Before you go
At a glance, Watch Out, Common Questions, IKAN India Essentials. 5 min read.
01At a glance
Key facts at a glance
The figures families ask us for first. Each one is explained in its chapter.
- Where you are moving
- Bengaluru, India's technology capital.
- Security deposit
- Six to ten months' rent is standard in Bengaluru, well above most Indian cities. Premium gated communities sometimes settle at three to six months for senior tenants.
- Standard lease
- An 11-month leave and license (the usual Indian lease) is standard, renewable with a 5 to 10% annual escalation.
- Move-in report
- Your move-in record is made in move.report and reaches you within 24 hours of check-in. You can comment on it for 24 hours from when you receive it. See a sample report.
- Foreigner registration
- Your landlord or hotel files Form C within 24 hours of arrival, and you keep the receipt. Then you complete FRRO registration within 14 days.
02Watch Out
What to watch out for
Bengaluru rewards preparation. These are the realities every incoming expat deserves to know before signing anything or forming firm expectations. We are honest, especially about the traffic.
Traffic · the #1 complaint
Outer Ring Road, Silk Board Junction, Marathahalli flyover and Hosur Road south of Electronic City form a chronic ring of peak-hour gridlock. A 10 km journey can take 60 to 90 minutes from 8 to 11am and 5 to 9pm. The Purple Line and Yellow Line metros have eased some east-west and south corridors, but the Airport Line is still under construction. Plan office location with traffic in mind, and budget for a chauffeur from Day 1.
Water supply is borewell + tanker
Bengaluru's BWSSB Cauvery water doesn't reach every newer locality. Whitefield, Sarjapur Road, Bellandur and parts of north Bengaluru depend on borewells + private water tankers (₹500 to 1,500 per tanker). Most gated communities manage water privately. Confirm water sourcing arrangements before signing your Leave & License. Bengaluru's "Day Zero" warnings recur annually in dry summers.borewells + private water tankers (₹500 to 1,500 per tanker)
AQI honest take
Bengaluru is one of India's cleaner big-city baselines (typical AQI 60 to 120, Moderate), but Whitefield and Outer Ring Road regularly touch 180 to 220 in the dry Dec-Mar months due to construction dust and traffic emissions. Far better than Delhi, but not "clean", air purifiers indoors are sensible for the asthma-prone.
BBMP civic infrastructure
Bengaluru's growth has outpaced BBMP's infrastructure delivery, potholes, broken footpaths, monsoon drainage failures and Outer Ring Road's perpetual construction are real frustrations. Civic improvements are happening, but slowly. Gated communities and central neighbourhoods (Indiranagar, Malleshwaram, the CBD) are visibly better maintained than the city average.
Security deposits are steep
Bengaluru landlords expect 6-10 months security deposit, among the highest of any Indian metro. Premium gated communities sometimes negotiate to 3 to 6 months for senior expat tenants. Never transfer a deposit without a signed, properly stamped Leave & License in hand. IKAN's legal team reviews every Leave & License before signing.
TISB & Stonehill Waitlists
The International School Bangalore and Stonehill International both run multi-stage admissions cycles with waitlists at competitive entry years (Grade 1, 6, 11). Boarding spots fill earliest. Corporate expats need a sponsor letter. Apply 6 to 12 months before your move, not after arrival. IKAN coordinates introductions to admissions officers.
Tech-corridor cost inflation
Whitefield, Sarjapur and Bellandur rents and grocery prices have surged 25-35% since 2022, driven by the hiring at global capability centres (GCCs, the big tech back offices). Some categories (premium produce, imported goods, premium gym memberships) cost more than equivalent locations in Bengaluru Central. Factor this into your relocation budget.
Metro coverage still maturing
Namma Metro has progressed dramatically, Purple Line to Whitefield, Yellow Line to Electronic City, but does not yet cover Sarjapur Road, Bannerghatta Road south, or the airport. The Blue Line / Airport Line is under construction, with the airport section targeted for June 2027. Until then, road remains the dominant mode for many corridors.
03Common Questions
Common questions
The questions families ask us most, answered from this guide.
How much security deposit do landlords in Bengaluru ask for?
Six to ten months' rent is standard in Bengaluru, well above most Indian cities. Premium gated communities sometimes settle at three to six months for senior tenants. Your IKAN consultant negotiates it and gets the figure in writing before you sign.
What is the standard lease length in Bengaluru?
An 11-month leave and license is standard, renewable with a 5 to 10% rise each year. Three IKAN reviewers check every clause before the lease reaches you.
Which are the best neighbourhoods in Bengaluru for a relocating family or professional?
This guide profiles 8 areas, and families ask us most about four of them. Indiranagar has the restaurants and pubs around 100 Feet Road. Koramangala (5th, 6th and 7th Block) is India's startup headquarters. Whitefield is the eastern tech corridor, with its gated communities. HSR Layout is quiet and residential, on a growing tech stretch. The Where to live chapter helps you match a shortlist to your budget and commute.
How does the IKAN move-in inspection work?
On check-in day your consultant photographs every meter, key and fixture. The record is made in move.report and reaches you within 24 hours. You can comment on it for 24 hours from when you receive it, and then it is locked as your move-in baseline. That baseline is what protects your deposit at move-out.
Do foreign nationals need to register with the FRRO in Bengaluru?
Yes. Your landlord or hotel files Form C within 24 hours of your arrival, and you keep the receipt. Then you complete FRRO registration within 14 days. IKAN prepares the paperwork and books the appointment so the clock is never missed.
04Go Deeper · IKAN India Essentials
Step by step guides for the paperwork
Each step in this guide has a matching IKAN India Essentials guide. It goes through the forms one by one, and it is the pack your consultant works from. Start with these five.
FRRO Registration
The 14 day rule, the e-FRRO portal walkthrough and the exact document kit.
Read the guide
Money & Banking
NRE and NRO accounts, UPI setup and moving money in and out of India.
Read the guide
Renting Your Home
The Leave & License playbook: deposits, clauses and registration.
Read the guide
Schools & Admissions
Curricula, timelines and the admissions paperwork, board by board.
Read the guide
Healthcare in India
Hospitals, insurance networks, pharmacies and everyday care.
Read the guide
Already moving with IKAN?
Your homes, dates and papers are in i-Navigate, IKAN's app for families. It opens with the email address your IKAN consultant has for you, then sends you a six digit code.
Open your move Not moving with IKAN yet? Write to relo@ikan.com and a consultant will reply.