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RBI stops selling printed GR forms from July 2012

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/477 · issued 30 Mar 2012 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI will stop selling printed GR forms at its regional offices from July 1, 2012. Exporters must download the form online from RBI's website, print it on legal-size paper, and the GR number will be auto-assigned upon printing.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore receives a call from an exporter who used to buy GR forms from the RBI office. The officer explains that from July 1, 2012, the RBI will no longer sell printed forms, so the exporter must download the form from the RBI website, set their printer to legal-size paper, and print it to get the GR number automatically. The officer then updates the bank's internal process to accept only these online-downloaded forms.

What changed

RBI had earlier made GR forms available online in 2009 but continued selling printed copies for a year. Now, with effect from July 1, 2012, RBI will completely discontinue over-the-counter sale of printed GR forms at its regional offices. Only the online version on RBI's website will be available.

What it means for you

Banks must inform their exporter customers that they can no longer buy GR forms from RBI offices. Exporters need to download the form from RBI's website, print it on legal-size paper (8.5 x 14 inches), and ensure printer settings are correct for auto-allotment of the GR number. This move aligns with digital adoption and reduces RBI's administrative burden.

What you must do

Who it affects

All Category-I Authorised Dealer Banks, Exporters who use GR forms for foreign exchange remittances

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).

What happens if an exporter tries to buy a printed GR form from RBI after June 30, 2012?

RBI will not sell or supply printed GR forms over the counter from July 1, 2012. Exporters must download the form online from RBI's website.

What paper size and settings are required for printing the GR form?

The form must be printed on legal-size paper (8.5 x 14 inches). Both the printer preference and page setup paper size must be set to legal before printing to ensure the GR number is auto-assigned.

Will the GR number be generated automatically when downloading?

No, the GR number is automatically allotted only when the document goes to the print queue, not at the time of download.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/477 A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 98 March 30, 2012 To, All Category – I Authorised Dealer Banks Madam / Sir, Discontinuation of Supplying Printed GR forms by Reserve Bank Attention of Authorised Dealer Category – I banks is invited to A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 60 dated March 26, 2009 , in terms of which GR forms were made available on-line on the Reserve Bank’s website www.rbi.org.in . The facility of purchasing printed GR forms from the Regional Offices of Reserve Bank was also allowed to continue for one year. 2. With the advent of technology and penetration of internet access, the need for printing and supplying of GR forms by Reserve Bank does not exist any more. It has therefore, been decided to discontinue supplying/selling printed GR forms across the counter by Regional Offices of Reserve Bank. Therefore, with effect from July 1, 2012 , GR forms shall be available only online at Reserve Bank’s website www.rbi.org.in at the following link: “Notification-> FEMA -> Forms -> For Printing of GR Form” 3. While downloading the GR forms, the exporter may ensure to use ‘Legal’ size paper i.e. 8.5 * 14 inches. Further, both the printer (printing preference) and paper size in the page setup option have to be set to legal size before printing. The GR number will be automatically allotted when the document goes to the print queue. 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 are without prejudice to permissions / approvals, if any, required under any other law. Yours faithfully, (Dr. Sujatha Elizabeth Prasad) Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/477 · issued 30 Mar 2012. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Worked example & action-note template

Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (All Category-I Authorised Dealer Banks, Exporters who use GR forms for foreign exchange remittances), your first concrete step on “RBI stops selling printed GR forms from July 2012” is: “Notify all exporter customers about the discontinuation of printed GR form sales at RBI regional offices from July 1, 2012.” (RBI issued this 30 Mar 2012).

  1. Circular: RBI/2011-12/477 -- RBI stops selling printed GR forms from July 2012
  2. Issued: 30 Mar 2012
  3. Action required: Notify all exporter customers about the discontinuation of printed GR form sales at RBI regional offices from July 1, 2012.
  4. Action required: Guide exporters to download GR forms from RBI's website at the specified link and print on legal-size paper with correct settings.
  5. Action required: Ensure your bank's internal processes for handling GR forms are updated to accept only online-downloaded forms after the cutoff date.
  6. Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
  7. Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
  8. 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=7102&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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