New Delhi, Sept. 21 -- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has eased the documentation process for foreign portfolio investors (FPIs), allowing banks to accept original certified copies of specified KYC documents that have been certified by authorised authorities overseas. The change is aimed at making compliance easier for overseas investors without removing the underlying KYC requirements.

The amendment was issued on 18 September 2026 through the RBI (Commercial Banks - Know Your Customer) Amendment Directions, 2026 and came into effect immediately. RBI said it had reviewed the existing instructions and decided to extend to FPIs a facility that was already available to non-resident Indians (NRIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs).

Under...