Summary of this article
RBI expands overseas document certification access to FPIs.
Approved overseas authorities can certify specified FPI KYC documents.
Banks must still complete all required KYC checks.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has changed the process for foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) submitting KYC documents to Indian banks. Under the revised framework, banks can accept original certified copies of specified documents when they have been certified by recognised authorities overseas.
The change was notified on September 18, 2026, through the RBI (Commercial Banks – Know Your Customer) Amendment Directions, 2026. It took effect immediately.
The facility gives overseas investors another way to complete document certification without necessarily having to arrange the process in India.
FPIs Can Get Documents Certified Outside India
Under the revised rules, an Indian bank can accept an original certified copy of certain KYC documents from an FPI. The document must be certified by an authority recognised under the RBI rules.
The approved authorities include officials at overseas branches of Scheduled Commercial Banks registered in India. Documents can also be certified by branches of foreign banks that have a relationship with an Indian bank.
A Notary Public, Court Magistrate or Judge outside India can also certify the documents. Indian Embassies and Consulates General in the country where the investor lives are also included in the list.
The facility was earlier available to non-resident Indians (NRIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs). The latest amendment has now added FPIs to this provision.
Basic KYC Requirements Still Apply
The new provision does not remove the KYC checks that banks have to carry out for FPIs.
Under the RBI rules, banks have to verify certain documents against the original document produced by the customer. Where offline Aadhaar verification cannot be carried out, the bank has to follow the applicable document verification process.
An authorised bank officer also has to record the required verification on a copy of the document.
For FPIs, the new provision provides another way to submit certified copies of the required documents. The documents can be certified by one of the authorities recognised by the RBI outside India.
What The RBI Amendment Changes
The main change is the addition of FPIs to the facility, which allows certain KYC documents to be certified overseas.
An FPI based outside India can have its eligible documents certified by a recognised authority in the country where it is based. It can also use an Indian Embassy or Consulate General, where applicable.
The original certified copy can then be submitted to the Indian bank.
The amendment changes the process for document certification. The KYC requirements applicable to FPIs under the RBI rules continue to apply.
