Currency Frequently Asked Question

Guidelines on travel related matters - Foreign Exchange (Source Reserve Bank of India) As on July 1, 2004 1. From where one can buy foreign exchange? Foreign exchange can be purchased from any authorized dealer. Besides authorized dealers, full- fledged money changers are also permitted to release exchange for business and private visits. 2. 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. 3. 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, specialized training, study tour, apprentice training, etc., are treated as business visits. Visit abroad for medical treatment and/or check up also falls within this category. 4. Can one obtain additional foreign exchange for medical treatment outside India? Authorized dealers may release foreign exchange up to 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 exchange is to meet the expenses involved in treatment and in addition to the amount referred to in paragraph 1 above. 5. How much exchange is available for studies outside India?students abroad 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 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. 6. How much foreign exchange can one buy when going for tourism 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 calendar year may be obtained from an authorized dealer. 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 calendar year does not exceed the prescribed ceiling of US$10,000 {The facility was earlier called B.T.Q or F.T.S.}. This limit of USD10,000 can be availed of by a person along with foreign exchange for travel abroad for any purpose, including for employment or immigration or studies. However, no foreign exchange is available for visit to Nepal and/or Bhutan for any purpose. 7. How much foreign exchange is available to a person going abroad on employment? Person going abroad for employment can draw foreign exchange up to USD100,000 from any authorized dealer in India on the basis of self- declaration. 8. How much foreign exchange is available to a person going abroad on emigration? Person going abroad on emigration can draw foreign exchange up to USD100,000 on self- declaration basis from an authorized dealer in India. This amount is only to meet the incidental expenses in the country of emigration. No amount of foreign exchange can be remitted outside India to become eligible or for earning points or credits for immigration. All such remittances require prior permission of the Reserve Bank. 9. Is there any purpose for which going abroad requires prior approval from the Reserve Bank or Govt. of India? Dance troupes, artistes, etc., who wish to undertake cultural tours abroad, should obtain prior approval from the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India, New Delhi. 10. How much foreign exchange can be purchased in foreign currency notes while buying exchange for travel abroad? Travelers are allowed to purchase foreign currency notes/coins only up to USD 2000. Balance amount can be taken in the form of traveler's cheques or banker’s draft. Exceptions to this are (a) travelers proceeding to Iraq and Libya can draw foreign exchange in the form of foreign currency notes and coins not exceeding US$ 5000 or its equivalent; (b) travelers proceeding to the Islamic Republic of Iran, Russian Federation and other Republics of Commonwealth of Independent States can draw entire foreign exchange released in form of foreign currency notes or coins. 11. 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 US$ 2,000, (ii) the balance foreign exchange may be taken in form of traveler's cheque or bank draft payable overseas. 12. How much in advance one can buy foreign exchange for travel abroad? The foreign exchange acquired for any purpose has to be used within 60 days of purchase. In case it is not possible to use the foreign exchange within the period of 60 days it should be surrendered to an authorized dealer. 13. 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 banks 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. 14. Within what period a traveler who has returned to India is required to surrender foreign exchange? On return from a foreign trip travelers are required to surrender unspent foreign exchange held in the form of currency notes within 90days and travelers' 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 RFC(Domestic) Account without any limit. 15. On return to India can one retain some foreign exchange? Residents are permitted to hold foreign currency up to USD 2,000 or its equivalent or credit to their RFC(Domestic) Account without any limit provided the foreign exchange was - •Acquired by him 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; or •Acquired by him, 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, or •Acquired by him by way of honorarium or gift while on a visit to any place outside India; or •Acquired by him from an authorized person for travel abroad and represents the unspent amount thereof. 16. Is one required to surrender foreign coins also to an authorized dealer? There is no restriction on residents holding foreign coins. 17. How much foreign exchange can one send as gift / donation to a person resident outside India? Any person resident in India can remit up to USD 5,000 in any one year as a gift to a person residing outside India or as donation to a charitable/educational /religious/ cultural organization outside India. Remittances exceeding the limit require prior permission from the Reserve Bank. 18. 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. Your entitlement of foreign exchange on International Credit Cards (ICCs) is limited by the credit limit fixed by the card issuing authority only. With ICCs you 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 you have a foreign currency account in India or with a bank overseas, you 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. 19. 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. 20. While going abroad how much foreign exchange, in cash, can a person carry? Residents are free to carry the foreign exchange purchased from an authorized dealer or money changer in accordance with the Rules. They are, however, allowed to carry foreign exchange in the form of currency notes/coins up to USD 2,000 or its equivalent only. Balance amount can be carried in the form of traveler's cheques or banker/s draft. (In this connection please see item No.9). 21. 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 travelers 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. 22. While going abroad how much foreign exchange can a person carry? Residents are free to carry the foreign exchange purchased from an authorized dealer or money changer in accordance with the Rules. In addition, they can also carry up to USD 2,000, or higher amounts representing the utilized balance of a previous trip, if already held by them (see item13 above) in accordance with the Regulations. 23. 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 EXIM Policy. 24. How much jewelry one can carry while going abroad? Taking personal jewelry out of India is governed by Baggage Rules framed under Export-Import Policy by the Government of India. No approval of Reserve Bank is required in this case. 25. 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. 26. 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 to London/New York through domestic/foreign airlines in India itself. 27. 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 following two Schemes: EEFC Accounts: To avoid exchange loss on conversion of foreign exchange into Indian Rupee & Rupee into foreign exchange, residents can retain up to 50% of foreign currency remittances received from abroad in a foreign currency account, viz., EEFC account, with an authorized dealer in India. Funds held in EEFC account can be utilized for 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. RFC Accounts Returning Indians, i.e., those Indians, who were non- residents earlier, and are returning now for permanent stay, are permitted to open, hold and maintain with an authorized dealer in India a Resident Foreign Currency (RFC) Account to keep their foreign currency assets. currency chart 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 may also be credited to this account. The funds in RFC account are free from all restrictions regarding utilization of foreign currency balances including any restriction on investment outside India. The facility is also available to residents provided foreign exchange to be credited to such account is received out of certain specified type of funds/accounts. RFC (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 travelers 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 by resident individuals. 28. 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. 29. What is the liberalized Remittance Scheme of USD 25,000? This is a new facility extended to all resident individuals under which they may freely remit up to USD 25,000 per calendar year for any permissible current or capital account transaction or a combination of both. 30.Who is eligible to avail of this Liberalized Remittance Facility? The facility is available to resident individuals only. 31.Is there any frequency for the remittance? Resident individuals can avail of the remittance facility under the Scheme once in a calendar year. 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. Source: http://www.rbi.org.in CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >>