RBI Rules & Regulations -Foreign Exchange Services

Personal / Private / Leisure Visits

Eligibility:

• Foreign Nationals permanently resident in India are also eligible to avail of this quota provided the applicant is not availing of facilities for remittance of his salary, savings etc. abroad in terms of the existing FEMA regulations.
• Foreign born wife of Indian nationals
• Children endorsed on parent’s passport are also eligible for full entitlement.

Quantum of Exchange:

• Up to a total of US$ 10000 or its equivalent per resident individual on a financial year basis.
• Out of which maximum of USD 3000 or its equivalent in Currency notes per visit and rest in Travelers Cheques for all the countries except for travel to Iraq, Libya, Islamic Republic of Iran, Russian Federation and other Republics of Commonwealth of Independent States
• Individual traveling to countries like Nepal & Bhutan are not eligible to withdraw foreign exchange under this scheme.
• For Travelers proceeding to Iraq or Libya exchange in the form of currency notes may be sold up to limit not exceeding USD 5000 or its equivalent per resident individual on a financial year basis.
• For Travelers proceeding to the Islamic Republic of Iran, Russian Federation and other Republics of Commonwealth of Independent States entire exchange can be released in the form of currency notes.
• Foreign exchange quota for personal visit can be availed over & above the specified amount under all other schemes for release of foreign exchange.

Documentation:

• Request cum FEMA Declaration form for release of exchange under personal visit scheme
• Form A2 or Simplified Application cum Declaration up to USD 5000 equivalent
• Original passport for pages showing name, address, valid visa & passport number and validity should be verified by the Counter Staff & details to be noted on the request form Confirmed ticket-showing travel within 60 days of taking foreign exchange should be verified & details of the ticket number should be noted on the request form by Counter Staff.
• Request form should have the undertaking from the Counter Staff that all originals including the passport & he/she has dully verified the ticket. Photocopies need to be kept.
• Photocopy of the crossed account payee cheque /draft or pay order along with debit advice.
• If the applicant is a foreign national permanently resident in India, he/she should give an undertaking on the application itself that he/she is permanently resident in India and is not availing of facilities for remittance of his/her salary. Saving etc. abroad in terms of existing FEMA Regulations

Exceptions to be noted by Counter Staff:

• Visa may not be insisted upon in cases where travel is to a country-offering visa on arrival. However, undertaking for the same may be obtained
• For Airline staff open ticket may be accepted. Proof of Airline staff may be kept in record

Sales to Business Visit

Eligibility:

• Executives sponsored by firms/companies/organizat ions in India.
• Participation in international conferences /seminars which are of a scientific, technical or educational nature
• Specialized training /study tour sponsored by institutions or undertaken by professionals Like Doctors.

Quantum of Exchange:

• Up to USD 25000 per business trip irrespective of period of stay
• Release of exchange beyond USD 25000 for a single business visit requires prior approval of RBI
• Exchange may also released to foreign nationals if the visit is sponsored by the company/firm/organization in India where they are employed on regular basis
• If a passenger plans to club both Conference and business visit together the entitlement remains only up to a maximum of USD 25000.
• Personal Visit entitlement can be availed over and above the specified amount under this scheme

Documentation:

• Request cum FEMA Declaration form for release of exchange under business visit scheme on company’s letterhead, duly signed by Authorized official of the company
• A - 2 form (Only for the amounts exceeding USD 5000 equivalent.)
• Incase of Travel for a conference / seminars the brochure giving full particulars of the Conference/seminar shall also be submitted along with the application.
• In case of Travel related to Training / Study tours the details of training /study tour along with a letter from the overseas institutions agreeing to provide necessary facilities for the training /study tour, and certifying that the expenses are being borne by the organization.
• All the above documents to be kept on record along with Copy of Cash Memo.

Employment abroad

Eligibility:

• USD 100,000

Quantum of Exchange:

• Resident Indians
• Employment Visa / Work Permit and letter from the overseas employer

Documentation:

• Request cum FEMA Declaration form for release of exchange by filling the relevant portion as per the type of remittance
• Photocopy of the passport having valid visa in case the remittance is for employment, education abroad, and medical treatment and for permanent emigration.
• A - 2 form (Only for the amounts exceeding USD 5000 equivalent.)
• For application fees in case of foreign education or processing fees for immigration, valid visa is not required.

Maintenance of Close relative abroad (by resident Indian)

Eligibility:

• USD 100,000 (per year, per recipient)

Quantum of Exchange:

• Resident Indians can remit to their close relative who are Non resident and require funds abroad for their maintenance.

Documentation:

• Request cum FEMA Declaration form for release of exchange by filling the relevant portion as per the type of remittance.
• Photocopy of the passport having valid visa in case the remittance is for employment, education abroad, and medical treatment and for permanent emigration
• A - 2 form (Only for the amounts exceeding USD 5000 equivalent.)
• For application fees in case of foreign education or processing fees for immigration, valid visa is not required.

