HomeCirculars › RBI/2013-14/648

Indian currency export/import limit raised to Rs 25,000

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/648 · issued 19 Jun 2014 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI has raised the limit for carrying Indian currency notes abroad from Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 for residents and most non-residents, excluding citizens of Pakistan and Bangladesh and travelers coming from or going to those countries. Non-residents can only bring in or take out Indian currency through airport entry/exit points.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

A branch operations officer in Indore is helping a customer who is a non-resident Indian visiting family. The officer explains that the customer can now bring up to Rs 25,000 in Indian currency when entering India, but only if they arrive at an airport. The officer updates the branch's internal limits and reminds the customer to keep the cash receipt for customs.

What changed

The earlier limit of Rs 10,000 for taking Indian currency notes outside India (except Nepal/Bhutan) has been increased to Rs 25,000 for residents. Non-residents visiting India (excluding Pakistan/Bangladesh citizens and travelers to/from those countries) are now also allowed to bring in or take out up to Rs 25,000, but only through airport entry/exit points.

What it means for you

Banks and authorized persons must update their internal limits and customer advisories for currency export/import. The higher limit eases travel for residents and non-residents, but route restrictions (airport-only for non-residents) must be enforced. Exclusions for Pakistan/Bangladesh remain unchanged.

What you must do

Who it affects

All authorized persons (banks, forex dealers), Resident Indians traveling abroad, Non-resident Indians and foreign visitors (excluding Pakistan/Bangladesh), Travelers using airport routes for currency movement

❓ Common questions

Can I carry more than Rs 25,000 in Indian currency abroad?

No, the RBI circular sets a maximum of Rs 25,000 for residents and eligible non-residents. Any amount above this is not permitted under this circular.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2013-14/648 A .P. (DIR Series) Circular No.146 June 19, 2014 To All Authorised Persons Madam/ Sir, Export and Import of Currency: Enhanced facilities for residents and non-residents Attention of Authorised Persons is invited to Regulation (3) of Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Currency) (Amendment) Regulations, 2009, notified vide Notification No.FEMA.258/2013-RB dated February 15, 2013 and A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. No. 39 dated September 6, 2013 , 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.10,000 (Rupees Ten Thousand only). 2. In view of the evolving economic conditions and with a view to facilitating travel requirements of residents travelling aboard as well as non-residents visiting India, it has been decided to allow all residents and non-residents (except citizens of Pakistan and Bangladesh and also other travellers coming from and going to Pakistan and Bangladesh) to take out Indian currency notes up to Rs. 25,000 while leaving the country. An announcement to this effect was made in the Second Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy Statement, 2014-15 released on June 3, 2014 . 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.25,000 (Rupees twenty five thousand only); 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.25,000 (Rupees twenty five thousand only). 4. Any person resident outside India, not being a citizen of Pakistan and Bangladesh and also not a traveller coming from and going to Pakistan and Bangladesh, and visiting India: i) may take outside India currency notes of Government of India and Reserve Bank of India notes up to an amount not exceeding Rs. 25,000 (Rupees twenty five thousand only) while exiting only through an airport. ii) may bring into India currency notes of Government of India and Reserve Bank of India notes up to an amount not exceeding Rs. 25,000 (Rupees twenty five thousand only) while entering only through an airport. 5. Authorised Persons may bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their constituents, customers and foreign counter parties concerned. 6. Necessary amendments [ No. FEMA. 309/2014-RB dated June 4, 2014 ] to Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Currency) Regulations 2000 ( Notification No.FEMA.6/2000-RB dated May 3, 2000 ) have been notified in the Official Gazette vide G.S.R. Nos. 399(E) dated June 12, 2014, a copy of which is annexed. 7. 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, (C D Srinivasan) Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/648 · issued 19 Jun 2014. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Who does what — compliance checklist
🏦 Branch Manager
  • Update internal systems and teller limits to reflect the new Rs 25,000 ceiling for Indian currency export/import.
  • Brief branch staff and forex counters on the revised limits and the airport-only rule for non-residents.
  • Advise customers and foreign counterparties about the enhanced facility as per circular instructions.
📜 Compliance
  • Ensure compliance with the exclusion of Pakistan/Bangladesh citizens and travelers to/from those countries.
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 (All authorized persons (banks, forex dealers), Resident Indians traveling abroad, Non-resident Indians and foreign visitors (excluding Pakistan/Bangladesh), Travelers using airport routes for currency movement), your first concrete step on “Indian currency export/import limit raised to Rs 25,000” is: “Update internal systems and teller limits to reflect the new Rs 25,000 ceiling for Indian currency export/import.” (RBI issued this 19 Jun 2014).

  1. Circular: RBI/2013-14/648 -- Indian currency export/import limit raised to Rs 25,000
  2. Issued: 19 Jun 2014
  3. Action required: Update internal systems and teller limits to reflect the new Rs 25,000 ceiling for Indian currency export/import.
  4. Action required: Brief branch staff and forex counters on the revised limits and the airport-only rule for non-residents.
  5. Action required: Ensure compliance with the exclusion of Pakistan/Bangladesh citizens and travelers to/from those countries.
  6. Action required: Advise customers and foreign counterparties about the enhanced facility as per circular instructions.
  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=8949&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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