Big Relief for NRI Investors! SEBI Relaxes Geo-Tagging Requirement for Re-KYC | What Changes Now?

-






In a major relief to millions of Non-Resident Indian (NRI) investors, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has officially relaxed the requirement of being physically present in India during re-KYC.


This long-awaited move aims to streamline re-KYC for NRIs who struggled with compliance due to geographical constraints.

As per the December 10, 2025 circular issued by SEBI, amendments have been made to the existing KYC framework under the Master Circular dated October 12, 2023, specifically to simplify re-KYC for existing NRI clients.

🔍 What Triggered This Change?

SEBI noted that it received multiple references from stakeholders requesting easier KYC access for NRIs. Since a large number of NRI investors maintain mutual fund, demat, PMS, and trading accounts in India, the earlier requirement of geo-tagging them within India during KYC created operational hurdles.

To address this, SEBI has now modified the KYC conditions, making digital updates far more convenient.

🚀 What Has SEBI Changed? — The Key Update

1️⃣ Physical Presence in India No Longer Required for Re-KYC

SEBI has clearly stated:

  • NRIs can now complete re-KYC digitally from anywhere in the world.

  • The requirement for the client’s physical location to be in India is relaxed for re-KYC of existing clients.

This is the biggest and most impactful relaxation for NRI account holders.

🛠️ What Technical Conditions Still Apply?

According to the modified paragraph 51 of the KYC Master Circular (as reproduced in the SEBI PDF):

✔ Random Action Prompts Required

The digital KYC app must initiate random client actions to prove that the session is not pre-recorded.

✔ Time-Stamping + Geo-Location Tagging

The system still needs:

  • Time-stamping of the session

  • Geo-location tagging (latitude and longitude)

These features continue to ensure authenticity—but without requiring the location to be inside India for re-KYC of NRIs.

✔ GPS Must Match Address Country

The intermediary’s app must ensure:

  • The GPS coordinates captured match the country given in the Proof of Address submitted by the NRI client.

✔ Mandatory Prevention of Spoofed IP Connections

The app must block any attempts to connect using spoofed IP addresses, ensuring security and preventing misuse.

📝 What Still Remains Unchanged?

The relaxation applies only to re-KYC for existing NRI clients.

SEBI has reaffirmed that:

  • The requirement of physical presence still applies during digital onboarding of new clients (as per existing rules), except where specifically changed.

This means NRIs can update their KYC from abroad, but onboarding rules remain as-is unless otherwise updated separately.

🌍 Why This is a Big Relief for NRIs

1. No More Travel to India

NRIs often had to schedule India visits only to complete KYC updates. This relaxation eliminates unnecessary trips and costs.

2. Fully Digital Experience

Re-KYC is now a complete online process, aligning with SEBI’s vision for digital compliance and investor convenience.

3. Smooth Operations for AMCs, Brokers & Intermediaries

Intermediaries can now service NRI clients more effectively, reducing compliance bottlenecks.

📌 Source


Comments

Post a Comment

Financial Calculator




I would like to request you to join our following services.
It is the smartest way to stay on top of latest Mutual fund, Bonds & IPO News .

 Product Updates on whatsapp


 Product Updates on Email 

                                                   
 Product Updates on Telegram



You will get daily news updates for FREE. 
I also request you to spread the world by referring us to the smartest people you know.  

To share it with your friends, 
just Copy below message it & paste in your group

Subscribe to Our WhatsApp, Email & Telegram Update Service ! https://bit.ly/3ryhxBM
     

Popular Posts

Best Mutual Fund Companies in India 2025 – Complete List of AMCs

-
  Best Mutual Fund Companies in India 2025 – Complete List of AMCs Looking for the Best Mutual Fund Company? If you are looking for the best or top mutual fund company , we can help you invest through India’s leading Asset Management Companies (AMCs) such as HDFC Mutual Fund, SBI Mutual Fund, ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund, Axis Mutual Fund, Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund, Nippon India Mutual Fund, UTI Mutual Fund, Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund, Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund, Mirae Asset Mutual Fund, and more. These fund houses are trusted by millions of investors and offer a wide range of equity, debt, hybrid, and index funds for wealth creation. Why Invest with Top Mutual Fund Companies? When choosing the best AMC in India , here’s why investors prefer the top names: ✅ Trusted Track Record – Decades of experience in managing investors’ wealth. ✅ Wide Range of Schemes – Large cap, mid cap, small cap, hybrid, debt, index funds, ETFs. ✅ Professional Fund Management ...
Read more

General Guidelines for ITC Shareholders - How to Split the Purchase Cost Between ITC and ITC Hotels Shares After Demerger

-
Image
            ITC Ltd. Demerges Its Hotels Business: What It Means for Shareholders ITC Ltd. has officially separated its hotels division, creating a new company called ITC Hotels Ltd. (ITCHL). This means ITC shareholders will receive shares of ITCHL as per the demerger ratio. How Will Shareholders Benefit? If you held ITC shares as of the record date (January 6, 2025), you will get shares of ITC Hotels Ltd. in the ratio of 1:10 . This means for every 10 shares of ITC Ltd. , you will receive 1 share of ITCHL . Tax Implications for ITC Shareholders Taxes will apply only when you sell either your ITC shares or ITCHL shares. The tax treatment depends on how long you have held the shares: Short-term capital gains (STCG) – If sold within one year of purchase (for listed shares). Long-term capital gains (LTCG) – If held for more than one year . The holding period for ITC Hotels shares will be counted from the date when you originally bought ITC Ltd. shares. Cos...
Read more