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
- Ahmedabad, India's first UNESCO World Heritage City and Gujarat's business capital.
- Security deposit
- Two to three months' rent as standard, rising to four to six months for fully furnished luxury units.
- Standard lease
- An 11-month leave and license agreement (the usual Indian lease), kept under 12 months to avoid compulsory registration and renewed each year.
- Brokerage
- Typically one month's rent.
- 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
Ahmedabad is easy, safe and affordable, but a few realities catch newcomers off guard. These are the things every incoming expat deserves to know before they arrive.
It's a dry state
Gujarat has banned alcohol since 1960. As a foreign national you can drink legally, but only with a liquor permit (a short visitor permit or a longer-term health permit), applied for online via the Gujarat e-permit portal. Permitted liquor is sold at licensed shops inside certain hotels. There is no bar culture; plan your social life around cafés, food and home.
Brutal summer heat
April to June is fierce · 40-42°C routinely, spiking to 44-45°C in May. The heat is dry but relentless. Make sure your apartment's AC is serviced before April, budget for high summer electricity bills, and keep outdoor activity to early mornings.
Fewer international schools
Ahmedabad has only one full IB-continuum school and a handful of strong international options, far fewer than Mumbai or Bengaluru. The best places are competitive. Sort schooling early in your assignment discussion, especially if you need a specific curriculum, and apply months ahead.
Conservative & Business-First
This is a working city with a smaller, business-oriented expat community than the big metros. Social life revolves around work networks, hotels, clubs and family rather than a buzzing nightlife scene. It suits assignees who value calm, safety and substance, set that expectation with trailing partners.
Winter air quality
Air quality is generally better than Delhi, but it deteriorates in winter (Nov-Jan) with temperature inversions, dust and traffic, days can reach "poor/unhealthy" levels. Invest in a HEPA air purifier, particularly for young children and anyone with respiratory conditions.
Traffic takes local knowledge
Ahmedabad is easier than the mega-metros, but two-wheelers weave unpredictably and road etiquette takes getting used to. We strongly recommend not self-driving for your first few months: use a chauffeured car or ride-hailing while you learn the city's rhythms.
GIFT City Commute & Housing
If you work at GIFT City, factor a 30-50 minute commute from the western suburbs (the new Phase 2 metro helps). On-site residential stock is still maturing, so many finance professionals live in Ahmedabad West and commute: visit before committing to either.
Rent Agreement & Form C
Insist on a properly executed, e-stamped Rent Agreement before paying any deposit, and make sure your landlord files Form C on the e-FRRO portal reporting your stay, many private landlords don't know this is required. IKAN reviews every agreement and manages all foreign-national compliance as standard.
03Common Questions
Common questions
The questions families ask us most, answered from this guide.
How much security deposit do landlords in Ahmedabad ask for?
Two to three months' rent as standard, rising to four to six months for fully furnished luxury units. Your IKAN consultant negotiates it and gets the figure in writing before you sign.
What is the standard lease length in Ahmedabad?
An 11-month leave and license agreement, the usual Indian lease. It is kept under 12 months so that it does not have to be registered, and it is renewed each year. Three IKAN reviewers check every clause before the lease reaches you.
Is brokerage payable when renting in Ahmedabad?
Typically one month's rent. IKAN's home-search service handles the broker negotiations and viewings for you.
Which are the best neighbourhoods in Ahmedabad for a relocating family or professional?
This guide profiles 6 areas, and families ask us most about four of them. Prahlad Nagar is the most cosmopolitan. Bodakdev is a prestige address close to the business district. Satellite is central and the safe default. Thaltej has newer gated homes and the metro. 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 Ahmedabad?
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.