Introduction:

The legal framework for administration of foreign exchange transactions in India is provided by the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999. Under the Act, freedom has been granted for buying and selling of foreign exchange for undertaking current account transactions. The Government has issued Foreign Exchange Management (Current Account Transactions) Rules,2000 which have been notified vide  Notifications GSR. 381(E) dated May 3, 2000, S.O. 301(E) dated March 30, 2001 and GSR.608(E) dated September 13, 2004 as amended from time to time. The last amendment to the G.S.R is vide Notification No., G.S.R. No.412 (E) dated July 11, 2006.

Under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) [which replaced FERA], which has come into force with effect from June 1, 2000, all transactions involving foreign exchange have been classified either as Capital or Current Account transactions. All transactions undertaken by a resident that do not alter his assets or liabilities outside India are current account transactions. In terms of Section 5 of the FEMA, persons resident in India are free to buy or sell foreign exchange for any current account transaction except for those transactions for which drawal of foreign exchange has been prohibited by Central Government, vide its Notification referred to above. A copy of the Notification is available in the Official Gazette as well as an annexure to our Master Circular on Miscellaneous Remittances available at our website www.mastercirculars.rbi.org.in.

These details are available on the Reserve Bank’s website as well as with the authorised dealers and regional offices of the Foreign Exchange Department of Reserve Bank. This FAQ attempts to answer all such questions in simple language.

I. Guidelines on Travel Related Matters

1. Who is a resident?

A 'person resident in India' is defined in Section 2(v) of FEMA, 1999 as:

A person residing in India for more than one hundred and eighty-two days during the course of the preceding financial year but does not include –

(A) a person who has gone out of India or who stays outside India, in either case -

for or on taking up employment outside India, or

for carrying on outside India a business or vocation outside India, or

for any other purpose, in such circumstances as would indicate his intention to stay outside India for an uncertain period;

(B) a person who has come to or stays in India, in either case, otherwise than –

for or on taking up employment in India, or

for carrying on in India a business or vocation in India, or

for any other purpose, in such circumstances as would indicate his intention to stay in India for an uncertain period;

any person or body corporate registered or incorporated in India,

an office, branch or agency in India owned or controlled by a person resident outside India,

an office, branch or agency outside India owned or controlled by a person resident in India;

That is to qualify as a resident the person concerned will have to fulfill the criterion regarding (a) the duration of stay and (b) the purpose of stay.

The term Person Resident Outside India  is defined in  the Act as a person who is not a person resident in India.

2. From where one can buy foreign exchange?

Foreign exchange can be purchased from any authorised dealer. Besides authorised dealers, full-fledged money changers are also permitted to release exchange for business and private visits.

3. Who is an authorized dealer?

An authorized dealer is normally a bank specifically authorized by the Reserve Bank under Section 10(1) of FEMA,1999, to deal in foreign exchange or foreign securities (List available on www.fedai.org.in ).

4. How much exchange is available for a business trip?

Authorized dealers can release foreign exchange up to USD 25,000 for a business trip to any country other than Nepal and Bhutan. Release of foreign exchange exceeding USD 25,000 for a travel abroad (other than Nepal and Bhutan) for business purposes, irrespective of period of stay, requires prior permission from Reserve Bank. Visits in connection with attending of an international conference, seminar, specialised training, study tour, apprentice training, etc., are treated as business visits.

Incidentally, no release of foreign exchange is admissible for any kind of travel to Nepal and Bhutan or for any transaction with persons resident in Nepal and Bhutan.

5. Can one obtain additional foreign exchange for medical treatment outside India?

Authorized dealers may release foreign exchange upto USD 100,000 or its equivalent to resident Indians for medical treatment abroad on self declaration basis of essential details, without insisting on any estimate from a hospital/doctor in India/abroad. A person visiting abroad for medical treatment can obtain foreign exchange exceeding the above limit, provided the request is supported by an estimate from a hospital/doctor in India/abroad. This release of foreign exchange of USD 100,000 is to meet the expenses involved in treatment and it is in addition to the amount of USD 25,000 released for maintenance expenses of a patient going abroad for medical treatment or check-up abroad, or for accompanying as attendant to a patient going abroad for medical treatment/check-up.

