Forex Counters at Airport Departure Areas for Non-Residents
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/259 · issued 16 Sep 2013 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI now allows forex counters in duty-free/security hold areas of international airports to buy unspent INR from non-residents and sell foreign currency, subject to conditions. Non-residents can carry up to ₹10,000 beyond immigration but must dispose of INR before boarding.
The rule, in the simplest words
Non-residents (people who live outside India) can carry up to ₹10,000 (about $120) past the immigration/customs desk into the duty-free area (shop area after security) at the airport.
They must spend or exchange all Indian rupees before they get on the plane – they cannot take any rupees beyond the security hold area.
Forex counters (money exchange booths) in the duty-free/security hold area can only buy Indian rupees from non-residents and sell foreign currency to them – they cannot sell Indian rupees to non-residents.
Airport authorities must put up signs reminding non-residents that this is the last place they can hold Indian rupees.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore, Priya, is setting up a new forex counter at the international airport's duty-free area. She trains her staff to only buy leftover Indian rupees from non-resident travelers and sell them foreign currency like dollars or euros, never selling rupees. She also coordinates with airport management to place a clear sign reminding passengers that they cannot carry rupees beyond this point before boarding.
What changed
Previously, non-residents could not carry Indian currency beyond immigration/customs. Now, they can carry up to ₹10,000 to duty-free/security hold areas for incidental expenses, provided they dispose of it before boarding. Forex counters in these areas can now buy INR from non-residents and sell foreign currency, but cannot sell INR.
What it means for you
Banks and authorized persons can set up forex counters in departure hall security hold areas to serve non-residents, offering a new revenue stream. This simplifies currency conversion for travelers and reduces unspent INR leakage. Airport authorities must display reminders that this is the last point for non-residents to hold INR.
What you must do
Review and update your forex counter setup plans for international airport departure halls to include duty-free/security hold areas.
Ensure counters only buy INR from non-residents and sell foreign currency; do not sell INR to non-residents.
Coordinate with airport authorities to display clear signage reminding non-residents that they cannot carry INR beyond security hold areas.
Train staff on the ₹10,000 limit for non-residents carrying INR beyond immigration and the disposal requirement before boarding.
Who it affects
Authorized Persons (banks, forex dealers) operating at international airports, Non-resident travelers departing from Indian international airports, Airport authorities managing departure halls
❓ Common questions
Can non-residents carry more than ₹10,000 beyond immigration?
No, the circular sets a maximum of ₹10,000 for carrying Indian currency beyond immigration/customs to the duty-free/security hold area. Any excess must be disposed of before that point.
What can forex counters in the security hold area do?
They can only buy Indian rupees from non-residents and sell foreign currency to them. They cannot sell Indian rupees to non-residents in that area.
Who is responsible for reminding passengers about INR limits?
Airport authorities must put up suitable displays at these counters reminding passengers that the area is the last point for non-residents to possess Indian rupees.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2013-14/259
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 45
September 16, 2013
To,
All Authorised Persons in Foreign Exchange
Madam/ Dear Sir,
Memorandum of Instructions governing money changing activities –
Location of Forex Counters in International Airports in India
Attention of Authorised Persons is invited to Para 2 (b) of the A.P.(DIR Series) Circular No.38 dated October 25, 2011 .
2. On a review, it has been decided to allow non-residents to carry Indian currency upto a maximum of ` 10,000/- beyond Immigration/Customs desk to the Duty Free Area/Security Hold Area (SHA) in the departure hall in international airports in India for meeting miscellaneous expenditures subject to the condition that non-residents will not be allowed to carry any Indian Rupee beyond SHA and that they should dispose of Indian currency before boarding the plane.
3. In order to provide money changing facility to non-residents to convert unspent Indian Rupees with them, Foreign Exchange Counters in the departure halls in international airports in India may be established in the Duty Free Area/SHA beyond the Immigration/ Customs desk. Such Foreign Exchange Counters will however, only buy Indian Rupees from non-residents and sell foreign currency to them subject to usual terms and conditions. Putting up suitable display at these counters, reminding the passengers that the area is the last point for non-residents to possess Indian Rupees (INR) will be the responsibility of the Airport Authorities.
4. Authorised Persons may bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their constituents concerned.
5. The directions contained in this Circular have been issued under Section 10(4) and Section 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999) and non-compliance with the guidelines would attract penal provisions of Section 11(3) of the Act, ibid.
Yours faithfully,
(Rudra Narayan Kar)
Chief General Manager-in-Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/259 · issued 16 Sep 2013. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Review and update your forex counter setup plans for international airport departure halls to include duty-free/security hold areas.
Ensure counters only buy INR from non-residents and sell foreign currency; do not sell INR to non-residents.
📜 Compliance
Coordinate with airport authorities to display clear signage reminding non-residents that they cannot carry INR beyond security hold areas.
Train staff on the ₹10,000 limit for non-residents carrying INR beyond immigration and the disposal requirement before boarding.
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 (Authorized Persons (banks, forex dealers) operating at international airports, Non-resident travelers departing from Indian international airports, Airport authorities managing departure halls), your first concrete step on “Forex Counters at Airport Departure Areas for Non-Residents” is: “Review and update your forex counter setup plans for international airport departure halls to include duty-free/security hold areas.” (RBI issued this 16 Sep 2013).
Circular: RBI/2013-14/259 -- Forex Counters at Airport Departure Areas for Non-Residents
Issued: 16 Sep 2013
Action required: Review and update your forex counter setup plans for international airport departure halls to include duty-free/security hold areas.
Action required: Ensure counters only buy INR from non-residents and sell foreign currency; do not sell INR to non-residents.
Action required: Coordinate with airport authorities to display clear signage reminding non-residents that they cannot carry INR beyond security hold areas.
Action required: Train staff on the ₹10,000 limit for non-residents carrying INR beyond immigration and the disposal requirement before boarding.
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=8417&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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