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Home  ❯  Finance  ❯  Forex  ❯  Facilities for Residents 2

Forex Facilities for Residents - 2

AD Category I banks and AD Category II, may release foreign exchange up to USD 2,50,000 or its equivalent to Resident in India for medical treatment abroad on self-declaration basis in Form A2 and 'Application cum declaration for purchase of foreign exchange under LRS of USD 250,000', without insisting on any estimate from a hospital/doctor in India/abroad. However, a person visiting abroad for medical treatment can obtain foreign exchange from AD banks exceeding the above limit, provided the request is supported by an estimate from a hospital/doctor in India/abroad.

In addition to the above, an amount up to USD 250,000 per FY is allowed to a person for accompanying as attendant to a patient going abroad for medical treatment/check-up.

"Any other current account transaction" as given at item no. (ix) of Rules ibid is to cover any other current account transactions which were available to individuals in the erstwhile Schedule III to FEM (CAT) Rules, 2000 dated May 3, 2000, and which do not appear in Para 1 to Schedule III to FEM (CAT) Amendment Rules, 2015.
A person who is resident but not permanently resident in India and
  1. is a citizen of a foreign State other than Pakistan; or
  2. is a citizen of India, who is on deputation to the office or branch of a foreign company or subsidiary or joint venture in India of such foreign company, may make remittance up to his net salary (after deduction of taxes, contribution to provident fund and other deductions).

Explanation: For the purpose of this item, a person resident in India on account of his employment or deputation of a specified duration (irrespective of length thereof) or for a specific job or assignments, the duration of which does not exceed three years, is a resident but not permanently resident. It is clarified that salary includes earnings from stage shows and other earnings from modelling assignments and acting assignments etc.

Further, resident individuals (but not permanently resident in India) who have remitted their entire earnings and salary and wish to further remit 'other income' may approach RBI through their AD bank for consideration with documents.

Yes, the limit of USD 2, 50,000 is applicable to persons other than individuals (such as corporates, trusts; etc.) who wish to avail of facilities under Para 1 of Schedule III to FEM (CAT) Amendment Rules, 2015. Such entities will have to fill up the Form A2 while remitting foreign exchange.

However, all residual current account transactions undertaken by such entities are otherwise permissible without any specified limit as hitherto. All such residual current account transactions, irrespective of the amount, are to be disposed off at the level of AD Category I bank, as hitherto. It is for the AD Category I bank to satisfy themselves about the genuineness of the transaction.

Travellers going to all countries other than (a) and (b) below are allowed to purchase foreign currency notes / coins only up to USD 3000 per visit. Balance amount can be carried in the form of travellers cheque or banker's draft. Exceptions to this are (a) travellers proceeding to Iraq and Libya who can draw foreign exchange in the form of foreign currency notes and coins not exceeding USD 5000 or its equivalent per visit; (b) travellers proceeding to the Islamic Republic of Iran, Russian Federation and other Republics of Commonwealth of Independent States who can draw entire foreign exchange (up-to USD 250, 000) in the form of foreign currency notes or coins.

For travellers proceeding for Haj/ Umrah pilgrimage, full amount of BTQ entitlement (USD 250, 000) in cash or up to the cash limit as specified by the Haj Committee of India, may be released by the ADs and FFMCs.

A resident of India, who has gone out of India on a temporary visit may bring into India at the time of his return from any place outside India (other than Nepal and Bhutan), currency notes of Government of India and Reserve Bank of India notes up to an amount not exceeding Rs. 25,000. A person may bring into India from Nepal or Bhutan, currency notes of Government of India and Reserve Bank of India notes, in denomination not exceeding Rs. 100. Any person resident outside India, not being a citizen of Pakistan and Bangladesh and also not a traveller coming from and going to Pakistan and Bangladesh, and visiting in India may bring into India currency notes of Government of India and Reserve Bank of India notes up to an amount not exceeding ₹ 25,000 while entering only through an airport.

Any person resident in India who had gone to Pakistan and/or Bangladesh on a temporary visit, may bring into India at the time of his return, currency notes of Government of India and Reserve Bank of India notes up to an amount not exceeding ₹ 10,000 per person.

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 alone 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.
Permissible foreign exchange can be drawn 60 days in advance. In case it is not possible to use the foreign exchange within the period of 60 days, it should be immediately surrendered to an authorised person. However, residents are free to retain foreign exchange up to USD 2,000, in the form of foreign currency notes or TCs for future use or credit to their Resident Foreign Currency (Domestic) [RFC (Domestic)] Accounts.
Foreign exchange for travel abroad can be purchased from an authorized person against rupee payment in cash below Rs. 50,000/-. However, if the sale of foreign exchange is for the amount equivalent to Rs. 50,000/- and above, the entire payment should be made by way of a crossed cheque/ banker's cheque/ pay order/ demand draft/ debit card / credit card / prepaid card only.
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 up to USD 2,000, in the form of foreign currency notes or TCs for future use or credit to their Resident Foreign Currency (Domestic) [RFC (Domestic)] Accounts.
The residents can hold foreign coins without any limit.
RBI will not prescribe any documentation to be submitted to ADs except the 'Application cum Declaration for purchase of foreign exchange under LRS of USD 250,000' for purchase/ remittance of foreign exchange under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme and Form A2. All other documentation may be done as advised by the Authorised Dealer.