6. How much exchange is available for studies outside India?

Authorized dealers may release foreign exchange for an amount of USD 100,000 per academic year or the estimate received from the institution abroad, whichever is higher. Students going abroad for studies are treated as Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and are eligible for all the facilities available to NRIs under FEMA. In addition, they can receive remittances up to USD 100,000 from close relatives (as defined in Section 6 of the Companies Act,1956) from India on self-declaration, towards maintenance, which could include remittances towards their studies also. Educational and other loans availed of by students as resident in India can be allowed to continue. There is no dilution in the existing remittance facilities to students in regard to their academic pursuits.

7. How much foreign exchange can one buy when traveling abroad on private visits to a country outside India?

In connection with private visits abroad, viz., for tourism purposes, etc., foreign exchange up to USD10,000, in any one financial year may be obtained from an authorised dealer on a self-declaration basis. The ceiling of USD10,000 is applicable in aggregate and foreign exchange may be obtained for one or more than one visit provided the aggregate foreign exchange availed of in one financial year does not exceed the prescribed ceiling of USD10,000 {The facility was earlier called B.T.Q or F.T.S.}. This limit of USD10,000 per financial year can be availed of by a person along with foreign exchange for travel abroad for any purpose, including for employment or immigration or studies. However, no foreign exchange is available for visit to Nepal and/or Bhutan for any purpose.

8. How much foreign exchange is available to a person going abroad on employment?

Person going abroad for employment can draw foreign exchange up-to USD100,000 from any authorised dealer in India on the basis of self-declaration.

9. How much foreign exchange is available to a person going abroad on emigration?

Person going abroad on emigration can draw foreign exchange upto USD100,000 on self- declaration basis from an authorized dealer in India. This amount is only to meet the incidental expenses in the country of emigration. No amount of foreign exchange can be remitted outside India to become eligible or for earning points or credits for immigration. All such remittances require prior permission of the Reserve Bank.

10. Is there any category of visit which requires prior approval from the Reserve Bank or Govt. of India?

In case of dance troupes, artistes, etc., who wish to undertake cultural tours abroad, they should obtain prior approval from the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India, New Delhi.

11. How much foreign exchange can be purchased in foreign currency notes while buying exchange for travel abroad?

Travellers are allowed to purchase foreign currency notes/coins only up to USD 2000. Balance amount can be taken in the form of travellers cheque or banker’s draft. Exceptions to this are (a) travellers proceeding to Iraq and Libya can draw foreign exchange in the form of foreign currency notes and coins not exceeding USD 5000 or its equivalent; (b) travellers proceeding to the Islamic Republic of Iran, Russian Federation and other Republics of Commonwealth of Independent States can draw entire foreign exchange in the form of foreign currency notes or coins.

12. Do same Rules apply to persons going for studies abroad?

For the purpose of studies abroad, exchange for maintenance expenses is released in the form of (i) currency notes up to USD 2,000, (ii) the balance foreign exchange may be taken in the form of travellers cheques or bank draft payable overseas.

13. How much in advance one can buy foreign exchange for travel abroad?

The foreign exchange acquired for any purpose has to be used within 180 days of purchase. In case it is not possible to use the foreign exchange within the period of 180 days, it should be surrendered to an authorised person.

14. Can one pay by cash full rupee equivalent of foreign exchange being purchased for travel abroad ?

Foreign exchange for travel abroad can be purchased from authorized person against rupee payment in cash up to Rs.50,000/-. However, if the rupee equivalent exceeds Rs.50,000/-, the entire payment should be made by way of a crossed cheque/banker’s cheque/pay order/demand draft only.

15. Is there any time frame for a traveller who has returned to India to surrender foreign exchange?

On return from a foreign trip, travellers are required to surrender unspent foreign exchange held in the form of currency notes and travellers cheques within 180 days of return. However, they are free to retain foreign exchange upto USD 2,000, in the form of foreign currency notes or TCs for future use or credit to their RFC(Domestic) Accounts without any limit.

