Gift of securities to NRIs/PIOs: Limit raised to USD 50,000 per year
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/175 · issued 15 Sep 2011 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI has enhanced the annual limit for gifting securities (shares, convertible debentures) to NRI/PIO close relatives from USD 25,000 per calendar year to USD 50,000 per financial year. Prior RBI approval is still required for all such gifts, but the higher threshold applies to the value of securities that can be transferred together with any other gifts in the financial year.
The rule, in the simplest words
You can now gift up to USD 50,000 worth of securities (like shares or bonds) per financial year (April to March) to your NRI/PIO close relative (a family member living abroad).
Before you send the gift, you must get permission from RBI (the central bank) – this rule did not change.
The old limit was USD 25,000 per calendar year (January to December); now it is higher and counted per financial year.
How it plays out — a real example
Ravi, a forex & trade-finance officer in Indore, has a customer who wants to gift shares worth USD 45,000 to her son who is an NRI in Dubai. Ravi checks the new limit and confirms the amount is under USD 50,000 per financial year, but he still reminds the customer that she must apply for RBI approval before transferring the shares.
What changed
Earlier, the value of securities that could be transferred by way of gift to a non-resident was limited to USD 25,000 per calendar year. This limit has now been raised to USD 50,000 per financial year. All other conditions under FEMA Regulation 10A(a) remain unchanged. Note: Prior RBI approval is still required for all gift transfers of securities.
What it means for you
Banks should note that prior RBI approval is still mandatory for any gift transfer of securities to a person resident outside India. The circular only enhances the value limit up to which such gifts can be made, from USD 25,000 per calendar year to USD 50,000 per financial year. This does not eliminate the need for prior approval.
What you must do
Update internal FEMA compliance checklists to reflect the new USD 50,000 per financial year limit for gift transfers of securities to NRIs/PIOs, but ensure staff understand that prior RBI approval is still required for all such gifts.
Inform customers that prior RBI approval is mandatory for all gift transfers of securities, and the enhanced limit applies to the value of securities that can be transferred together with any other gifts in the financial year.
Ensure all gift transfers are supported by a declaration of relationship and compliance with other unchanged conditions under Regulation 10A(a).
Train staff handling forex remittances on the revised limit and documentation requirements, emphasizing that prior approval is still needed.
Who it affects
Authorised Dealer (AD) banks handling outward remittances or securities transfers, Resident individuals gifting shares/convertible debentures to NRI/PIO close relatives, NRI/PIO recipients of such gifts
❓ Common questions
Does this circular remove the need for RBI approval for all gift transfers of securities?
No. Prior RBI approval is still required for any gift transfer of securities to a person resident outside India. The circular only enhances the value limit up to which such gifts can be made, from USD 25,000 per calendar year to USD 50,000 per financial year.
Who qualifies as a 'close relative' for this purpose?
The circular refers to the definition of 'relative' under Section 6 of the Companies Act, 1956. AD banks should verify the relationship as per that definition before processing the gift transfer.
What happens if the gift value exceeds USD 50,000 in a financial year?
The circular does not specify that gifts exceeding USD 50,000 require a separate application; it states that prior approval is required for all gifts. The limit is the maximum value of securities that can be transferred together with any other gifts in the financial year.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/175
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 14
September 15, 2011
To
All Banks Authorised to Deal in Foreign Exchange
Madam / Sir,
Foreign Investments in India - Transfer of security by way of gift –
Liberalisation
Attention of the Authorised Dealer (AD) banks is invited to the Regulation 10 A (a) of the Notification No. FEMA 20/2000-RB dated 3rd May 2000 viz. Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or issue of Security by a Person Resident outside India) Regulations, 2000, as amended from time to time, read with A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 08 dated August 25, 2005 in terms of which a person resident in India who proposes to transfer any security, by way of gift, to a person resident outside India, is required to make an application to the Reserve Bank.
2. The Committee to Review the Facilities for Individuals under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 in its Report has suggested that general permission may be made available to individual residents in India to gift shares / securities /convertible debentures, etc. to their NRI/PIO close relative (relative as defined in Section 6 of the Companies Act, 1956) subject to certain conditions.
3. On a review, it has been decided that as hitherto, a person resident in India who proposes to transfer, by way of gift , to a person resident outside India any security including shares/convertible debentures is required to obtain prior approval of the Reserve Bank. However, the value of security to be transferred together with any security transferred by the transferor, as gift, to any person residing outside India which was not to exceed the rupee equivalent of USD 25,000 during a calendar year has been enhanced to USD 50,000 per financial year.
4. All other conditions as specified in Regulation 10 A (a) of Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or issue of Security by a Person Resident outside India) Regulations 2000 dated May 3, 2000 shall remain unchanged.
5. The necessary amendments to the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or issue of Security by a Person Resident outside India) Regulations 2000 notified vide Reserve Bank Notification No. FEMA 20/2000-RB dated May 3, 2000, are being issued separately.
6. AD banks may bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their constituents/customers concerned.
7. The directions contained in this circular have been issued under Sections 10(4) and 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999) and are without prejudice to permissions/approvals, if any, required under any other law.
Yours faithfully,
(Meena Hemchandra)
Chief General Manager In-Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/175 · issued 15 Sep 2011. 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 (Authorised Dealer (AD) banks handling outward remittances or securities transfers, Resident individuals gifting shares/convertible debentures to NRI/PIO close relatives, NRI/PIO recipients of such gifts), your first concrete step on “Gift of securities to NRIs/PIOs: Limit raised to USD 50,000 per year” is: “Update internal FEMA compliance checklists to reflect the new USD 50,000 per financial year limit for gift transfers of securities to NRIs/PIOs, but ensure staff understand that prior RBI approval is still required for all such gifts.” (RBI issued this 15 Sep 2011).
Circular: RBI/2011-12/175 -- Gift of securities to NRIs/PIOs: Limit raised to USD 50,000 per year
Issued: 15 Sep 2011
Action required: Update internal FEMA compliance checklists to reflect the new USD 50,000 per financial year limit for gift transfers of securities to NRIs/PIOs, but ensure staff understand that prior RBI approval is still required for all such gifts.
Action required: Inform customers that prior RBI approval is mandatory for all gift transfers of securities, and the enhanced limit applies to the value of securities that can be transferred together with any other gifts in the financial year.
Action required: Ensure all gift transfers are supported by a declaration of relationship and compliance with other unchanged conditions under Regulation 10A(a).
Action required: Train staff handling forex remittances on the revised limit and documentation requirements, emphasizing that prior approval is still needed.
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 03 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=6707&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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