HomeCirculars › RBI/2012-13/319

RBI Revamps NBFC Registration Checklist – Dec 2012

No longer current — replaced by Master Circular - Non-Banking Financial Companies (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2016
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/319 · issued 07 Dec 2012 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI has issued an exhaustive checklist for NBFC registration applications to speed up processing. Five separate checklists now cover NBFCs, NBFC-MFIs, NBFC-Factors, and CICs. Conversion applications from existing NBFCs need only a letter and documents, not the full form.

What changed

RBI reviewed and expanded the checklist of documents required for NBFC registration applications to make it more exhaustive. Five distinct checklists have been uploaded on the RBI website, tailored to different NBFC types: general NBFCs, NBFC-MFIs (new and existing), NBFC-Factors, and CIC-ND-SIs. For conversions from an existing NBFC to NBFC-MFI or NBFC-Factor, the applicant need not fill the online form; a company letterhead application with the original COR and checklist documents suffices until the COSMOS system is updated.

What it means for you

NBFCs must now submit a more detailed set of documents upfront, which should reduce back-and-forth and speed up registration. The separate checklists mean each entity type must carefully follow its specific list. Conversion applicants get a simpler process for now, but must respond to any additional document requests within one month or risk having their application returned.

Historical instruction — do not use for current compliance. This is what was required at the time; it no longer reflects current RBI requirements. If no replacement rule is linked above, that only means none is recorded on our register yet — it does not prove no later applicable rule exists. Confirm on the official RBI source below.

What banks were required to do at the time

Who it affects

All NBFCs (excluding RNBCs), NBFC-Micro Finance Institutions (NBFC-MFIs), NBFC-Factoring Institutions (NBFC-Factors), Core Investment Companies (CICs)

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

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

Do I need to fill the online application form if I am converting my existing NBFC to an NBFC-MFI?

No, for now you can apply on company letterhead with the original Certificate of Registration and all documents from the relevant checklist. This arrangement will continue until the COSMOS online application is updated.

What happens if RBI asks for additional documents beyond the checklist?

You must respond within one month. If you fail to do so, your application and all submitted documents will be returned, and you will need to submit a fresh application.

Are the checklists exhaustive?

No, they are indicative. RBI may call for any further documents it deems necessary to verify eligibility for registration.

📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, each backed by RBI’s own words)
Superseded by Master Circular - Non-Banking Financial Companies (Reserve Bank) Directions, 201
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2012-13/319 DNBS.CC.PD.No. 312/03.10.01/2012-13 December 07, 2012 To All NBFCs (excluding RNBCs) Dear Sir, Checklist for NBFCs, Non Banking Financial Company-Micro Finance Institutions (NBFC-MFIs), Non Banking Financial Company-Factoring Institutions (NBFC-Factors) and Core Investment Companies (CICs) Please refer to the Application for seeking Certificate of Registration from the Reserve Bank and the list of documents mentioned therein that is required to be submitted. In order to expedite the process of obtaining registration from the Reserve Bank as NBFCs, the checklist of documents to be submitted along with the application form have been reviewed and made more exhaustive. As the businesses of the various types of NBFCs vary, the documentation required for registration will also vary. Hence the following may kindly be taken note of : i. The Application Forms will remain the same for all NBFCs until changed in the online COSMOS Application, except in the case of CIC-ND-SIs where a separate application form has been prescribed. ii. Five checklists have been uploaded in the RBI website, a) documents required for registration as NBFCs b) documents required for registration of NBFC-MFI – New Companies and c) documents required for registration of NBFC-MFI (Existing NBFCs) d) documents required for registration of NBFC – Factors and e) documents required for registration as CIC-ND-SI . iii. While converting from an already registered NBFC to that of NBFC-MFI or NBFC-Factors, for the present, the concerned NBFC need not fill out the Application Form as provided in the RBI Website. The Application for conversion may be made on company’s letterhead accompanied by the original COR and all the documents as given in the checklist. The Bank will after scrutiny of the documents convert the status to NBFC-MFI or NBFC-Factors, as the case may be, by making a suitable remark on the Certificate of Registration. As stated above, this arrangement will be in place until the Application Form for NBFC-MFI and NBFC-Factors is changed in the COSMOS Online Application. 3. It is further advised that the Checklists mentioned are indicative and not exhaustive. Bank can, if necessary, call for any further documents to satisfy themselves on the eligibility for obtaining registration as NBFC. In the event of the Bank calling for further documents in addition to those mentioned in the checklist, the applicant company must respond within a stipulated time of one month failing which the application/request for conversion along with all the documents will be returned to the company for submission afresh with the required information/documents. Yours faithfully (Uma Subramaniam) Chief General Manager in Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/319 · issued 07 Dec 2012. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=7737&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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