16. On return to India can one retain foreign exchange?

Residents have the choice of either holding foreign currency up to USD 2,000 or its equivalent or credit the amount to their RFC(Domestic) Accounts provided the foreign exchange was acquired by them:-

a. while on a visit abroad as payment for services not arising from any business in or anything done in India; or

b. as honorarium or gift or for services rendered or in settlement of any lawful obligation from any person who is not resident in India and who is on a visit to India; or

c. as honorarium or gift while on a visit to any place outside India; or

d. from an authorised person for travel abroad and represents the unspent amount thereof.

17. Is one required to surrender foreign coins also to an authorised dealer?

The residents can hold foreign coins without any limit.

18. How much foreign exchange can a resident individual send as gift / donation to a person resident outside India?

Limit of USD 200,000 per financial year under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme would also include remittances towards gift and donation by a resident individual. Accordingly, under the Scheme, any resident individual, if he so desires, may remit the entire limit of USD 200,000 in one financial year as gift to a person residing outside India or as donation to a charitable/educational/ religious/cultural organization outside India.   Remittances exceeding the limit will require prior permission from the Reserve Bank.

19. How much foreign exchange can residents other than individuals send as gift / donation to a person resident outside India?

ADs have been permitted to make remittances on account of donations by corporates for some specified purposes subject to a limit of one per cent of the foreign exchange earnings during the previous three financial years or USD 5 million, whichever is less. Other residents like partnership firms, trusts etc., are free to remit up to USD 5000 per annum per donor/remitter each as gift and donation. Remittances exceeding the limit will require prior permission from the Reserve Bank.

20. Is one permitted to use International Credit Card (ICC) for undertaking foreign exchange transactions?

Use of the International Credit Cards (ICCs) / ATMs/ Debit Cards can be made for making personal payments like subscription to foreign journals, internet subscription, etc., and for travel abroad in connection with various purposes. The entitlement of foreign exchange on International Credit Cards (ICCs) is limited by the credit limit fixed by the card issuing authority only. With ICCs one can (i) meet expenses/make purchases while abroad (ii) make payments in foreign exchange for purchase of books and other items through internet in India. If the person has a foreign currency account in India or with a bank overseas, he/she can even obtain ICCs of overseas banks and reputed agencies.

Use of these instruments for payment in foreign exchange in Nepal and Bhutan is not permitted.

21. While coming into India how much Indian currency can be brought in?

A person coming into India from abroad can bring in with him Indian currency notes within the limits given below:

a.  up to Rs. 5,000 from any country other than Nepal or Bhutan, and

b.  any amount in denomination not exceeding Rs.100 from Nepal or Bhutan.

22. While going abroad how much foreign exchange, in cash, can a person carry?

A person is allowed to carry foreign exchange in the form of currency notes/coins up to USD 2,000 or its equivalent only. Balance amount as applicable can be carried in the form of travellers cheque or banker/s draft. (In this connection please see item No.11).

23. While going abroad how much Indian currency, in cash, can a person carry?

Residents are free to take outside India (other than to Nepal and Bhutan) currency notes of Government of India and Reserve Bank of India notes up to an amount not exceeding Rs. 5,000/ - per person. They may take or send outside India (other than to Nepal and Bhutan) commemorative coins not exceeding two coins each.

Explanation : 'Commemorative Coin' includes coin issued by Government of India Mint to commemorate any specific occasion or event and expressed in Indian currency.

A person can take or send out of India to Nepal or Bhutan, currency notes of Government of India and Reserve Bank of India notes (other than notes of denominations of above Rs. 100);

24. While coming into India how much foreign exchange can be brought in?

A person coming into India from abroad can bring with him foreign exchange without any limit. However, if the aggregate value of the foreign exchange in the form of currency notes, bank notes or travellers cheques brought in exceeds USD 10,000/- or its equivalent and/or the value of foreign currency exceeds USD 5,000/- or its equivalent, it should be declared to the Customs Authorities at the Airport in the Currency Declaration Form (CDF), on arrival in India.

25. Is one required to follow complete export procedure when a gift parcel is sent outside India?

A person resident in India is free to send (export) any gift article of value not exceeding Rs. 5,00,000 provided export of that item is not prohibited under the extant Foreign Trade Policy and exporter submits a declaration that goods of gift are not more than Rs. 5,00,000 in value.