Maintenance of Close relative abroad (By resident but not permanently resident in India)

Eligibility:

• Not exceeding net salary (after deduction of taxes, contribution to provident fund and other deductions)

Quantum of Exchange:

• By resident but not permanently resident in India
• Is a citizen of a foreign state other than Pakistan
• Is a citizen of India, who is on deputation to the office or branch or subsidiary or joint venture in India of such foreign company

Documentation:

• Request cum FEMA Declaration form for release of exchange by filling the relevant portion as per the type of remittance.
• Photocopy of the passport having valid visa in case the remittance is for employment, education abroad, and medical treatment and for permanent emigration
• A - 2 form (Only for the amounts exceeding USD 5000 equivalent.)
• For application fees in case of foreign education or processing fees for immigration, valid visa is not required.

Education abroad

Eligibility:

• USD 100,000 ( Academic year) FES: Agreed

Quantum of Exchange:

• Resident Indian
• Confirmed admission in overseas college/university/educational institution.
• Student holding Indian passports who had earlier gone abroad for pursuing studies without availing of exchange, can avail foreign exchange for the balance period of the course
• Students holding foreign passports dependent on their parents resident in India

Documentation:

• Request cum FEMA Declaration form for release of exchange by filling the relevant portion as per the type of remittance.
• Photocopy of the passport having valid visa in case the remittance is for employment, education abroad, and medical treatment and for permanent emigration.
• A - 2 form (Only for the amounts exceeding USD 5000 equivalent.)
• For application fees in case of foreign education or processing fees for immigration, valid visa is not required.

Medical treatment abroad Resident Indian proceeding for permanent emigration abroad (needs to be confirmed)

Eligibility:

• USD 1,00,000

Quantum of Exchange:

• Resident Indian
• Must be suffering from an ailment requiring specialized treatment abroad.
• Resident Indian fallen sick after proceeding abroad
• Going abroad for Medical Check Up.

Documentation:

• Request cum FEMA Declaration form for release of exchange by filling the relevant portion as per the type of remittance
• Photocopy of the passport having valid visa in case the remittance is for employment, education abroad, and medical treatment and for permanent emigration.
• A - 2 form (Only for the amounts exceeding USD 5000 equivalent.)
• For application fees in case of foreign education or processing fees for immigration, valid visa is not required.

Medical treatment abroad for Resident Indian

Eligibility:

• Exceeding USD 100000 on submission to AD of an estimate from the Doctor in India or hospital/ doctor abroad.

Medical treatment abroad for Resident Indian

Eligibility:

• USD 100,000 or amount prescribed by country of Emigration (lower of the two)

Quantum of Exchange:

• Resident Indian Proceeding for permanent emigration abroad

Documentation:

• Request cum FEMA Declaration form for release of exchange by filling the relevant portion as per the type of remittance
• Photocopy of the passport having valid visa in case the remittance is for employment, education abroad, and medical treatment and for permanent emigration.
• A - 2 form (Only for the amounts exceeding USD 5000 equivalent.)
• For application fees in case of foreign education or processing fees for immigration, valid visa is not required.

Remittance under Liberalized Remittance Scheme

Eligibility:

• All Resident Individuals including Minors are eligible to avail the facility under the scheme.
• The facility will not be available to corporate, partnership firms, HUF, Trusts, etc.

Quantum of Exchange:

• USD 2,00,000
• The facility will be per financial year basis (April-March).
• Limit of USD 200,000 under the Scheme would also include remittances towards Gift and donation by a resident individual.
• Purpose
• This facility is available for making remittance up to USD 200,000 per financial year basis (April-March) for any current or capital account transactions or a combination of both.
• Under this facility, resident individuals will be free to acquire and hold immovable property or shares, units of Mutual Funds or any other asset outside India and will also able to open and maintain and hold foreign currency accounts with a bank outside India for making remittances under the scheme. The foreign currency account may be used for putting through all transactions connected with or arising from remittances eligible under this scheme.
• Gift
• Donation
• Purchase of objects of Art
• Remittance of funds for acquisition of ESOPS.

Documentation: Requirements to be complied with the remitter (Customer)

• Request cum FEMA Declaration form for release of exchange
• The remitter individual will have to designate our branch through which all the remittances under the scheme will be made.
• Application cum declaration duly filled in all respect and signed by the applicant is to be taken.

