RBI Issues Draft Guidelines to Facilitate Faster Cross-Border Inward Payments

Press Release: 2025-2026/1410, Dated: 29.10.2025

1. Background

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released a draft circular titled “Guidelines to Facilitate Faster Cross-Border Inward Payments” for public consultation.

The draft forms part of the RBI’s ongoing initiatives under Payments Vision 2025 and aligns with the G20 roadmap to improve the speed, transparency, and cost efficiency of cross-border transactions.

2. Objective of the Draft Guidelines

The proposed framework seeks to streamline and expedite the crediting process of cross-border inward remittances to beneficiaries in India.

The move comes in response to persistent delays observed between:

• The receipt of funds by the authorised dealer bank, and
• The final credit to the beneficiary’s account.

By setting operational benchmarks and standardised practices, the guidelines aim to ensure that inward payments are processed swiftly, securely, and efficiently.

3. Key Focus Areas of the Draft

The draft circular primarily addresses:

1. Timely Credit of Funds – Establishing timelines and accountability for banks to ensure faster transfer of funds once received.
2. Operational Efficiency – Enhancing coordination among intermediary and beneficiary banks to eliminate avoidable delays.
3. Transparency and Monitoring – Introducing mechanisms for tracking and reporting delays in crediting beneficiary accounts.
4. Customer Experience Enhancement – Improving reliability and predictability of inward remittance settlements for individuals and businesses.

These measures are intended to bring India’s cross-border payments ecosystem in line with global best practices and international commitments under the G20 initiative.

4. Consultation Process

The RBI has invited comments and feedback from banks and stakeholders on the draft circular to ensure that the final guidelines are both practical and effective.

• Deadline for submission of comments – November 19, 2025
• Inputs may be provided through the prescribed channels specified in the draft circular.

5. Alignment with Payments Vision 2025

The draft is consistent with the RBI’s Payments Vision 2025, which emphasises:

• Building a seamless and inclusive payments ecosystem,
• Promoting innovation and digital adoption in cross-border transactions, and
• Enhancing India’s position as a trusted and efficient hub for global remittances.

6. Expected Impact

Once implemented, the final guidelines are expected to:

• Reduce settlement times for cross-border inward payments,
• Improve customer satisfaction through faster crediting of remittances,
• Enhance regulatory oversight and operational accountability among banks, and
• Contribute to the G20’s global objectives of making cross-border payments faster, cheaper, more transparent, and accessible.

7. Conclusion

The draft guidelines on faster cross-border inward payments represent a forward-looking step by the RBI to strengthen India’s remittance infrastructure.

By inviting stakeholder feedback until November 19, 2025, the RBI aims to finalise a robust framework that balances efficiency, compliance, and customer convenience in cross-border payment processing.

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