign of reliability and financial
2. Beneficial Loan Conditions: As already mentioned, a good CIBIL score will make you eligible for the loan and for much better terms of the loan. For instance, the higher your credit score is, the lower interest rates you can enjoy. In fact, you might also be able to get a much larger loan amount sanctioned. When you are looking forward to investing in property or business, these are extremely desirable conditions. Your negotiation power increases tremendously when you have maintained an excellent CIBIL score.
3. Importance for Credit Card Eligibility: Many NRIs prefer owning Indian credit cards. There might be many different reasons for it. An Indian credit card comes in handy because with that, one can avoid currency conversion charges and spend money directly in Indian Rupees, be it during dining, bookings, shopping, etc. They can also get benefits such as ATM access and add-on cards for family members. However, just like loans, NRIs need to have a good CIBIL score to be considered eligible for applying for an Indian credit card.
4. Additional Credit Card Benefits: If you have maintained an extremely high CIBIL score, you will not only be eligible for getting a credit card in India but you will also be offered additional benefits such as a higher credit limit, exclusive rewards and attractive discounts.
Read More:: What is Experian Credit Score and How It Affects You
Now that you are well aware of the importance of keeping your CIBIL score in check, we can move on to discussing how you can do it easily from abroad without even visiting India.
There are four credit bureaus in India -. CIBIL, Experian, Equifax and CRIF High Mark. As a consumer, you are entitled to get one free credit report from each of these credit bureaus/ Credit Information Companies (CICs) every calendar year. The method is quick and easy. You need to follow the below-mentioned steps:
1. Visit the official website of the credit bureau. Let us take the example of CIBIL. The official CIBIL website is www.cibil.com.
2. There will be an option to check the CIBIL score for free. Click on that and proceed as prompted.
3. Now, enter the information they require. This will include personal details like your full name, date of birth, email ID, and phone number.
4. You will also be required to upload a valid ID out of the provided options, such as a PAN card, Voter ID, Passport, and Driving Licence.
5. Once the ID is uploaded, your CIBIL score will instantly be flashed on your screen.
This is how quick, easy and instant it is to view your CIBIL score on the official CIBIL website. If you wish to check your credit score more than once a year, you can also opt for a paid subscription plan.
Read More:: Is 772 a Good CIBIL Score?
1. As an NRI, another thing that you could do to check your CIBIL score from abroad is to visit the official website of the Indian bank where you have an account. Most banks today have their user-friendly mobile apps as well that work globally, so you can download them too.
2. Now, make an account or use your credentials to log in if you already have one.
3. You should be able to view an option that says 'check CIBIL score'. Click on that.
4. After clicking on it, fill up the required details carefully and correctly. This will be your personal information and your account details for verification purposes.
5. Click on submit and you will be shown your credit score on the screen.
Most banks and credit card providers let their customers view their credit scores multiple times a year, unlike India's four credit bureaus.
1. As we have informed you, you can check your credit score on a bank website, but it is possible only if you are an existing account holder with them. In case you are not, there is another option available for you as well. These are commonly known as FinTech platforms or Financial Technology platforms.
2. Some popular names include Bankbazaar, Paisabazaar, PhonePe, Cred and Paytm.
3. On these platforms, anybody can check their credit score for free multiple times in one year.
4. The method for getting credit scores online on such fintech platforms is very easy, and you can get your CIBIL score in just a few minutes.
5. Visit your preferred fintech company's official website or mobile app and find the option that says 'Check Credit Score' or 'check CIBIL score.'
6. Now, all that you have to do is fill in your personal information and some account details for verification. This will only take a few minutes.
7. On successfully submitting the information, you can view your credit score instantly.
While we have given you a detailed guide on how to check the cibil score for NRI, there are still some things you should keep in mind while checking your CIBIL score from abroad.
1. Need for an Indian Mobile Number: While checking your CIBIL score on platforms such as bank websites or fintech websites, you would require a registered Indian mobile number. This is necessary for verifying your identity via an OTP.
2. Indian ID Proof: This one goes without saying. You definitely need a valid Indian ID proof if you wish to check your credit score from abroad. This could be your PAN card or any other ID that is available as an option on the platform you choose to view your CIBIL score on.
3. Regional Restrictions: While most of these platforms support Indian users logging in from other countries, regional restrictions might exist on international access. In such cases, NRIs often use VPNs to access Indian-based services.
Read More:: Is 776 a Good CIBIL Score?
As an NRI, you must regularly check your CIBIL score. Doing this is very easy and the best part is that you can do this from abroad itself. Three major ways of checking your CIBIL score as an NRI are: visiting the official website of any one of the four Indian Credit Bureaus, visiting the official website or mobile app of your Indian bank and visiting any FinTech platform such as PhonePe, Paisabazaar, etc. Make sure you have a registered Indian mobile number where you can receive the OTP for identification purposes. You must also have a valid Indian ID proof, without which it is impossible to check your CIBIL score. It is crucial to check your CIBIL score to make it easy for you to handle finances in India, be it applying for loans and credit cards or making any investments in the country.
1. Is it possible for NRIs to check their CIBIL score from abroad?
Yes. It is possible for NRIs to check their CIBIL score from abroad very easily. They can do so either by visiting the official website of any of the four Indian credit bureaus, of their specific Indian bank or that of any major Indian FinTech company.
2. Do I need to pay any extra money to check the CIBIL score from abroad?
No. There are no extra charges levied on you if you are an NRI who wants to check his CIBIL score from outside of India.
3. What documents do NRIs need to check CIBIL scores from abroad?
NRIs who wish to check their CIBIL score from abroad should make sure they have valid Indian ID proof such as a PAN card, Driver's Licence, Voter ID card, and Passport. In addition to this, they must ensure that they have a registered Indian mobile number on which they will receive the OTP for identity verification. This is extremely important, and without it, NRIs cannot check their CIBIL score from abroad.
4. Do NRIs have a CIBIL score?
Yes, all NRIs with financial going-on within India will also have a CIBIL score. Many NRIs invest in properties and businesses in India, they often apply for loans and credit cards in Indian banks. All this helps them build up a CIBIL score.
5. Do NRIs need a CIBIL score for credit cards?
Yes, NRIs need a good CIBIL score to apply for a credit card in an Indian bank.
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