Skip to main content

Export / Import of Currency and Possession / Retention of Foreign Currency

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has updated the guidelines on export and import of currency.

What are the guidelines on export and import of Indian currency?

Transferor Transfer from Transfer to Nature of currency Maximum limit
Person resident in India India Countries other than Nepal and Bhutan Currency notes of Government of India (GoI) and RBI notes ₹25000 per person
Commemorative coins 2 coins
Person resident in India gone out of India on temporary visit, on his return Countries other than Nepal and Bhutan India Currency notes of GoI and RBI notes ₹25000 per person
Person resident outside India (not citizen of Pakistan / Bangladesh) visiting India India Any country Currency notes of GoI and RBI notes ₹25000 per person
Any country India
Person (not citizen of Pakistan / Bangladesh) India Nepal and Bhutan Currency notes of GoI and RBI notes in denominations up to ₹100 No limit
Nepal and Bhutan India
India Nepal and Bhutan Notes in denominations above ₹100 ₹25000
Nepal and Bhutan India
Person India Nepal and Bhutan Currency notes of Nepal or Bhutan No limit
Nepal and Bhutan India

  • Commemorative coin includes coin issued by GoI Mint to commemorate any specific occasion or event and expressed in Indian currency.
  • No person shall take or send out of India the Indian coins which are covered by the Antique and Art Treasure Act, 1972.

What are the guidelines on import and export of foreign exchange?

Transferor Transfer from Transfer to Nature of currency Maximum limit
Person Any country India Foreign exchange in any form other than currency notes, bank notes and travellers cheques No limit
Foreign exchange (other than unissued notes)* No limit
Authorised person India Any country Foreign currency acquired in normal course of business No limit
Person India Any country Cheques drawn on foreign currency account

Foreign exchange obtained from an authorised person

Currency in the safes of vessels or aircrafts brought into India or taken on board a vessel or aircraft with the permission of RBI.		 No limit
Person India Any country Foreign exchange possessed

Unspent foreign exchange brought back to India while returning from travel abroad and retained 		No limit
Person resident outside India India Any country Unspent foreign exchange Not exceeding the amount brought in and declared on arrival in India
* Subject to the condition that such person makes, on arrival in India, a declaration to the Custom authorities in Currency Declaration Form (CDF). However, such declaration is not required where the aggregate value of the foreign exchange in the form of currency notes, bank notes or traveller's cheques does not exceed US$ 10,000 or its equivalent and / or the aggregate value of foreign currency notes does not exceed US$ 5,000 or its equivalent.

What are the limits for possession or retention of foreign currency?

Possession by Nature of currency Maximum limit
Authorised person Foreign currency and coins, within the scope of his authority No limit
Any person Foreign coins No limit
Person resident in India Foreign currency notes, bank notes and foreign currency travellers' cheques
  • acquired while on a visit to any place outside India by way of payment for services not arising from any business in or anything done in India
  • acquired from any person not resident in India and who is on a visit to India, as honorarium or gift or for services rendered or in settlement of any lawful obligation
  • acquired by way of honorarium or gift while on a visit to any place outside India
  • represents unspent amount of foreign exchange acquired from an authorised person for travel abroad
 US$ 2000 or its equivalent
Person resident in India but not permanently resident Foreign currency in the form of currency notes, bank notes and travellers cheques, acquired, held or owned by him when he was resident outside India and, brought into India No limit

  • Not permanently resident means a person resident in India for employment of a specified duration (irrespective of length thereof) or for a specific job or assignment, the duration of which does not exceed 3 years.


References

Reserve Bank of India. (2015, December 29). 'Foreign Exchange Management (Export and import of currency) Regulations, 2015'. Retrieved from https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=10255&Mode=0

Reserve Bank of India. (2016, February 04). 'Foreign Exchange Management (Possession and Retention of Foreign Currency) Regulations, 2015'. Retrieved from https://rbi.org.in/scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Mode=0&Id=10271

Reserve Bank of India. (2025, December 08). 'Export and Import of Indian Currency to or from Nepal and Bhutan'. Retrieved from https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=13215&Mode=0

Reserve Bank of India. (2025, November 28). Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Currency) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025'. Retrieved from https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=13216&Mode=0


