Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Know Your Customer) Amendment Directions, 2026
RBI notification RBI/2026-27/257 · 18 Sept 2026
RBI notification RBI/2026-27/257 · 18 Sept 2026
Summary
Check the official recordThe Reserve Bank of India amends the Know Your Customer Directions, 2025. The amendment extends the facility to obtain original certified copies of documents for Foreign Portfolio Investors. Banks may now accept documents certified by specific overseas authorities for Foreign Portfolio Investors. This aligns with the existing process for Non-Resident Indians and Persons of Indian Origin. The amendment applies to all commercial banks. The directions take effect immediately.
What you must do
Key dates
Who is affected
RBI/2026-27/257
DOR.AML.REC.226/14.01.002/2026-27
September 18, 2026
Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Know Your Customer) Amendment Directions, 2026
Reserve Bank has issued Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Know Your Customer) Directions, 2025 dated November 28, 2025 (hereinafter referred to as the Directions) in compliance with the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, and the Prevention of Money Laundering (Maintenance of Records) Rules, 2005. The Directions in paragraph 5(1)(v) allow the banks to alternatively obtain the original certified copy which are certified by any one of the authorities / authorised officials mentioned therein in case of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), as defined in Foreign Exchange Management (Deposit) Regulations, 2016 {FEMA 5(R)}. The extant instructions have since been reviewed and it has been decided to extend the above facility in case of Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs).
Accordingly, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, section 10(2) read with section 18 of Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, section 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, Rule 9(14) of Prevention of Money-Laundering (Maintenance of Records) Rules, 2005 and all other enabling laws in this regard, the Reserve Bank being satisfied that it is necessary and expedient in the public interest so to do, hereby issues the Amendment Directions hereinafter specified.
Short Title and Commencement
“‘Certified Copy’ – Obtaining the certified copy by the bank shall mean comparing the copy of the proof of possession of Aadhaar number where offline verification cannot be carried out or the officially valid document produced by the customer with the original, and an authorised officer of the bank shall record the comparison on the copy as per the provisions contained in the Act. Provided that in case of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), as defined in Foreign Exchange Management (Deposit) Regulations, 2016 {FEMA 5(R)}, and Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs), the bank may alternatively obtain the original certified copy, certified by any one of the following:
- (a) authorised officials of overseas branches of Scheduled Commercial Banks registered in India,
- (b) branches of overseas banks with whom Indian banks have relationships,
- (c) Notary Public abroad,
- (d) Court Magistrate,
- (e) Judge,
- (f) Indian Embassy / Consulate General in the country where the non-resident customer resides.”
(Veena Srivastava)
Chief General Manager