Requirements to be complied by Branch Counter (Counter Staff)

• To Comply with KYC & AML Guidelines while allowing the facility
• If the applicant is an existing account holder, he should have maintained the account for a period of one year
• If the applicant is a new customer, Counter Staff must take respective confirmation from the respective branch that they have carried out due diligence on the opening, operations & maintenance of the account
• Obtain the bank statements from the applicant for to check the source of funds. If unavailable, please ask for latest Income Tax Statement Order/ Return filed by the applicant / PAN
• In case the applicant doesn’t have account with us, in that case the payment to be taken in the form of Cheque drawn on applicants accounts/ debit to his account or by Demand Draft/ Pay Order
• The remitting office (CPU) must certify that remittance is not being made directly or indirectly to ineligible entities and follow RBI guidelines.

Exceptions to be noted by Counter Staff

• 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.
• Remittance made directly or indirectly to Bhutan, Nepal, Mauritius or Pakistan
• Remittances made directly or indirectly to countries identified by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as “non co-operative countries and territories” (as available on FATF website) viz Cook Islands, Egypt, Guatemala, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nigeria, Philippines and Ukraine.
• Remittances directly or indirectly to those individuals and entities identified as posing significant risk of committing acts of terrorism as notified separately by the Reserve Bank to the Banks. FES: Agreed.
• Transactions in the nature of remittance for margins or margin calls to overseas exchanges/overseas counterparty are not allowed under the Scheme.
• It is clarified that the banks should not allow any kind of credit facilities to resident individuals to facilitate remittances under the Scheme

Remittances for Tour Arrangements (At the request of the traveler)

Eligibility:

• Traveler traveling abroad on personal/Leisure visit or business visit can remit up to a reasonable limit towards his hotel accommodation, tour arrangements, etc., in the countries proposed to be visited by him, provided it is out of foreign exchange purchased by the traveler from us (including exchange drawn for private travel abroad)

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Quantum of Exchange:

• Quantum of Exchange is not specified in the RBI Circulars

Documentation:

• Letter from the Client duly signed by their authorized signatories clearly indicating the following details/particulars
• Request for the remittance with the currency, amount and date of remittance. [In case of difference in amount between underlying document/s against the actual remittance amount, such adjustments should be explicitly stated along with the reason and final net amount to be remitted should be specified
• Purpose of Remittance
• Debit authority – authorizing the bank to debit their INR/EEFC account with us towards the amount of remittance and our charges / commission
• Beneficiary & Bank details for remittance.
• Form A2 – Dully filled – in and signed by authorized signatories
• FEMA Declaration format duly signed by authorized signatories

Remittances for Tour Arrangements (At the request of the Agent)

Eligibility:

• Agents in India, having a good track record and satisfying all KYC norms, and have tie up arrangements with hotels/agents, etc., abroad for providing hotel accommodation or making other tour arrangements for travelers from India, provided the remittance is made out of foreign exchange purchased by the concerned traveler from us or from an authorized person (including exchange drawn for private travel abroad)

Quantum of Exchange:

• Amount as per the invoice of the overseas hotels/agent within the prescribed limits of personal / business visit Forex quota as mentioned above.

Documentation:

• Agent’s Declaration from the client to the effect that the remittance is being made out of the foreign exchange purchased by the concerned traveler from an authorized person (including exchange drawn for private travel abroad) in accordance with the Rules, Regulations and Directions in force.
• Agent’s Declaration from the client to the effect that the remittance is being made out of the foreign exchange purchased by the concerned traveler from an authorized person (including exchange drawn for private travel abroad) in accordance with the Rules, Regulations and Directions in force.
• That he will take care and follow up that the tour/services for which the advance is being/has been remitted should be executed and ensure that the beneficiary of advance remittance has fulfilled his obligation under the Contract/agreement/tie -up and will inform the Bank with in reasonable time from the completion of the Tour and undertake to repatriate the unspent advance remittance, if any.

Remittances for Restricted Authorized Dealers (Are they Category II AD s?)

Eligibility:

• Private Visits
• Remittance by tour operators / travel agents etc
• Business travel
• Fee for participation in global conferences
• Film shooting
• Remittance for participation in international events / competitions
• Medical Treatment abroad
• Disbursement of Crew wages
• Overseas Education
• Remittance under educational tie up arrangements with universities
• Remittance towards exam fees for exams held in India / abroad and for additional score sheets for GRE, TOEFL, etc.
• Employment and processing, assessment fees for intending migrants
• Emigration
• Visa fees.

Quantum of Exchange:

• As mentioned Above

Documentation:

• AD -II dealer shall submit an application form with details and also confirming customers KYC compliance for affecting the remittance.
• Covering letter from the AD II providing the complete applicant / remitter and beneficiary details & also certifying the KYC norms are complied with.
• FEMA Declaration duly signed by the AD II.
• Completed A2 form if applicable ( for cases over USD 5000)
• Payment needs to be collected by way of draft /cheque from the debit of the AD II account. (In case of cheque remittance need to be effected after cheque realization)
• AD-II customer to submit 5 % of the transaction documents to the bank on a random basis for audit purpose.