26. How much jewellery one can carry while going abroad?

Taking personal jewellery out of India is governed by Baggage Rules framed under Foreign Trade Policy by the Government of India. No approval of Reserve Bank is required in this case.

27. Can a resident extend local hospitality to a non-resident?

A person resident in India is free to make any payment in Indian Rupees towards meeting expenses on account of boarding, lodging and services related thereto or travel to and from and within India of a person resident outside India who is on a visit to India.

28. Can residents purchase air tickets in India for their travel not touching India?

Residents may book their tickets in India for their visit to any third country. That is, residents can book their tickets for travel, for instance from London to New York, through domestic/foreign airlines in India itself.

29. Can a resident open a foreign currency denominated account in India?

Persons resident in India are permitted to maintain foreign currency accounts in India under the following three Schemes:

a. Exchange Earners Foreign Currency Accounts:-

All categories of resident foreign exchange earners can  credit up to 100 per cent of their foreign exchange earnings, as specified in the paragraph 1 (A) of the Schedule to Notification No.FEMA.10/2000-RB dated 3rd May, 2000 and as amended from time to time, to their EEFC Account with an authorised dealer in India. Funds held in EEFC account can be utilised for all permissible current account transactions and also for approved capital account transactions as specified by the extant Rules/Regulations/ Notifications/ Directives issued by the Government/RBI from time to time. EEFC account holders can now maintain outstanding balances to the extent of USD 1 million in the form of term deposits up to one year maturing on or before 31st October 2008. The rate of interest will be determined by the banks themselves.

b. Resident Foreign Currency Accounts:-

Returning Indians, i.e., those Indians, who were non-residents earlier, and are returning now for permanent stay in India, are permitted to open, hold and maintain with an authorised dealer in India a Resident Foreign Currency (RFC) Account to keep their foreign currency assets. Assets held outside India at the time of return can be credited to such accounts. The foreign exchange (i) received or acquired as gift or inheritance from a person referred to sub-section (4) of section 6 of FEMA,1999 or (ii) referred to in clause (c) of section 9 of the Act or acquired as gift or inheritance therefrom or (iii) received as the proceeds of life insurance policy claims/maturity/ surrender values settled in foreign currency from an insurance company in India permitted to undertake life insurance business by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority may also be credited to this account.

The funds in RFC account are free from all restrictions regarding utilisation of foreign currency balances including any restriction on investment outside India.

c. Resident Foreign Currency (Domestic) Account:-

A person resident in India can open, hold and maintain with an authorized dealer in India, a Resident Foreign Currency (Domestic) Account, out of foreign exchange acquired in the form of currency notes, Bank notes and travellers cheques from any of the sources like, payment for services rendered abroad, as honorarium, gift, services rendered or in settlement of any lawful obligation from any person not resident in India. The account may also be credited with/opened out of foreign exchange earned like proceeds of export of goods and/or services, royalty, honorarium, etc., and/or gifts received from close relatives (as defined in the Companies Act) and repatriated to India through normal banking channels. The account shall be maintained in the form of Current Account and shall not bear any interest. There is no ceiling on the balances in the account.

30. Can a person resident in India hold assets outside India?

In terms of sub-section 4, of Section (6) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, a person resident in India is free to hold, own, transfer or invest in foreign currency, foreign security or any immovable property situated outside India if such currency, security or property was acquired, held or owned by such person when he was resident outside India or inherited from a person who was resident outside India. (Please also refer to the Liberalised Remittance Scheme of USD 200,000 discussed below).

II. Liberalised Remittance Scheme of USD 200,000.

31. What is the Liberalised Remittance Scheme of USD 200,000?

This is a facility extended to all resident individuals under which, they may freely remit upto USD 200,000 per financial year for any permissible current or capital account transaction or a combination of both.

32. What are the purpose/s for which remittance can be made under the Scheme?

This facility is available for making remittance/s for any permissible current or capital account transaction or a combination of both. It is not available for purposes specifically prohibited (Schedule I) or regulated by the Government of India (Schedule II) of Foreign Exchange Management (Current Account Transactions) Rules, 2000.

33. Who is eligible to avail of this Liberalised Remittance Facility?

The facility is available to resident individuals only.

