Getting Paid from Abroad: FIRA, e-BRC, Gateways and RBI Rules for Exporters
Quick answer: Export payments must come into India through your bank (an Authorised Dealer) or an RBI-authorised cross-border payment aggregator, and under RBI’s Master Direction you must realise the full export value within nine months of export (as of October 2026). Each payment creates an inward remittance record, which banks now send directly to DGFT, and you self-generate an e-BRC against it on the DGFT portal. That proof closes the loop on your shipping bill, your GST LUT and any export incentives.
Who this guide is for
This is for small exporters, of goods or services, who receive money from overseas customers: a maker paid through Etsy, a food brand paid by a UK distributor, a designer billing a US client. It builds on our guide on starting to export, which covers the IEC, AD code and LUT.
The rule behind everything here is simple: under FEMA, it is the exporter’s obligation to realise and repatriate the full value of what she exports. The paperwork exists to prove you did.
Ways to receive money
| Route | How it works | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank wire (SWIFT) to your current account | Buyer pays your bank; bank credits rupees or holds foreign currency | B2B orders, larger invoices | Bank and intermediary charges; give the buyer exact details |
| Marketplace payout | Amazon or Etsy collects and pays you | Retail sales on platforms | Fees deducted before payout; keep the payout statements |
| Cross-border payment aggregator (PA-CB) | Buyer pays by card or local method; aggregator settles to you | Own website, freelancers, small invoices | Must be RBI-authorised; ₹25 lakh cap per transaction |
| Rupee invoicing (Vostro route) | Buyer’s bank pays in INR through a Special Rupee Vostro Account | Some countries and buyers | Only where the buyer’s bank has this set-up |
Payment aggregators. RBI’s Master Direction on Payment Aggregators (September 2025) covers cross-border aggregators. The key points for exporters:
- The maximum value per inward or outward transaction processed by a PA-CB is ₹25 lakh.
- Exporters are treated as merchants and must be onboarded with due diligence. Small merchants with annual export turnover up to ₹5 lakh (or overall turnover up to ₹40 lakh) can use a simpler due diligence route.
- The aggregator must give your bank the documents needed to close your export entries in RBI’s export monitoring system (EDPMS).
- Settlement timelines depend on your agreement with the aggregator, which must state them clearly.
Before you sign up with any app or wallet, check that it is an RBI-authorised PA-CB or works through an Indian bank, and that it can give you a proper inward remittance advice for each payment.
The nine-month realisation rule
RBI’s Master Direction on Export of Goods and Services (updated 17 July 2026) says the period for realising and repatriating export proceeds is nine months from the date of export, for all exporters, until further notice.
| Situation | Period (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Goods, software and services, all exporters | 9 months from the date of export |
| Goods sent to a warehouse abroad | 15 months from the date of shipment |
| Goods sent to Bharat Mart | 9 months from the date of sale from the warehouse |
If a buyer is late, your bank can extend the period, up to six months at a time, if you have a genuine reason. Older articles quote other periods, including temporary relaxations. Go by the current Master Direction and confirm with your bank.
Advance payments. If a buyer pays in advance, the Master Direction requires the goods to be shipped within three years of receiving the advance.
Short payments and write-offs. If a buyer pays less after a dispute, a reduction of up to 25% of the invoice value is allowed within conditions. If a payment is never received, exporters can self write-off up to 5% of the export proceeds realised in the previous calendar year (10% for status holders), once the amount has been outstanding for over a year. Speak to your bank before you do this.
FIRA, FIRC and e-BRC: what each document is
Inward remittance advice (FIRA) and certificate (FIRC). When foreign money reaches your account, your bank, or the payment aggregator through its bank, issues an advice for that payment. The older, formal version was the FIRC. Banks and providers vary in what they call it and how they issue it, so ask yours how to download one for each receipt. Keep these with your invoices.
Inward Remittance Message (IRM). Banks now send an electronic IRM for every export receipt directly to DGFT. These appear in your IRM repository on the DGFT portal, searchable by PAN.
e-BRC. The electronic Bank Realisation Certificate is your official proof that an export was paid. On the DGFT portal, exporters self-certify their e-BRCs against one or more IRMs, using the e-BRC generation rules. You can generate in bulk, cancel unused ones and see how each IRM is linked to shipping bills and invoices. For services, DGFT added a mandatory “Mode of Export of Services” field in 2025.
