RBI allows foreign portfolio investors to use certified KYC document facility

New Delhi, 21 September 2026: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has extended an existing Know Your Customer (KYC) facility for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) to Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs).

According to the amended rules, banks will be allowed to accept original certified copies of certain KYC documents from FPIs, provided the documents are certified by authorities recognized under the RBI framework. The move provides an alternate route to complete KYC documentation to overseas investors without necessarily getting their documents certified in India.

RBI extends KYC facility to foreign portfolio investors

This change has been made by the RBI through the RBI (Commercial Banks – Know Your Customer) Amendment Directions, 2026 issued on September 18, 2026. The amendment was effective immediately.

Earlier available to NRIs and PIOs, the facility is now extended to FPIs. The amended provision also allows banks to obtain original certified copies of specified KYC documents from FPIs, subject to certification by authorized authorities.

Who Can Validate FPI KYC Documents?

Under the amended framework, KYC documents can be certified by certain specified authorities outside India.

These include the following authorized officials:

• Scheduled Commercial Banks incorporated in India having overseas branches
• Relationships with Indian Banks of Overseas bank branches
• Foreign notary public
• Magistrate Court
• Judge
• – Indian Embassy / Consulate General in the country of residence of the Non Resident Customer.

This allows FPIs outside India to complete the document certification process through recognized authorities in their country of residence.

Aadhaar & Other Govt Recognized Documents

As per the revised guidelines, banks can accept an original certified copy of Aadhaar related proof or an officially valid document from FPIs subject to the relevant certification requirements.

The change provides an alternate mechanism of submitting certified KYC documents while keeping the underlying KYC verification requirements intact.

KYC rules still apply

The amendment does not waive the obligation on banks to perform the necessary KYC checks. Instead, it changes the route of certification of certain documents filed by foreign portfolio investors.

So the RBI’s latest move provides foreign portfolio investors with an additional option to get the documents certified by recognized authorities abroad.

What RBI Rule Change Means for FPIs

The extension of the facility is meant to simplify the documentation process for foreign investors dealing with Indian banks. “Now FPIs can follow recognized certification channels abroad and submit the original certified copies to the appropriate Indian bank.

The amended directions became effective immediately from the date of release, September 18, 2026.

Key points

• RBI has extended the facility of KYC document certified to FPIs.
• Previously the facility was for NRIs and PIOs.
• Specified KYC documents may be certified by the overseas recognized authorities.
• Indian Embassies and Consulates can also certify relevant documents.
• The amendment was effective immediately September 18, 2026.
• The current KYC verification requirements are still applicable.

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