RBI/2008-09/318
A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 40
A. P. (FL Series) Circular No. 03
December 10, 2008
To
All Authorised Dealers Category I & II and Full Fledged Money Changers
Madam / Sir,
Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 –
Foreign Travel – Mode of payment in Rupees
Attention of Authorised Dealers Category I & II and Full Fledged Money Changers
(FFMCs) is invited to paragraph A.10 of the Annexure to
A. P. (DIR Series)
Circular No.19 dated October 30, 2000, in terms of which Authorised Dealers may
accept payment in cash up to Rs. 50,000 (Rupees Fifty Thousand only) against
sale of foreign exchange for travel abroad (for private visit or for any other
purpose). Wherever the sale of foreign exchange exceeds the amount equivalent to
Rs.50,000, the payment must be received only by a -
- crossed cheque drawn on the applicant’s bank account
or
- crossed cheque drawn on the bank account of the firm/company sponsoring the
visit of the applicant
or
- Banker’s cheque / Pay Order / Demand Draft.
- With a view to provide flexibility in the mode of payment against sale of
foreign exchange, in addition to the payment by Rupees / through crossed cheque
/ Banker's cheque / Pay order / Demand draft, Authorised Dealers Category I & II
and FFMCs may also accept the payments made by the traveller through debit cards
/ credit cards / prepaid cards for travel abroad (for private visit or for any
other purpose) provided -
(i) KYC / AML guidelines are complied with,
(ii) sale of foreign currency / issue of foreign currency travellers' cheques is
within the limits (credit / prepaid cards) prescribed by the bank,
(iii) the purchaser of foreign currency / foreign currency travellers' cheque
and the credit / debit / prepaid card holder is one and the same person.
- Authorised Dealers Category I & II and Full Fledged Money Changers may bring
the contents of the circular to the notice of their constituents and customers
concerned.
- The directions contained in this circular have been issued under Section
10(4) and Section 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of
1999) and is without prejudice to permissions / approvals, if any, required
under any other law.
Yours faithfully,
(Salim Gangadharan)
Chief General Manager-in-Charge