Why it matters:
- e-BRCs back your claims for export incentives such as RoDTEP and Duty Drawback.
- They support GST refund claims and your LUT compliance.
- They help your bank close entries in EDPMS. For small amounts, RBI allows entries of up to ₹10 lakh per bill to be closed on the exporter’s declaration.
Step by step: from invoice to e-BRC
- Invoice correctly. Put your IEC, GSTIN, the LUT reference (“supply meant for export under LUT without payment of IGST”) and the currency on every export invoice.
- Ship and record. Note the shipping bill or postal bill of export number against each invoice.
- Give the buyer exact bank details and ask them to quote your invoice number in the payment reference.
- When money arrives, tell your bank the purpose (export of goods or services) and which shipping bill or invoice it settles. Download the remittance advice.
- Log in to DGFT, find the IRM and generate the e-BRC against it.
- Reconcile monthly: invoice, shipping bill, payment, IRM, e-BRC. Chase anything older than six months.
The GST link-back
Under an LUT you export without paying IGST, on condition that you complete the export. For goods, the goods must leave India within three months of the invoice date. For services, the payment must be received in foreign exchange, or in rupees where RBI permits, generally within one year of the invoice. If these conditions are not met, you have to pay the IGST with interest.
Your e-BRCs and remittance advice are the evidence you need if the GST department asks. They also support refund claims of unused input tax credit on zero-rated supplies. Keep them for at least as long as your GST records.
Common mistakes
- Asking buyers to pay a personal savings account or a relative abroad. Export proceeds must come into your business account through proper channels.
- Using an app that cannot issue a remittance advice or is not RBI-authorised.
- Not telling the bank the purpose of the receipt, so it is not recorded as export income.
- Letting payments drift past nine months without asking the bank for an extension.
- Never generating e-BRCs, then finding incentive or refund claims blocked.
- Netting off fees or returns informally. Record the full invoice value and the deductions separately.
Tip for small exporters: keep one current account only for export receipts. It makes matching IRMs, e-BRCs and GST returns far simpler, and gives you a clean record when you apply for export credit later.
FAQ
Q: How long do I have to receive payment from a foreign buyer?
A: Nine months from the date of export, as of October 2026, under RBI’s Master Direction. Your bank can extend it for genuine reasons.
Q: Can I receive export payments through PayPal-type services?
A: Yes, through RBI-authorised cross-border payment aggregators, subject to the ₹25 lakh per-transaction cap. Make sure you get a remittance advice for each payment.
Q: What is the difference between FIRC and e-BRC?
A: The FIRC or FIRA is the bank’s or provider’s advice for one receipt. The e-BRC is the realisation certificate you generate on the DGFT portal against the bank’s electronic remittance data.
Q: Does my bank issue the e-BRC?
A: No longer directly. Banks send inward remittance messages to DGFT, and exporters self-generate e-BRCs on the portal.
Q: What if the buyer never pays?
A: Talk to your bank. Within limits, exporters can self write-off unpaid amounts outstanding for more than a year. If you have export credit insurance from ECGC, other rules apply.
Q: Can I invoice in rupees?
A: Yes, RBI allows invoicing and settlement in INR through Special Rupee Vostro Accounts, where the buyer’s bank has one.
Official links
- RBI Master Direction, Export of Goods and Services: https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_ViewMasDirections.aspx?id=10395
- RBI Master Direction, Payment Aggregators: https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_ViewMasDirections.aspx?id=12896
- DGFT portal (IRM repository, e-BRC): https://www.dgft.gov.in
- GST portal (LUT in Form RFD-11): https://www.gst.gov.in
- ICEGATE: https://www.icegate.gov.in
Last checked: October 2026. Rules, limits and fees change; confirm with the official source before you apply. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
Sources: RBI Master Direction, Export of Goods and Services, updated 17 July 2026 (October 2026); RBI Master Direction on Regulation of Payment Aggregators (September 2025); DGFT eBRC page (October 2026); CBIC Rule 96A, CGST Rules (October 2026); Amazon Global Selling, India exports page (October 2026)
