Can an Indian resident add a nominee or open a joint account at IBKR, or transfer ETFs to family?

From IBKR's published rules, as of 2026:

• Nomination / Transfer on Death (TOD): not available. TOD registration is only for US residents. For an Indian resident, heirs claim through IBKR's estate process: a death certificate, then a probate or succession certificate from an Indian court (or the will, where applicable). This can take months, so keep a will that names the account, and make sure your family knows it exists and has IBKR's estate-processing contact.
• Joint accounts: possible in principle, but under LRS and FEMA each co-holder must fund their share from their own remittance. Confirm the current eligibility with IBKR India before relying on it for succession. A joint account with rights of survivorship is the closest substitute for TOD.
• In-kind transfers between family members' accounts: not allowed. IBKR only moves positions between accounts with identical ownership and titles, and FEMA rules on transferring overseas holdings between residents add another layer. In practice you'd have to sell, and the family member would buy with their own LRS remittance.

Practical steps: make a will, keep a simple note of your IBKR account and contacts with your important papers, and consider a joint account if a spouse also invests abroad.