HomeCirculars › RBI/2011-12/430

LRS Clarification: Minors, Family Consolidation, Art Purchases

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/430 · issued 06 Mar 2012 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI clarifies that resident individuals, including minors, can remit up to USD 200,000 per financial year under LRS. Minors' forms need guardian countersignature. Family members can consolidate remittances, and funds can buy art objects if compliant with other laws.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

When a minor's parent comes to apply for a gold loan, the forex & trade-finance officer in Indore must ensure that the LRS declaration form is countersigned by the minor's natural guardian. The officer must also verify that the family's consolidated remittances are within the USD 200,000 limit and that any art purchases comply with the Foreign Trade Policy.

What changed

RBI issued a clarification on the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) for resident individuals. It explicitly allows minors to remit, with the declaration form countersigned by a natural guardian. It also permits consolidation of remittances for family members and allows use of funds for purchasing art objects, subject to other applicable laws like the Foreign Trade Policy.

What it means for you

Banks must update their LRS application forms to include a field for guardian countersignature for minor applicants. They need to ensure that consolidated family remittances are tracked per individual within the USD 200,000 limit. Additionally, banks should verify that art purchases comply with the Foreign Trade Policy and other relevant regulations before processing.

What you must do

Who it affects

AD Category-I banks, Resident individuals using LRS, Minors and their guardians, Customers purchasing art objects abroad

❓ Common questions

Can a minor remit funds under LRS?

Yes, a minor can remit under LRS, but the LRS declaration form must be countersigned by the minor's natural guardian.

Can family members consolidate their LRS remittances?

Yes, remittances can be consolidated for family members, provided each individual complies with the scheme's terms and conditions, including the USD 200,000 annual limit per person.

Can LRS funds be used to buy art?

Yes, but only if the purchase complies with other applicable laws, such as the Foreign Trade Policy of the Government of India.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/430 A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 90    March 06, 2012 To, All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks Madam / Sir Clarification - Liberalised Remittance Scheme for Resident Individuals Attention of Authorised Dealer Category - I (AD Category - I) banks is invited to    A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 64 dated February 4, 2004 , as amended form time to time, A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 24 dated December 20, 2006 , A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 9 dated September 26, 2007 , A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 51 dated May 8, 2007 and A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 32 dated October 10, 2011 on the Liberalised Remittance Scheme for Resident Individuals (the Scheme). 2. In this regard, it is clarified that: The facility is available to all resident individuals including minors. In case of remitter being a minor, the LRS declaration form should be countersigned by the minor’s natural guardian. Accordingly, the modified LRS application cum declaration form is enclosed; Remittances under the facility can be consolidated in respect of family members subject to individual family members complying with the terms and conditions of the scheme; and Remittances under the scheme can be used for purchasing objects of art subject to the provisions of other applicable laws such as the extant Foreign Trade Policy of the Government of India. 3. All other terms and conditions mentioned in the afore-mentioned Circulars shall remain unchanged. 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, 1999 (42 of 1999) and is without prejudice to permissions / approvals, if any, required under any other law. Yours faithfully, (Meena Hemchandra) Chief General Manager In-Charge Annex [Annex to A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 90 dated March 06, 2012] Application cum Declaration for purchase of foreign exchange under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme of USD 200,000 for Resident individuals (To be completed by the applicant) I. Details of the applicant a. Name ………………………….. b. Address………………………… c. Account No…………………….. d. PAN No…………………………. II. Details of the foreign exchange required 1. Amount (Specify currency)……………………………… 2. Purpose …………………………………………………… III. Source of funds: …………………………………………. IV. Nature of instrument Draft……………………….. Direct remittance………… V. Details of the remittance made under the Scheme in the financial year (April- March) 20__ – 20__ Date :……………… Amount :…………. VI. Details of the Beneficiary 1. Name …………………….. 2. Address …………………… 3. Country …………………… 4*. Name and address of the bank………………………. 5*. Account No…………………………………………….. (* Required only when the remittance is to be directly credited to the bank account of the beneficiary) This is to authorize you to debit my account and effect the foreign exchange remittance/ issue a draft as detailed above (strike out whichever is not applicable). Declaration I, ………………. …………(Name), hereby declare that the total amount of foreign exchange purchased from or remitted through, all sources in India during the financial year as per item No. V of the Application, including utilisation of the said limit on account of loan extended or gift made in rupees credited to NRO account of non-resident close relative(s), is within the limit of USD 200,000/- (US Dollar Two hundred thousand only), which is the limit prescribed by the Reserve Bank for the purpose and certify that the source of funds for making the said remittance belongs to me and will not be used for prohibited purposes. Signature of the applicant (Name) Signature of the natural guardian of the applicant @ (Name) @ Where the applicant is minor, the application should be countersigned by minor’s natural guardian Certificate by the Authorised Dealer This is to certify that the remittance is not being made by/ to ineligible entities and that the remittance is in conformity with the instructions issued by the Reserve Bank from time to time under the Scheme. Name and designation of the authorised official: Place: Signature: Date: Stamp and Seal
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/430 · issued 06 Mar 2012. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
🧰 Tools — save, print, templates & related
Who does what — compliance checklist
🏦 Branch Manager
  • Update LRS application cum declaration forms to include guardian countersignature for minor remitters.
📜 Compliance
  • Ensure consolidated family remittances are tracked per individual within the USD 200,000 annual limit.
  • Verify that remittances for art purchases comply with the Foreign Trade Policy and other applicable laws.
  • Train staff on the revised LRS procedures and communicate changes to customers.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template

Example: if you are a Branch Manager at a bank this circular applies to (AD Category-I banks, Resident individuals using LRS, Minors and their guardians, Customers purchasing art objects abroad), your first concrete step on “LRS Clarification: Minors, Family Consolidation, Art Purchases” is: “Update LRS application cum declaration forms to include guardian countersignature for minor remitters.” (RBI issued this 06 Mar 2012).

  1. Circular: RBI/2011-12/430 -- LRS Clarification: Minors, Family Consolidation, Art Purchases
  2. Issued: 06 Mar 2012
  3. Action required: Update LRS application cum declaration forms to include guardian countersignature for minor remitters.
  4. Action required: Ensure consolidated family remittances are tracked per individual within the USD 200,000 annual limit.
  5. Action required: Verify that remittances for art purchases comply with the Foreign Trade Policy and other applicable laws.
  6. Action required: Train staff on the revised LRS procedures and communicate changes to customers.
  7. Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
  8. Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
  9. 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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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=7047&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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