Before you go
At a glance, Before You Sign the Leave & License, Emergency & Support, Common Questions, IKAN India Essentials. 6 min read.
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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
- Hyderabad, where Nizami heritage meets India's most competitive tech corridor.
- Security deposit
- Three months' rent, refundable, paid at leave and license signing.
- Standard lease
- An 11-month leave and license (the usual Indian lease) is standard, renewable with a 5 to 10% escalation.
- 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.
02Before You Sign the Leave & License
Watch Out, Honest Reality Check
What to check before you sign the lease
Hyderabad is an excellent posting, but some things can catch newcomers off guard. These are the things IKAN's team tells every client before arrival.
Traffic worse than it looks on maps
HITEC City internal roads and Jubilee Hills junctions congest significantly at peak hours. A 10km journey can take 45 minutes at 9am. Always conduct a trial commute before signing your Leave & License. The western corridor is the most congested zone, factor this in carefully.
Summer heat requires full AC infrastructure
April-June temperatures reach 38-40°C. Always verify your apartment has full AC in every room, DG power backup for the AC, and no water shortage history in the hot months before signing. This is the most common issue reported by newly arrived professionals who signed Leave & License agreements in cooler months.
FRRO Registration Deadlines are Non-Negotiable
If your visa carries a registration endorsement (employment, student and dependant visas usually do), FRRO registration within 14 days of arrival is mandatory and legally binding. Other long-stay visa holders must register before completing 180 days in India; when in doubt, treat 14 days as the deadline. Non-registration can escalate beyond fines to criminal penalties (up to 3 years' imprisonment and/or a ₹3 lakh fine). Do not prioritise property hunting or school visits over FRRO registration. IKAN coordinates the FRRO appointment as Day 3-4 registration immediately on your arrival, before everything else.
Monsoon flooding in low-lying areas
Himayatnagar, Falaknuma, and parts of Kukatpally flood during August-September monsoon peaks. Check the specific building's flood history, as well as the neighbourhood's, before signing any Leave & License.
Telugu language outside expat zones
Daily life outside HITEC City and Jubilee Hills operates primarily in Telugu or Urdu. English is widely spoken in the tech corridor but less so elsewhere. Learning basic Telugu greetings is warmly received and helpful.
IKAN's Honest Assessment
Hyderabad is consistently ranked India's most liveable major city, and every challenge above is completely manageable with the right preparation. Check your AC, power backup, and water supply before signing any Leave & License. Use Ola/Uber for Old City visits. IKAN has guided hundreds of moves into Hyderabad and knows exactly where every pitfall is.
03Emergency & Support
Emergency numbers
Save all of these before your first day. Your IKAN consultant is your first call in any non-medical emergency.
| All Emergencies | 112 |
| Ambulance | 108 |
| Police | 100 |
| Fire Service | 101 |
| Women's Helpline | 181 |
| Cyber Crime | 1930 |
| Apollo Emergency | 040-2360-7777 |
| KIMS Emergency | 040-4488-5000 |
| Medicover Hospitals | 040-6833-4455 |
| Continental Hospital | 040-6700-0000 |
| Tele MANAS (NIMHANS) | 14416 |
| US Consulate Hyderabad | 040-4033-8300 |
| British Honorary Consul | +91 98 4906 8868 |
| German Consulate | 040-6641-7200 |
| Japanese Consulate | 040-6640-4999 |
| FRRO Hyderabad | 040-2329-7009 |
| FRRO Online Portal | indianfrro.gov.in |
| IKAN Support | relo@ikan.com |
IKAN Support
Your IKAN consultant is available throughout your settling-in period. Contact your assigned consultant directly for support.
FRRO Hyderabad (Expats)
Foreigners on long-term visas register and extend online via the e-FRRO portal (indianfrro.gov.in). Office: Bureau of Immigration, Bowenpally, Secunderabad. Register within 14 days of arrival if your visa carries a registration endorsement; other long-stay visas before completing 180 days.
Mental Health Resources
Tele MANAS (NIMHANS): 14416 (24/7) · iCall: 9152987821. These resources are available and confidential.
04Common Questions
Common questions
The questions families ask us most, answered from this guide.
How much security deposit do landlords in Hyderabad ask for?
Three months' rent, refundable, paid at leave and license signing. Your IKAN consultant negotiates it and gets the figure in writing before you sign.
What is the standard lease length in Hyderabad?
An 11-month leave and license, the usual Indian lease, is standard, renewable with a 5 to 10% rise. Three IKAN reviewers check every clause before the lease reaches you.
Is brokerage payable when renting in Hyderabad?
Typically one month's rent. IKAN's home-search service handles the broker negotiations and viewings for you.
Which are the best neighbourhoods in Hyderabad for a relocating family or professional?
This guide profiles 6 areas, and families ask us most about four of them. Banjara Hills is the most prestigious address. Jubilee Hills is the family heartland. Gachibowli is a tech hub, so your commute can be almost nothing. Madhapur and HITEC City are the tech core. 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 Hyderabad?
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.
05Go 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.