Follow at - Telegram   Instagram   LinkedIn   X   Facebook

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Highlights of RBI Annual Report 2025-26 – Chapter 1 to 3

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has published its annual report for the financial year 2025-26. In a series of articles, we will go through the highlights of the report. This is the first article in the series.  Legal framework for publication of Annual Report by the RBI Report of the Central Board of Directors on the working of RBI for the year is submitted to the Central Government in terms of Section 53(2) of the RBI Act, 1934. The letter of transmittal is signed by the RBI Governor and addressed to the Finance Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Government of India. Documents submitted by the RBI to the Central Government In pursuance of Section 53(2) of the RBI Act, 1934, the following documents have been submitted to the Central Government – A copy of the Annual Accounts for the year ended March 31, 2026 certified by the RBI’s Auditors and signed by Chief General Manager-in-charge, all the Deputy Governors and Governor. 2 copies of the Annual Report of the Central Board on the workin...
Post a Comment
Read more

Highlights of RBI Annual Report 2025-26 – Chapter 4 & 5

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has published its annual report for the financial year 2025-26. In a series of articles, we will go through the highlights of the report. This is the second article in the series.  Chapter 4 – Credit Delivery and Financial Inclusion The limit for collateral free loans to Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) was enhanced from ₹10 lakh to ₹20 lakh. The RBI was involved with the nationwide campaign, ‘Aapki Poonji, Aapka Adhikar’ (Your Money, Your Right), conducted during October-December 2025 to facilitate the return of unclaimed deposits and timely settlement of eligible claims from the Depositor Education and Awareness (DEA) Fund. During the campaign, ₹2,876 crore of unclaimed deposits were settled by public sector banks and regional rural banks. Expanding and Deepening of Digital Payments Ecosystem (EDDPE) programme  The programme aims to provide every eligible individual in the identified districts at least one mode of digital payment, viz., debit / ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Credit Facilities – Lending against Gold and Silver Collateral

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued directions on credit facilities offered by various regulated entities. This article summarises the directions applicable to lending against gold and silver collateral. To whom are the directions applicable? The directions are applicable to the following Regulated Entities (REs) – Commercial Banks  Small Finance Banks (SFBs) Local Area Banks (LABs) Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs) Rural Co-operative Banks – State Co-operative Banks (StCBs) Central Co-operative Banks (CCBs) Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) for all layers – Deposit taking NBFC (NBFC-D) NBFC-Investment and Credit Companies (NBFC-ICC) NBFC-Factor  NBFC-Micro Finance Institutions (NBFC-MFI)  NBFC-Infrastructure Finance Company (NBFC-IFC)  Infrastructure Debt Fund-NBFC (IDF-NBFC)  Housing Finance Company (HFC)  To whom are the directions partially applicable? The prudential regulations are not applicable to ‘NBFCs-B...
Post a Comment
Read more

Highlights of RBI Annual Report 2025-26 – Chapter 6 (Part I)

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has published its annual report for the financial year 2025-26. In a series of articles, we will go through the highlights of the report. This is the third article in the series.  Chapter 6 – Regulation, Supervision and Financial Stability (Part I) Opening of and operation in deposit accounts of minors by banks – Minors of any age can open and operate savings and term deposit accounts through his / her natural or legal guardian or with mother as guardian.  Minors above the age of 10 years may open and operate savings and term deposit accounts independently, if they so desire. Digital lending guidelines – Regulated Entities (REs) were mandated to ensure that lending service providers (LSPs) display all loan offers to borrowers when multiple lenders are involved.  A public directory of Digital Lending Apps (DLAs) was introduced to help borrowers verify their link with REs. Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) were allowed to consider Default...
Post a Comment
Read more

Credit Facilities – Finance to Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs)

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued directions on credit facilities offered by various regulated entities. This article summarises the directions applicable in respect of finance to Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs). To whom are the directions applicable? The directions are applicable to the following Regulated Entities (REs) – Commercial Banks  Small Finance Banks (SFBs) Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs) All India Financial Institutions (AIFIs) regulated by RBI – Export Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank) National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) National Housing Bank (NHB) Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) What are the conditions on finance to NBFCs? Commercial Banks and SFBs The bank shall extend need based working capital facilities as well as term loans to NBFCs registered with the RBI and engaged in infrastructure financing, equipment leasing, hire-purchase, l...
Post a Comment
Read more