Claiming Indian Shares and IEPF Holdings from China
For Indians working in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen or Guangzhou, the practical barrier to an Indian share claim used to be document legalisation. That changed in November 2023, when the Apostille Convention came into force for mainland China.
We handle the Indian side of the claim — registrar liaison, IEPF filing, transmission documentation — from our office in Gurugram. The first assessment is free.
Claims from mainland China, handled from our Gurugram office · Reviewed 21 September 2026
A posted community with assets left in India
The Indian population in mainland China is largely professional and mobile: managers, engineers and traders on multi-year postings in the coastal cities. Few intend to stay permanently, and most left their Indian financial affairs as they were.
That is precisely how a folio goes stale. An Indian address that nobody collects post at, KYC never updated, dividends unclaimed — and after seven years the shares and the money move to the Investor Education and Protection Fund.
Apostilles have been available in mainland China since November 2023
The Apostille Convention entered into force for the People’s Republic of China on 7 November 2023. Documents executed in the mainland for use in India are now notarised and then apostilled, with no Indian consular legalisation needed afterwards.
Apostilles are issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and by authorised local foreign affairs offices, so the competent office depends on the province or municipality where the document was notarised. Hong Kong and Macao were already covered by the Convention before the mainland joined; if you are in Hong Kong, see our Hong Kong page.
What you will need
- Affidavit-cum-NOC and indemnity bond, notarised in China and apostilled by the MFA or an authorised local foreign affairs office
- Passport with residence permit, OCI card if you hold one, and PAN
- Proof of address for KYC
- An Indian demat account, usually NRO-linked, opened before the claim is filed
Where the shares land, and moving money out
Recovered shares are credited to an Indian demat account. Holdings you inherited, or bought while you were resident in India, are generally held on a non-repatriable basis through an NRO-linked account; your bank confirms what applies to your status.
From NRO balances, NRIs may remit up to USD 1 million per financial year, with Form 15CA and a chartered accountant’s certificate in Form 15CB. Build that timeline in if the family is planning to distribute proceeds.
What we handle
Questions from China
Can I get an apostille in Shanghai or Beijing?
Yes. Since 7 November 2023 the Convention has been in force for mainland China, and apostilles are issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or an authorised local foreign affairs office, depending on where the document was notarised.
Do I still need the Indian embassy or consulate?
Not for authenticating an apostilled document. India has consular posts in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou for passport, OCI and similar services.
How do I file Form IEPF-5 from China?
The form is filed online on the MCA portal and costs nothing. The supporting documents are then posted to the company’s nodal officer in India and the postal receipt uploaded against the SRN — a step many claimants miss, which stalls the claim.
Can my family in India act on my behalf?
Largely, under a power of attorney signed in China, notarised and apostilled. Confirm with the registrar which steps it will accept under a power of attorney before relying on it.
What are your fees?
No advance professional fee and no charge for the first assessment. An agreed percentage is charged once the shares are credited to your demat account.