The different limits stipulated [as in Schedule III of FEM (CAT) Amendment Rules, 2015] for various current account transactions like travel; gift; maintenance of close relatives; etc. have been subsumed within the LRS limit of USD 250, 000. Individuals remitting under Schedule III to FEM (CAT) Amendment Rules, 2015 will have to fill up the Form A2 and 'Application cum

Declaration for purchase of foreign exchange under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme of USD 250,000'.

Authorized dealers need not obtain any document, including Form A-2, except a simple letter from the applicant (containing the basic information, viz., names and the addresses of the applicant and the beneficiary, amount to be remitted and the purpose of remittance) as long as the foreign exchange is being purchased for a permissible current account transaction (not included in the Schedules I and II of Government Notification on Current Account Transactions), and the amount does not exceed USD 25000 or its equivalent and the payment is made by a cheque drawn on the applicant's bank account or by a Demand Draft. AD banks shall prepare dummy A-2 so as to enable them to provide purpose of remittance for statistical inputs for Balance of Payment.

AD bank shall have to necessarily collect declarations from each traveller (of a group or a customised tour package) relating to compliance with the extant LRS limit, before allowing remittances from the tour operator's INR or Special Foreign Currency account.

Dance troupes, artistes, etc., who wish to undertake cultural tours abroad, should obtain prior approval from the Ministry of Human Resources Development (Department of Education and Culture), Government of India, New Delhi.
The Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 1976 is administered and monitored by the Ministry of Home Affairs whose address is given below: Foreigners Division, Jaisalmer House, 26, Mansingh Road, NewDelhi-110011.

No specific approval from the Reserve Bank is required in this regard.

Banks authorised to deal in foreign exchange are permitted to issue International Debit Cards (IDCs) which can be used by a resident for drawing cash or making payment to a merchant establishment overseas during his visit abroad. IDCs can be used only for permissible current account transactions and the usage of IDCs shall be within the LRS limit.

AD banks can also issue Store Value Card/Charge Card/Smart Card to residents traveling on private/business visit abroad which can be used for making payments at overseas merchant establishments and also for drawing cash from ATM terminals. No prior permission from Reserve Bank is required for issue of such cards. However, the use of such cards is limited to permissible current account transactions and subject to the LRS limit.

Resident individuals maintaing a foreign currency account with an authorised dealer in India or a bank abroad, as permissible under extant Foreign Exchange Regulations, are free to obtain international Credit Cards (ICCs) issued by overseas banks and other reputed agencies. The charges incurred against the card either in India or abroad, can be met out of funds held in such foreign currency account/s of the card holder or through remittances, if any, from India only through a bank where the card-holder has a current or savings account. The remittance for this purpose, should also be made directly to the card-issuing agency abroad, and not to a third party. It is also clarified that the applicable credit limit will be the limit fixed by the card issuing banks. There is no monetary ceiling fixed by the RBI for remittances, if any, under this facility. The LRS limit shall not apply to the use of ICC for making payment by a person towards meeting expenses while such person is on a visit outside India.

Use of ICCs/ ATMs/ IDCs can be made for travel abroad in connection with various purposes and for making personal payments like subscription to foreign journals, internet subscription, etc. However, use of ICCs/ATMs/Debit Cards is NOT permitted for prohibited transactions indicated in Schedule -1 of FEM (CAT) Amendment Rules 2015 such as purchase of lottery tickets, banned magazines etc.

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

A person resident in India is free to send outside India (export) any gift article, which may be free to be exported as per the extant Foreign Trade Policy, of value not exceeding Rs. 5,00,000/- in value, subject to the exporter submitting a declaration that goods / gift are not more than Rs. 5,00,000/- in value. Such gifts may be sent outside India without furnishing the declaration in Form EDF/ SOFTEX, as the case may be.
Taking personal jewellery out of India is as per the Baggage Rules, governed and administered by Customs Department, Government of India. While no approval of the Reserve Bank is required in this case, approvals, if any, required from Customs Authorities may be obtained.
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 with in India, of a person resident outside India, who is on a visit to India.
Residents may book their tickets in India for their visit to any third country. For instance, residents can book their tickets for travel from London to New York, through domestic/foreign airlines in India. However, the same (air tickets) would be a part of the traveller's overall entitlement of USD 250,000
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 Schedule to Notification No. FEMA 10/2000-RB dated 3rd May, 2000 as amended from time to time, to their EEFC Account with an Authorised Dealer in India. The 100 per cent credit is however, subject to the condition that the sum total of the accruals in the account during a calendar month should be converted into Rupees on or before the last day of the succeeding calendar month after adjusting for utilization of the balances for approved purposes or forward commitments. 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. The account is maintained in the form of a non-interest bearing current account.