34. Provide an illustrative list of capital account transactions permitted under the scheme?

The remittance under the Scheme is available to the resident individuals for any permitted current or capital account transactions or a combination of both. Under the Scheme, resident individuals can acquire and hold immovable property or shares or debt instruments or any other assets outside India, without prior approval of the Reserve Bank. Individuals can also open, maintain and hold foreign currency accounts with banks outside India. However, it is clarified that remittance from India for margins or margin calls to overseas exchanges / overseas counterparty are not allowed under the Scheme.

The remittance facility under the Scheme is also not available for the following:

i) Remittance for any purpose specifically prohibited under Schedule-I (like purchase of lottery/sweep stakes, tickets, proscribed magazines, etc.) or any item restricted under Schedule II of Foreign Exchange Management (Current Account Transactions) Rules, 2000.
ii) Remittances made directly or indirectly to Bhutan, Nepal, Mauritius or Pakistan.
iii) Remittances made directly or indirectly to countries identified by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as “non co-operative countries and territories” from time to time.
iv) Remittances directly or indirectly to those individuals and entities identified as posing significant risk of committing acts of terrorism as advised separately by the Reserve Bank to the banks.

35. Whether this facility is in addition to existing facilities detailed in Schedule III under remittances?

The facility under the Scheme is in addition to those already available for private travel, business travel, studies, medical treatment, etc., as described in Schedule III of Foreign Exchange Management (Current Account Transactions) Rules, 2000. The Scheme can also be used for these purposes. However, gift and donation remittances cannot be made separately and have to be made under the Scheme only. Accordingly, resident individuals can remit gifts and donations up to USD 200,000 per financial year under the Scheme.

36. Whether resident individuals under this Scheme have to repatriate the accrued yield on deposits/investments abroad, over and above the principal amount?

The investor can retain and reinvest the income earned on investments made under the Scheme. Currently, the residents are not required to repatriate the funds or income generated out of investments made under the Scheme.

37. Whether remittance under the Scheme is on gross basis or net basis (net of repatriation from abroad)? 

Remittance under this scheme is on a gross basis.

38. Whether minors can also avail of the remittance facility?

The facility is available to all the resident individuals including minors.

39. Whether remittances under the facility can be consolidated in respect of family members?  

Remittances under the facility can be consolidated in respect of family members subject to the individual family members complying with the terms and conditions of the Scheme.

40. Whether the Scheme can be used for purchase of objects of art (paintings, etc.,) either directly or through auction house?

Remittances under the Scheme can be used for purchasing objects of art subject to the provisions of other applicable laws such as the extant Foreign Trade Policy of the Government of India.

41. Whether small value remittance of USD 5000/- (gifts, donation, etc.,) is in addition to LRS of USD 200,000?

Remittance against gifts and donations cannot be made separately and have to be made under the Scheme only and therefore, no separate limits for gift and donation are available

42. Whether the AD is required to check permissibility of remittances based on nature of transaction or allow the same based on remitters declaration?

AD will be guided by the nature of transaction as declared by the remitter and will certify that the remittance is in conformity with the instructions issued by Reserve Bank.

43.Whether under this scheme a customer can remit funds for acquisition of ESOPs?

The Scheme can also be used for remittance of funds for acquisition of ESOPs.  

44. Whether the scheme is in addition to acquisition of ESOPs linked to ADR/GDR (i.e USD 50,000/- for a block of 5 calendar years)?

The remittance under the Scheme is in addition to acquisition of ESOPs linked to ADR/GDR.

45. Whether the Scheme is in addition to acquisition of qualification shares (i.e USD 20,000/- or 1% of paid up capital of overseas company whichever is lower)?

The remittance under the Scheme is in addition to acquisition of qualification shares.

46. Whether a resident individual can invest in units of Mutual Funds, Venture Funds, unrated debt securities, promissory notes, etc., under this scheme?

A resident individual can invest in units of Mutual Funds, Venture Funds, unrated debt securities, promissory notes, etc under this Scheme. Further, the resident can invest in such securities out of the bank account opened abroad under the Scheme.

47. Whether an individual, who has availed of a loan abroad while a non-resident can repay the same on return to India, under this Scheme as a resident?

