**Executive Summary**
This document, Notification No. FEMA 10(R)(7)/2025-RB, dated October 06, 2025, details the Seventh Amendment to the Foreign Exchange Management (Foreign Currency Accounts by a person resident in India) Regulations, 2015. The regulations come into force from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. The amendment defines "International Financial Services Centre" and revises regulations concerning Foreign Currency Accounts held by exporters.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Short Title and Commencement:**
* The regulations are called the Foreign Exchange Management (Foreign Currency Accounts by a person resident in India) (Seventh Amendment) Regulations, 2025.
* They come into force from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
* **Definition of International Financial Services Centre (IFSC):**
* "International Financial Services Centre" or "IFSC" has the meaning assigned to it in clause (g) of section 3 of the International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019 (50 of 2019).
* **Foreign Currency Account (FCA) Regulations for Exporters:**
* A person resident in India, being an exporter, may open, hold and maintain an FCA with a bank outside India, for realization of full export value and advance remittance received towards export of goods or services.
* Funds in this account can be used for imports into India or repatriated into India:
* Within three months for accounts maintained with banks in an International Financial Services Centre (IFSC).
* By the end of the next month for all other jurisdictions.
* From the date of receipt of funds after adjusting for forward commitments, provided that the realization and repatriation requirements as specified in the Foreign Exchange Management (Export of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2015, are also met.
* **Explanation:**
* Foreign currency accounts permitted to be opened 'outside India/abroad' can also be opened in International Financial Services Centre.
**Impact Analysis**
**Exporters Resident in India**
* **Impact:** The amendment provides revised guidelines for managing foreign currency accounts (FCA), offering specific provisions for accounts held in IFSC and other jurisdictions.
* **Action Required:** Exporters need to understand the revised repatriation timelines for funds held in FCAs, especially concerning accounts held in IFSC and ensure compliance with Foreign Exchange Management (Export of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2015.
Key Entities Referenced
Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999: The primary legislation authorizing the Reserve Bank of India to make regulations concerning foreign exchange management.
Foreign Exchange Management (Foreign Currency Accounts by a person resident in India) Regulations, 2015: The principal regulations being amended by this notification, governing foreign currency accounts held by Indian residents.
International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019: Defines ‘International Financial Services Centre’ or ‘IFSC’ which is relevant to the regulations.
Reserve Bank of India: The issuing authority of the Foreign Exchange Management Regulations.
Foreign Exchange Management (Export of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2015: Referenced regulations that specify realization and repatriation requirements related to export proceeds.
RESERVE BANK OF INDIA
FOREIGN EXCHANGE DEPARTMENT
CENTRAL OFFICE
MUMBAI - 400 001
Notification No. FEMA 10(R)(7)/2025-RB October 06, 2025
Foreign Exchange Management (Foreign Currency Accounts by a person resident in India) (Seventh
Amendment) Regulations, 2025
In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 9 and clause (e) of sub-section (2) of section 47 of the Foreign Exchange
Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999), the Reserve Bank of India makes the following amendments to the Foreign
Exchange Management (Foreign Currency Accounts by a person resident in India) Regulations, 2015 [Notification No.
FEMA 10(R)/2015-RB dated January 21, 2016] (hereinafter referred to as 'the principal regulations'), namely:
1. Short Title and Commencement: -
(i) These regulations may be called the Foreign Exchange Management (Foreign Currency Accounts by a person resident
in India) (Seventh Amendment) Regulations, 2025.
(ii) They shall come into force from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. In the principal regulations, in regulation 2, after clause (iii), the following shall be inserted namely:-
“(iii-a) ‘International Financial Services Centre’ or ‘IFSC’ shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (g) of
section 3 of the International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019 (50 of 2019).”
3. In the principal regulations, in regulation 5, the sub-regulation (CA) shall be substituted by the following, namely:-
“(CA). A person resident in India, being an exporter, may open, hold and maintain a Foreign Currency Account with a
bank outside India, for realisation of full export value and advance remittance received by the exporter towards export of
goods or services. Funds in this account may be utilised by the exporter for paying for its imports into India or repatriated
into India within a period not exceeding the end of
(a) three months in case of accounts maintained with banks in an International Financial Services Centre; or
(b) next month for all other jurisdictions;
from the date of receipt of the funds after adjusting for forward commitments, provided that the realisation and repatriation
requirements as specified in the Foreign Exchange Management (Export of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2015, as
amended from time to time, are also met.”
4. In the principal regulations, at the end of regulation 5, the following shall be inserted namely:-
“Explanation: - For the purpose of regulation 5, the foreign currency accounts permitted to be opened ‘outside India/
abroad’ can also be opened in International Financial Services Centre.”
(N. Senthil Kumar)
Chief General Manager
Footnote: The Principal Regulations were published in the Official Gazette of Government of India – Extraordinary –
Part-II, Section 3, Sub-Section (i) dated 21.01.2016 - G.S.R.No.96(E) and subsequently amended vide the following,
namely;
Notification G.S.R. No.570(E) dated 01.06.2016
Notification G.S.R. No.160(E) dated 27.02.2019
Notification No.FEMA.10R(3)/2024-RB dated 23.04.2024
Notification No.FEMA.10R(4)/2024-RB dated 21.11.2024
Notification No.FEMA.10R(5)/2025-RB dated 14.01.2025
Notification No.FEMA.10R(6)/2025-RB dated 29.04.2025