Indian Community Welfare Fund
The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) helps Indian nationals facing emergencies abroad — including being stranded, hospitalized, arrested for minor offences, or deceased — through Indian Embassies and Consulates in over 180 countries. It covers costs like repatriation airfare, shelter, legal aid, emergency medical care, and payment of minor fines. Indian nationals in distress should contact the nearest Indian Mission or Embassy in their host country.
About This Scheme
The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) helps Indian nationals facing emergencies abroad — including being stranded, hospitalized, arrested for minor offences, or deceased — through Indian Embassies and Consulates in over 180 countries. It covers costs like repatriation airfare, shelter, legal aid, emergency medical care, and payment of minor fines. Indian nationals in distress should contact the nearest Indian Mission or Embassy in their host country.
Full official description
A scheme by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for the welfare of Overseas Indians; assisting them in distress situations.
ICWF has also been a critical support in emergency evacuation of Indian nationals from conflict zones, countries affected by natural disasters and other challenging situations. In view of its immense utility, ICWF stands extended to all Indian Missions and Posts abroad.
The ICWF guidelines have been revised further to make them more broad-based and expand the scope of welfare measures that can be extended through the Fund. They are expected to provide Indian Missions and Posts abroad greater flexibility in swiftly addressing to requests for assistance by Overseas Indian nationals.
Benefits
- Emergency airfare to return stranded Indian nationals home
- Transportation of mortal remains to India or funding for local cremation/burial
- Budget accommodation and meals through Embassy-empaneled shelters
- Legal assistance for minor offences and help securing release from jail or detention
- Payment of small fines for minor immigration violations where the worker is not at fault
- Emergency medical care for accidents, life-threatening injuries, or serious disabilities
Who Can Apply (Eligibility)
- Must be an Indian national (passport holder) currently residing or working abroad
- Must be in a distress situation: stranded, injured, in legal trouble, deceased, or facing financial hardship
- Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) and OCI card holders are NOT eligible for individual financial assistance
- Specific eligibility conditions vary by host country; contact the relevant Indian Embassy for details
Exclusions
Persons of Indian Origin aren’t covered under ICWF. The “Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) Card Holders” are not eligible for individual financial assistance from ICWF.
How to Apply
Compensation Claims for Indian Nationals who died Abroad: The application process and the documents required for the compensation claims varies from nation to nation. The nation-wise detailed information can be found at the following link: https://www.mea.gov.in/images/pdf/compendium.pdf Sample Application Forms for Seeking Financial Assistance under ICWF - Embassy of India, Kuwait: https://indembkwt.gov.in/pdf/Application%20for%20seeking%20financial%20assistance%20from%20ICWF.pdf Embassy of India, Jeddah: https://www.cgijeddah.gov.in/web_files/779810210-Form%20for%20ICWF%20assitaance.pdf
Frequently Asked Questions
Is legal assistance also provided to the Overseas Indian students who are in distress?
Yes, Overseas Indian students who are in distress are eligible for support under this scheme.
In what cases is an Overseas Indian woman eligible to receive legal assistance?
Legal/financial assistance is provided to Indian women abandoned/ cheated / abused by their Overseas Indian/PIO or foreign spouses (up to seven years after their marriage.
Under what circumstances does the scheme provide support for transportation of Mortal Remains of the deceased Overseas Indian?
Such support is provided in such cases where the employer, sponsor or insurance company is unable or unwilling to do so as per the contract and the family is unable to meet the cost.
Are OCI card holders eligible for financial assistance under ICWF?
No, the "Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) Card Holders" are not eligible for individual financial assistance from ICWF.
Is a person from Indian origin but distressed in a foreign country eligible for assistance?
No, Persons of Indian Origin aren't covered under ICWF.
Does ICWF also provides support in emergency evacuation of Indian nationals?
Yes, ICWF has been a critical support in emergency evacuation of Indian nationals in conflict zones in Libya, Iraq, Yemen, South Sudan and other challenging situations.
Whom should I approach to file the compensation claim for my husband?
You need to contact the "First Point of Contact" of the nation in which your husband died.
Ready to apply?
Visit the official government portal to apply for this scheme.
Apply on myScheme.gov.inDocuments Required
- For filing Compensation Claims for Indian Nationals who died Abroad:
- (varies from nation to nation)
- Death Certificate
- Bank details of the deceased
- Insurance Number of the deceased
- Marriage Certificate (spouse) and Birth Certificate (of children)
- Original Passport of the deceased along with a photocopy
- Power of attorney from next-of-kin in the name of Embassy or any individual residing in Austria whom the deceased’s family would like to appoint.
- Legal Heir Certificate, to be obtained by the next-of-kin through the concerned Taluk/Thasildar or through the District Civil Court of the concerned area in India.
- Any other document that seem relevant depending upon the death case, such as police report (from the local police), medical report (from the hospital)
- NOC from other Heirs (in case of multiple heirs)
- Source
- https://www.mea.gov.in/images/pdf/compendium.pdf