The Reserve Bank of India has amended its know your customer directions for small finance banks to allow foreign portfolio investors to use an alternative overseas certification process for identity documents with immediate effect. The option was previously available to nonresident Indians and persons of Indian origin and aligns with parallel extensions across several other categories of Indian banks. Instead of requiring the bank to compare a copy with the original document, a foreign portfolio investor may provide an original certified copy. Certification may be completed by specified officials at overseas bank branches, a notary public, a court magistrate or judge, or an Indian embassy or consulate general in the investor’s country of residence.
2026-09-18Reserve Bank of India
Reserve Bank of India extends overseas KYC document certification option to foreign portfolio investors at small finance banks
The Reserve Bank of India has extended the alternative overseas KYC document certification process at small finance banks to foreign portfolio investors with immediate effect. Documents may be certified by specified overseas bank officials, notarial or judicial authorities, or Indian diplomatic missions.