This is permissible.

48. Whether it is mandatory for resident individuals to have PAN number for sending outward remittances under the Scheme?

It is mandatory to have PAN number to make remittances under the Scheme.

49. In case a resident individual requests for an outward remittance by way of issuance of a demand draft (either in his own name or in the name of the beneficiary with whom he intends putting through the permissible transactions) at the time of his private visit abroad, whether against self declaration of the remitter such an outward remittance can be effected?

Such outward remittance in the form of a DD can be effected against the declaration by the resident individual in the format prescribed under the Scheme.

50. Is there any frequency for the remittance?

There is no restriction on the frequency. However, the total amount of foreign exchange purchased from or remitted through, all sources in India during a financial year should be within the limit of USD 200,000/-.

51. Can residents avail of this facility for acquiring immovable property and other assets abroad?

Yes. Individuals are free to use this Scheme to acquire and hold immovable property, shares or any other asset outside India without prior approval of Reserve Bank.

52. Can individuals open foreign currency account abroad for making remittance under the Scheme?

Yes. Individuals are free to open, hold and maintain foreign currency accounts with a bank outside India for making remittances under the Scheme without the prior approval of Reserve Bank. The account can be used for putting through any transaction connected with or arising from remittances under the Scheme.

53. What are the requirements to be complied with by the remitter?

The individual will have to designate a branch of an AD through which all the remittances under the Scheme will be made.The applicants should have maintained the bank account with the bank for a minimum period of one year prior to the remittance. If the applicant seeking to make the remittance is a new customer of the bank, Authorised Dealers should carry out due diligence on the opening, operation and maintenance of the account. Further the AD should obtain bank statement for the previous year from the applicant to satisfy themselves regarding the source of funds. If such a bank statement is not available, copies of the latest Income Tax Assessment Order or Return filed by the applicant may be obtained. He has to furnish an application-cum-declaration in the specified format regarding the purpose of the remittance and declare that the funds belong to him and will not be used for purposes prohibited or regulated under the Scheme.

54. Can an individual, who has repatriated the amount remitted during the financial year, avail of the facility once again?

Once a remittance is made for an amount upto USD 200,000 during the financial year, he would not be eligible to make any further remittances under this route, even if the proceeds of the investments have been brought back into the country.

55. Can remittances be made only in US Dollars?

The remittances can be made in any currency equivalent to USD 200,000 in a financial year.

56. In the past resident individuals could invest in overseas companies listed on a recognised stock exchange abroad and which has the shareholding of at least 10 per cent in an Indian company listed on a recognised stock exchange in India. Does this condition still exist? 

Investment by resident individual in overseas companies is subsumed under the Scheme of USD 200,000. The requirement of 10 per cent reciprocal shareholding in the listed Indian companies by such overseas companies has since been dispensed with.

III. Guidelines for Financial Intermediaries offering special schemes, protection under the Scheme.

57. Are intermediaries expected to seek specific approval for making overseas investments available to clients?

Banks including those not having operational presence in India are required to obtain prior approval from Reserve Bank for soliciting deposits for their foreign/overseas branches or for acting as agents for overseas mutual funds or any other foreign financial services company.

58. Are there any restrictions on the kind/quality of debt or equity instruments an individual can invest in?

No ratings or guidelines have been prescribed under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme of USD 200,000 on the quality of the investment an individual can make. However, the individual investor is expected to exercise due diligence while taking a decision regarding the investments which he or she proposes to make.

59. Whether credit facilities in Indian Rupees or foreign currency would be permissible against security of such deposits?

No. The Scheme does not envisage extension of credit facility against the security of the deposits.

60. Can bankers open foreign currency accounts in India for residents under the Scheme?

No. Banks in India cannot open foreign currency accounts in India for residents under the Scheme.

61. Can an Offshore Banking Unit (OBU) in India be treated on par with a branch of the bank outside India for the purpose of opening of foreign currency accounts by residents under the Scheme?

No. For the purpose of the Scheme, an OBU in India is not treated as an overseas branch of a bank in India.

General Information

For further details/guidance, please approach any bank authorised to deal in foreign exchange or contact Regional Offices of the Foreign Exchange Department of the Reserve Bank.