Archive · 30 Sep 2026
Sebi and RBI Target Five-Day Digital FPI Onboarding
Sebi and RBI are trying to make it easier for foreign investors to invest in India.
They have tested a new digital process that can register some investors in five working days.
The goal is to reduce forms, paper documents and delays.
Investors can use the India Market Access portal to find requirements and submit information.
Digital signatures can now replace some physical signatures.
E-powers of attorney can replace paper powers of attorney.
RBI is also considering whether SWIFT can be used to upload documents.
The regulators are coordinating with custodians and depositories to improve the process.
They are separately working on rules for bond indices that could be listed on exchanges.
Sebi and RBI have tested onboarding foreign portfolio investors within five working days for certain jurisdictions.
The digital initiative aims to reduce paperwork and procedural friction for overseas investors entering Indian markets.
Sebi has revamped the NSDL front end and launched the India Market Access portal for registration information and documents.
Digital signatures and e-powers of attorney are replacing physical paperwork, while KYC requirements are being streamlined.
RBI is examining SWIFT-based document uploads, as Sebi and RBI also work on a framework for exchange-listed bond indices.
- Who
- The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), custodians, depositories and foreign portfolio investors.
- What
- Regulators are digitizing and speeding up foreign portfolio investor registration, with onboarding tested within five working days for certain jurisdictions.
- When
- The articles do not provide a specific announcement date; portfolio management industry figures cited are for August 2026.
- Where
- India’s financial markets and related digital registration systems.
- Why
- To reduce paperwork and procedural friction and make it easier for overseas investors to access Indian markets.
- Tested onboarding time
- Within five working days for FPIs from certain jurisdictions
- Digital platform
- India Market Access portal
- Documents being digitized
- Powers of attorney and signatures
- RBI initiative
- Examining SWIFT-based uploads for FPI registration documents
- Bond-index work
- Sebi and RBI are developing a framework for bond indices that can be fitted on exchanges
- Portfolio managers’ assets
- Around ₹9.2 trillion in August 2026, excluding PF and EPFO assets
- Registered portfolio managers
- More than 530