NASDAQ · ETF
Invest in VWOB ETF from India
Indian and foreign residents can buy Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF (VWOB) units directly through Paasa.
By Paasa · Updated
VWOB at a glance
- Price
- $63.25-$0.21 (0.33%)
- Expense ratio
- 0.15%
- Day range
- $63.23 – $63.52
- Assets
- $6.9B
- Domicile
- the US
- Holdings
- 200
- Launched
- 2013
- Dividends
- Distributing
- 1 month
- -4.18%
- 6 months
- -2.69%
- YTD
- -6.38%
- 1 year
- -5.64%
- 5 years
- -19.22%
Price change, excluding dividends.
Top 10 holdings
- 1Argentine Republic Government International Bond 4.13% 07/09/20351.2%
- 2Argentine Republic Government International Bond 5.00% 01/09/20380.7%
- 3Argentine Republic Government International Bond 0.75% 07/09/20300.7%
- 4Petroleos Mexicanos 7.69% 01/23/20500.6%
- 5Argentine Republic Government International Bond 3.50% 07/09/20410.6%
- 6Petroleos Mexicanos 6.70% 02/16/20320.5%
- 7MKTLIQ 12/31/20490.5%
- 8Eagle Funding Luxco Sarl 5.50% 08/17/20300.5%
- 9Eagle Funding Luxco Sarl 5.50% 08/17/20300.5%
- 10Ecuador Government International Bond 6.90% 07/31/20350.4%
VWOB holds 200 securities in total. These 10 are 5.9% of the fund.
Where the money is invested
Countries
- Mexico9.9%
- Saudi Arabia8.1%
- Turkey6.2%
- Cayman Islands5.8%
- Indonesia5.5%
- United Arab Emirates5.1%
Similar funds
| Fund | Expense ratio | Assets |
|---|---|---|
| VDEALSEVanguard USD Emerging Markets Government Bond UCITS ETF (USD) Accumulating | 0.23% | 1.6B |
| VDETLSEVanguard USD Emerging Markets Government Bond UCITS ETF (USD) Distributing | 0.23% | 1.6B |
| LEMBLSEAmundi USD Emerging Markets Government Bond UCITS ETF | 0.25% | 745.6M |
Assets are shown in each fund's own reporting currency.
How to invest in VWOB from India
Step 1
Open your Paasa account
KYC takes a few minutes: PAN, Aadhaar and address proof. Your brokerage account is opened in your own name with Interactive Brokers.
Step 2
Add funds from your Indian bank account
Remit up to $250,000 a year under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme. Your bank converts the rupees to US dollars at its rate on the day you remit.
Step 3
Search VWOB and buy
Find the fund by its ticker, VWOB, on NASDAQ, and place your order. Fractional units are available and there is no minimum trade size, so you can buy by amount.
Why invest in VWOB from India
What VWOB holds
The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of U.S. dollar-denominated bonds issued by governments and government-related issuers in emerging market countries. The Fund tracks the performance of the Bloomberg USD Emerging Markets Government RIC Capped Index.
Hold a dollar asset
VWOB is priced in US dollars, so a weaker rupee adds to what it's worth in rupees. The rupee depreciated over 85% against the dollar between 2010 and 2025.
Buy a fraction of a unit
Buy by amount, not by unit, and get the matching fraction of one VWOB unit. There is no minimum trade size.
Paasa handles the paperwork
Investing abroad brings paperwork with it: remittance filings, capital gains reporting, foreign asset disclosure. Paasa prepares all of it for you. Your India-ready tax reports arrive at year end, ready to file.
Planning to hold more than $60,000 in US ETFs? Here's what US estate tax means for you.
US-domiciled ETFs held in your own name fall under US estate tax rules. If your US holdings cross $60,000, the amount above that can be taxed at up to 40% when the account passes to your family.
A UCITS ETF tracking a similar market sits outside US estate tax.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy VWOB from India?
Yes. Indian residents can buy Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF (VWOB) through Paasa. It is listed on NASDAQ and trades in US dollars. Your money leaves India under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme, and the units are held in your own name at Interactive Brokers.
What does VWOB invest in?
Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF holds 200 securities. Its largest holdings are Argentine Republic Government International Bond 4.13% 07/09/2035 (1.2%), Argentine Republic Government International Bond 5.00% 01/09/2038 (0.7%) and Argentine Republic Government International Bond 0.75% 07/09/2030 (0.7%). It is a distributing fund domiciled in the US.
What is the expense ratio of VWOB?
Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF has an expense ratio of 0.15% a year, taken from the fund's assets rather than billed to you. The fund manages about $6.9B.
How are VWOB dividends taxed in India?
Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF is a distributing fund. It pays the dividends from its holdings out to you in cash. Dividends are taxed at your slab rate in India. Paasa's dividend report lists the gross dividend and any tax withheld for each payment.
What tax do I pay in India when I sell VWOB?
The US does not levy capital gains tax on shares for Indian residents. Gains are taxable in India. Debt-oriented funds can be taxed differently from equity funds, so confirm your rate before selling. The gain is worked out in rupees at the USD/INR rate on the day you bought and the day you sold, so the currency move is part of the gain. Paasa's capital-gains statement gives you the figures for your return.
Can I buy a fraction of one VWOB unit?
Yes. You can buy by amount rather than by unit and add to your position over time. One unit is $63.25, and there is no minimum trade size.
What happens to my VWOB units if I pass away?
US-domiciled ETFs held in your own name fall under US estate tax rules. If your US holdings cross $60,000, the amount above that can be taxed at up to 40% when the account passes to your family. A UCITS ETF tracking a similar market sits outside US estate tax. Paasa's US estate tax calculator shows the exposure for a given portfolio value.