Guide: How NRIs can change their old 500 and 1000 Rupee notes

NOTE: The deadlines for exchange of old 500 and 1000 Rupees notes have expired and hence this information may be outdated.

The sudden announcement about withdrawal of 500 and 1000 Rupee notes has left many NRIs abroad looking for answers as to how could they get their old 500 and 1000 rupee notes exchanged.

As of 2 January 2017, options such as exchanging currency at foreign branches, exchange houses, airports etc are not applicable any more. The deadline for depositing to NRO accounts was 30 December 2016.

Option available till 30 June 2017: Deposit at RBI office

Now, the only available option is to deposit the money via Reserve Bank of India (RBI) offices.

RBI on 31 December 2016 announced in a notification that it will introduce a facility for exchange of old specified bank notes for Indian residents and NRIs, who were abroad from November 9 to December 30.

According to an RBI notification, Indian residents, who were abroad from November 9 to December 30, 2016, can avail of the new facility up to March 31, 2017, while NRIs can avail it up to June 30.

• Under the new facility, NRIs can carry up to Rs 25,000 via airports and deposit them at RBI offices.
• This deposit facility is not available for PIO/OCI card holders. Only Indian Passport holders with NRO bank accounts are eligible.

Customs declaration form needed

In order to prevent misuse of this facility, the specified bank notes should be declared to customs officials on arrival at airport.

The passenger has to arrive through the Red channel and fill up a one-page declaration form. A stamped document will be issued by Customs official indicating the import of SBNs, their count and value.

RBI office locations

• The deposit facility will be available only at Reserve Bank offices at Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, and Nagpur. Normal banks will not accept SBNs directly.

Documents required for submission at RBI office

• Stamped document issued by Indian Customs indicating the import of SBNs with details and value
• A copy of Passport with immigration stamp as proof of the individual’s absence from the country during the period.
• Passport in original should be presented at the RBI counter for verification
• ID document (Aadhaar number, Permanent Account Number (PAN) etc.)
• Copies of statements of all bank accounts in India evidencing that no SBNs were deposited during November 10, 2016 to December 30, 2016.
• Declaration that holder has not availed the exchange facility earlier

Other conditions

On fulfillment of the terms and conditions and the genuineness of the notes tendered, admissible amount will be credited to the tenderer’s KYC (know your customer) compliant bank account.

Third-party tender will not be accepted under the new facility, which means you cannot ask someone else to deposit it for you.

The facility will remain open for residents from January 2, 2017 to March 31, 2017 and for NRIs from January 2, 2017 to June 30, 2017.

Indian citizens residing in Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan and Bangladesh cannot avail of this facility.

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Related

• Good news! NRIs can exchange old notes till 30 June 2017
• How much currency can you carry to India?
• Depositing 500, 1000 Rupee notes to NRI bank account: Common Questions
• Understanding NRI Bank accounts

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