RBI Raises INR Cash Carry Limit for Travellers to Rs 10,000
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/233 · issued 06 Sep 2013 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI has increased the limit for carrying Indian currency notes abroad (except Nepal/Bhutan) from Rs 7,500 to Rs 10,000 per person. This applies to both taking notes out of India and bringing them back on temporary visits.
The rule, in the simplest words
You can take up to Rs 10,000 in Indian currency notes when leaving India (except for Nepal/Bhutan).
You can bring up to Rs 10,000 in Indian currency notes when returning to India (except from Nepal/Bhutan).
Banks must update their systems and inform customers about the new limit.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore, Mr. Kumar, helps a customer, Mrs. Rao, who is planning a trip to the UK. He informs her about the new limit of Rs 10,000 for carrying Indian currency notes abroad and ensures that her account is updated accordingly. When Mrs. Rao returns from her trip, Mr. Kumar helps her exchange the currency notes she brought back, up to the new limit of Rs 10,000.
What changed
The earlier limit of Rs 7,500 per person for taking or bringing Indian currency notes (excluding Nepal/Bhutan) has been raised to Rs 10,000 per person. This change was formalised through an amendment to FEMA regulations in February 2013, notified in July 2013, and communicated via this circular.
What it means for you
Banks and authorised dealers must update their internal limits and customer advisories for cash transactions related to travel. This provides greater flexibility for resident individuals, but banks should ensure compliance with all other applicable laws and reporting requirements.
What you must do
Update internal systems and teller limits to reflect the new Rs 10,000 per person cash carry limit.
Inform customers and foreign counterparties about the enhanced limit through notices and advisories.
Ensure that any cash transactions above the previous limit are processed without unnecessary delays, while still adhering to FEMA and other regulatory checks.
Who it affects
Category-I Authorised Dealer Banks, Resident individuals travelling abroad (excluding Nepal/Bhutan), Foreign counterparties dealing with Indian currency
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
Does the new Rs 10,000 limit apply to travel to Nepal and Bhutan?
No, the circular explicitly excludes travel to and from Nepal and Bhutan. The limit applies only to other destinations.
When did this limit increase take effect?
The amendment was made via Notification No. FEMA.258/2013-RB dated February 15, 2013, and notified on July 12, 2013. The circular was issued on September 6, 2013, so banks should have implemented it from that date.
📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, each backed by RBI’s own words)
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2013-14/233
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 39
September 6, 2013
To
All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam/ Sir,
Export and Import of Currency
Attention of Authorised Persons is invited to Regulation (2) of Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Currency) (Amendment) Regulations, 2009, notified vide Notification No. FEMA 195/RB-2009 dated July 7, 2009 , in terms of which, any person resident in India may take outside India or having gone out of India on a temporary visit, may bring into India (other than to and from Nepal and Bhutan) currency notes of Government of India and Reserve Bank of India notes up to an amount not exceeding Rs.7,500 per person.
2. As part of providing greater flexibility to the resident individuals travelling abroad, the existing limit, mentioned above, has been enhanced to Rs. 10,000 per person.
3. Accordingly, any person resident in India:
i) may take outside India (other than to Nepal and Bhutan) currency notes of Government of India and Reserve Bank of India notes up to an amount not exceeding Rs.10,000 (Rupees ten thousand only) per person; and
ii) who had gone out of India on a temporary visit, may bring into India at the time of his return from any place outside India (other than from Nepal and Bhutan), currency notes of Government of India and Reserve Bank of India notes up to an amount not exceeding Rs.10,000 (Rupees ten thousand only) per person.
4. Authorised Persons may bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their constituents, customers and foreign counter parties concerned.
5. Reserve Bank of India has since amended the relevant Regulations vide Notification No.FEMA.258/2013-RB dated February 15, 2013 , notified vide G.S.R.No.480(E) dated July 12, 2013
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,
(Rudra Narayan Kar)
Chief General Manager-in-Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/233 · issued 06 Sep 2013. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Update internal systems and teller limits to reflect the new Rs 10,000 per person cash carry limit.
Inform customers and foreign counterparties about the enhanced limit through notices and advisories.
📜 Compliance
Ensure that any cash transactions above the previous limit are processed without unnecessary delays, while still adhering to FEMA and other regulatory checks.
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 (Category-I Authorised Dealer Banks, Resident individuals travelling abroad (excluding Nepal/Bhutan), Foreign counterparties dealing with Indian currency), your first concrete step on “RBI Raises INR Cash Carry Limit for Travellers to Rs 10,000” is: “Update internal systems and teller limits to reflect the new Rs 10,000 per person cash carry limit.” (RBI issued this 06 Sep 2013).
Circular: RBI/2013-14/233 -- RBI Raises INR Cash Carry Limit for Travellers to Rs 10,000
Issued: 06 Sep 2013
Action required: Update internal systems and teller limits to reflect the new Rs 10,000 per person cash carry limit.
Action required: Inform customers and foreign counterparties about the enhanced limit through notices and advisories.
Action required: Ensure that any cash transactions above the previous limit are processed without unnecessary delays, while still adhering to FEMA and other regulatory checks.
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.
💬 Banker Discussion
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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=8387&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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