Rupee Exchange at International Airport Forex Counters

India RBI Notifications

Published April 2nd, 2026

Detected April 3rd, 2026

Summary

The Reserve Bank of India has amended the Master Direction on Money Changing Activities to permit residents to exchange Indian Rupee notes at foreign exchange counters located in departure halls of international airports beyond Immigration or Customs desks. The circular extends this facility to Duty-Free Areas and Security Hold Areas. Authorised Persons must update procedures and notify customers of the expanded exchange options.

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What changed

RBI Circular No. 04 (RBI/2026-27/05) amends Paragraph 3 of A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 45 dated September 16, 2013, to allow Indian residents (along with non-residents) to exchange Indian Rupee notes at foreign exchange counters at departure halls in international airports. The counters must be located in Duty-Free Areas or Security Hold Areas beyond the Immigration or Customs desk. The amendment is issued under sections 10(4) and 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999.

Authorised Persons should review and update their operational procedures to accommodate rupee exchange at the specified airport locations. They must communicate this expanded facility to constituents and customers. No specific compliance deadline is stated; the circular takes effect on April 2, 2026. The Master Direction on Money Changing Activities is being updated to reflect this change.

What to do next

Update operational procedures to permit rupee exchange at airport Duty-Free Area and Security Hold Area counters
Notify constituents and customers of the expanded exchange facility
Ensure compliance with Master Direction on Money Changing Activities as amended

Source document (simplified)

Notifications

| () | |
| Memorandum of Instructions governing money changing activities – Location of Forex Counters in International Airports in India | |
| | RBI/2026-27/05
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 04

April 2, 2026

All Authorised Persons

Madam/Sir,

Memorandum of Instructions governing money changing activities – Location of Forex Counters in International Airports in India

Please refer to Paragraph 3 of A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 45 dated September 16, 2013, on the above subject.

On a review, it has been decided to allow residents (along with non-residents) to exchange Indian Rupee notes at foreign exchange counters at the departure halls in the international airports established in the Duty-Free Area or Security Hold Area beyond the Immigration or Customs desk. The Master Direction on Money Changing Activities is being amended accordingly.
Authorised Persons may bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their constituents and customers.
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,

(N Senthil Kumar)
Chief General Manager | | RBI/2026-27/05
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 04

April 2, 2026

All Authorised Persons

Madam/Sir,

Memorandum of Instructions governing money changing activities – Location of Forex Counters in International Airports in India

Please refer to Paragraph 3 of A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 45 dated September 16, 2013, on the above subject.

On a review, it has been decided to allow residents (along with non-residents) to exchange Indian Rupee notes at foreign exchange counters at the departure halls in the international airports established in the Duty-Free Area or Security Hold Area beyond the Immigration or Customs desk. The Master Direction on Money Changing Activities is being amended accordingly.
Authorised Persons may bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their constituents and customers.
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,

(N Senthil Kumar)
Chief General Manager |
| RBI/2026-27/05
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 04

April 2, 2026

All Authorised Persons

Madam/Sir,

Memorandum of Instructions governing money changing activities – Location of Forex Counters in International Airports in India

Please refer to Paragraph 3 of A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 45 dated September 16, 2013, on the above subject.

On a review, it has been decided to allow residents (along with non-residents) to exchange Indian Rupee notes at foreign exchange counters at the departure halls in the international airports established in the Duty-Free Area or Security Hold Area beyond the Immigration or Customs desk. The Master Direction on Money Changing Activities is being amended accordingly.
Authorised Persons may bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their constituents and customers.
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,

(N Senthil Kumar)
Chief General Manager | |