RBI raises limit for direct import bill remittances to USD 300,000
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2008-09/149 · issued 01 Sep 2008 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI has increased the threshold for AD Category-I banks to remit import payments directly to overseas suppliers from USD 100,000 to USD 300,000, easing documentation for smaller imports.
The rule, in the simplest words
Banks can now send up to USD 300,000 directly to foreign sellers for imports, instead of the old limit of USD 100,000.
Importers can get the bill and papers straight from the seller, without the bank handling them first, as long as the amount is under the new limit.
Before sending the money, the bank must check the importer's identity (KYC), money-laundering rules (AML), and their financial history.
The bank must also make sure the trade is normal for that business and follows India's Foreign Trade Policy.
If the bank suspects anything wrong, it must report it to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND) using a Suspicious Transaction Report (STR).
How it plays out — a real example
Ravi, a forex & trade-finance officer in Indore, processes a remittance of USD 250,000 for a trusted importer who receives the invoice directly from a Swiss supplier. He verifies the importer's KYC documents, checks their past payment record, and confirms the transaction is standard for the jewelry trade before approving the payment under the new higher limit.
What changed
The previous limit of USD 100,000 for direct receipt of import bills/documents by importers has been raised to USD 300,000. This liberalization applies to AD Category-I banks making remittances for imports where documents are received directly from the overseas supplier.
What it means for you
Banks can now process higher-value import remittances without requiring documents to pass through the banking channel, reducing paperwork and turnaround time for importers. However, banks must still conduct due diligence, ensure KYC/AML compliance, and report suspicious transactions to FIU-IND. The change simplifies trade finance for smaller imports but does not alter conditions for status holder exporters or rough diamond imports.
What you must do
Update internal trade finance policies to reflect the new USD 300,000 limit for direct import bill remittances.
Ensure due diligence on importer customers, including financial standing and track record, before processing such remittances.
Verify that the transaction is customary in the trade and compliant with Foreign Trade Policy.
Report any suspicious transactions via Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) to FIU-IND.
Communicate the revised limit to all relevant constituents and customers.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks, Importers who receive import bills/documents directly from overseas suppliers, Trade finance departments of banks
❓ Common questions
Does this circular apply to all types of imports?
Yes, for imports where documents are received directly by the importer from the overseas supplier, subject to conditions like compliance with Foreign Trade Policy and bank due diligence. Separate instructions for status holder exporters and rough diamond imports remain unchanged.
What due diligence must banks perform before remitting under the new limit?
Banks must be satisfied about the bonafides of the transaction, the importer's financial standing and track record, ensure KYC/AML compliance, and confirm that direct receipt of documents is customary in that trade.
What if the bank suspects the transaction is not genuine?
The bank must file a Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) with FIU-IND and refrain from processing the remittance until further clarity.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2008-09/149
A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 13
September 01, 2008
To,
All Authorised Dealer Category - I banks
Madam / Sir,
Direct Receipt of Import Bills / Documents - Liberalisation
Attention of Authorised Dealer Category - I (AD Category - I) banks is invited to A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No.66 dated February 6, 2004 , in terms of which AD Category - I banks are permitted to make remittances for imports, where the import bills / documents have been received directly by the importer from the overseas supplier and the value of import bill does not exceed USD 100,000.
2. With a view to liberalizing the procedure, it has been decided to enhance the limit for direct receipt of import bills / documents to USD 300,000. Accordingly, AD Category – I banks may make remittances for imports, where the import bills / documents have been received directly by the importer from the overseas supplier and the value of import bill does not exceed USD 300,000, subject to the following conditions :
(i) The import would be subject to the prevailing Foreign Trade Policy.
(ii) The transactions are based on their commercial judgment and they are satisfied about the bonafides of the transactions.
(iii) The importer is a customer of AD Category – I bank and the customer's account is fully compliant with extant KYC / AML guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank.
(iv) AD Category - I banks should do the due diligence exercise and should be fully satisfied about the financial standing / status and track record of the importer customer.
(v) It is customary in that trade to receive import documents directly from the overseas exporter.
(vi) In case the AD Category – I bank has suspicions about the genuineness of the transaction, it should be reported through the Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) to FIU_IND (Financial Intelligence Unit in India).
3. The instructions for direct receipt of import bills / documents by status holder exporters, as defined under the Foreign Trade Policy, issued in terms of item i.c. of the Annex to A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No.66 dated February 6, 2004 shall remain unchanged. Further, instructions issued vide A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 18 dated November 07, 2007 and A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 37 dated April 16, 2008 for direct receipt of import bills / documents by non-status holder exporters for import of rough diamonds and rough precious and semi-precious stones shall continue.
4. AD Category - I banks may bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their constituents and customers concerned.
5. The directions contained in this circular have been issued under sections 10(4) and 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999 (42 of 1999) and are without prejudice to permissions / approvals, if any, required under any other law.
Yours faithfully,
(Salim Gangadharan)
Chief General Manager-in-Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2008-09/149 · issued 01 Sep 2008. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (AD Category-I banks, Importers who receive import bills/documents directly from overseas suppliers, Trade finance departments of banks), your first concrete step on “RBI raises limit for direct import bill remittances to USD 300,000” is: “Update internal trade finance policies to reflect the new USD 300,000 limit for direct import bill remittances.” (RBI issued this 01 Sep 2008).
Circular: RBI/2008-09/149 -- RBI raises limit for direct import bill remittances to USD 300,000
Issued: 01 Sep 2008
Action required: Update internal trade finance policies to reflect the new USD 300,000 limit for direct import bill remittances.
Action required: Ensure due diligence on importer customers, including financial standing and track record, before processing such remittances.
Action required: Verify that the transaction is customary in the trade and compliant with Foreign Trade Policy.
Action required: Report any suspicious transactions via Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) to FIU-IND.
Action required: Communicate the revised limit to all relevant constituents and customers.
Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.
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BankPulse Compliance Evidence Pack — generated 05 Aug 2026 · status cross-checked against RBI’s official withdrawal register (refreshed weekly). Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=4441&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
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