SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) Press Release No. 03/2026, dated January 08, 2026, announces the facilitation of seamless Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) functionality for Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs). A new DSC functionality from Indian DSC issuers has been developed within the Common Application Form (CAF) portal. This embeds FPI registration and DSC application into a unified process, easing on-boarding. Previously, SEBI, vide Circular dated March 27, 2023, permitted FPIs to use digital signatures for CAF and other registration related documents. Now, applicants can directly apply for DSC while submitting CAF in the Portal. Detailed processes and FAQs are available on the India Market Access Portal: https://indiamarketaccess.in/digital-signature-certificate.html. FPI applicants are encouraged to utilize this enhanced digital functionality. The SEBI Communications Division can be contacted at +91-22-26449000 or press@sebi.gov.in. The SEBI website is www.sebi.gov.in.
Key Entities Referenced
Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs): The investors who will be using the digital signature functionality
Digital Signature Certificate (DSC): The main subject of the policy, new functionality for FPIs
Common Application Form (CAF): Portal where the DSC functionality is embedded
Mumbai: Location where the press release originated
SEBI: Securities and Exchange Board of India, the regulator
PR No.03/2026
SEBI Facilitates Seamless Digital Signature Certificate Functionality for FPIs
As a key step in digitizing the FPI on boarding process, a new Digital Signature
Certificate (‘DSC’) functionality from Indian DSC issuers has been developed within
the Common Application Form (‘CAF’) portal. This new feature embeds FPI
Registration application and DSC application into a single, unified process, easing the
on-boarding of FPI clients.
Earlier SEBI, vide Circular dated March 27, 2023 had permitted FPIs to use digital
signatures for execution of CAF and other registration related documents.
This step now further streamlines the FPI registration process as applicants can now
directly apply for DSC while submitting CAF in the Portal. Detailed process flows and
FAQs related to obtaining a DSC are available here on the India Market Access Portal
( https://indiamarketaccess.in/digital-signature-certificate.html ).
FPI applicants are encouraged to make optimal use of this enhanced digital
functionality.
Mumbai
January 08, 2026
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