b. Diamond Dollar Account (DDA):-

Under the scheme of Government of India, firms and companies dealing in purchase / sale of rough or cut and polished diamonds / precious metal jewellery plain, minakari and / or studded with / without diamond and / or other stones, with a track record of at least 2 years in import / export of diamonds / coloured gemstones / diamond and coloured gemstones studded jewellery / plain gold jewellery and having an average annual turnover of ₹ 3 crores or above during the preceding three licensing years (licensing year is from April to March) are permitted to transact their business through Diamond Dollar Accounts. It may be noted that the sum total of the accruals in the account during a calendar month should be converted into Rupees on or before the last day of the succeeding calendar month after adjusting for utilization of the balances for approved purposes or forward commitments. Such firms and companies may be allowed to open not more than five Diamond Dollar Accounts with their banks.

c. Resident Foreign Currency Accounts : -

A person resident in India may open, hold and maintain with an Authorised Dealer in India a Resident Foreign Currency (RFC) Account to keep their foreign currency assets which were held outside India at the time of return can be credited to such accounts. The foreign exchange received as (i) pension of any other superannuation or other monetary benefits from the employer outside India; (ii) received or acquired as gift or inheritance from a person referred to sub-section (4) of section 6 of FEMA, 1999 or (iii) referred to in clause (c) of section 9 of the Act or acquired as gift or inheritance there from or (iv) 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.

RFC account can be maintained in the form of current or savings or term deposit accounts. The funds in RFC account are free from all restrictions regarding utilisation of foreign currency balances including any restriction on investment outside India.

d. Resident Foreign Currency (Domestic) Account:-

A resident Individual may 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 abroad like proceeds of export of goods and/or services, royalty, honorarium, etc., and/or gifts received from close relatives (as defined in section 6 of the Companies Act, 1956) 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. The account may be debited for payments made towards permissible current and capital account transactions. It may be noted that the sum total of the accruals in the account during a calendar month should be converted into Rupees on or before the last day of the succeeding calendar month after adjusting for utilization of the balances for approved purposes or forward commitments.

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.

Further, a resident individual can also acquire property and other assets overseas under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme.

No. The rationale is that remittance facility is up to the LRS limit of USD 250, 000 for current account transactions under Schedule III of FEM (CAT) Amendment Rules, 2015, such as for private and business visits which can also be provided by FFMCs. As FFMCs cannot maintain accounts of remitters the proviso (as mentioned in para 5.4 of the circular ibid) has been confined to capital account transactions. However, FFMCs, are required to ensure that the "Know Your Customer" guidelines and the Anti-Money Laundering Rules in force have been complied with while allowing the current account transactions.
No. However, capital account remittances for capital account transactions, directly or indirectly to countries identified by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as "non- cooperative countries and territories", from time to time; and 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 are not permissible.
FFMCs cannot provide remittance facilities to their customers.
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 for capital account transactions only. . For remittances pertaining to permissible current account transactions, 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 the 'application-cum-declaration for purchase of foreign exchange under the LRS of USD 250,000' in the specified format along with Form A-2 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.
The remittances can be made in any freely convertible foreign currency.
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.
No ratings or guidelines have been prescribed under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme of USD 2,50,000 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.
No, LRS does not envisage extension of credit facility by the AD banks to their resident individual customers to facilitate remittances for capital account transactions under LRS. However, AD banks may extend funded and non-funded facilities to resident individuals to facilitate current account remittances under the Scheme.
No, banks in India cannot open foreign currency accounts in India for 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.
Individuals resident in India are permitted to include non-resident close relative(s) ('relatives' as defined in section 6 of the Companies Act, 1956) as joint holder(s) in their resident bank accounts on 'former or survivor' basis. However, such non-Resident in India close relatives shall not be eligible to operate the account during the life time of the resident account holder.
Non-Resident in India (NRI), as defined in FEMA Notification No. 5/ 2000-RB dated May 3, 2000 may be permitted to open NRE/FCNR(B) account with their resident close relative ('relative' as defined in Section 6 of the Companies Act , 1956) on 'former or survivor' basis. The resident close relative shall be eligible to operate the account as a Power of Attorney holder in accordance with the extant instructions during the life time of the NRI/PIO account holder.
Where the medical expenses in respect of NRI close relative ['relative' as defined in section 6 of the Companies Act, 1956) are paid by a resident individual, such a payment being in the nature of a resident to resident transaction may be covered under the term "services related thereto" under Regulation 2(i) of Notification No. FEMA16/ 2000-RB dated May 3, 2000.
AD banks have to report remittances under LRS on a monthly basis to External Payments Division, Foreign Exchange Department, Central office, Mumbai, in Online Returns Filing System (ORFS).
In t/o A. P. (Dir Series) circular No. 151 dated June 30, 2014, Reserve Bank of India will not issue any instructions under the FEMA, regarding the procedure to be followed in respect of deduction of tax at source while allowing remittances to the non-residents. It shall be mandatory on the part of Authorised Dealers to comply with the requirement of the tax laws, as applicable.

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.

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The above information has been taken from the website of Reserve Bank of India. For more information / details on the subject, please Click Here to visit the RBI website.
Updated : Mar 08, 2021