Sending Above Rs 5 Lakh to India: FIRC, Form 15CA and FEMA Rules
Large transfers to India require careful documentation. This guide explains FIRCs, Form 15CA/15CB thresholds, and FEMA compliance for transfers above Rs 5 lakh.
What Is a FIRC and When Do You Need One?
A FIRC (Foreign Inward Remittance Certificate) is a document issued by an Indian bank confirming receipt of a specific foreign currency remittance. It serves as proof that foreign funds entered India through legal banking channels. You will need a FIRC in several situations:
- Property purchase: The property registration authority may require FIRC to confirm funds came from NRE/NRO account funded by foreign remittance.
- Capital gains documentation: When you later sell the property, FIRC proves the original investment was repatriable.
- GST refund for exported services: Indian businesses exporting services need FIRCs as proof of foreign receipt.
- IT scrutiny response: If the Income Tax department questions the source of funds in your Indian accounts, FIRCs are the cleanest evidence.
Which Providers Generate FIRCs?
Not all remittance providers generate FIRCs. The situation in 2025:
- Bank wires (SWIFT): Your receiving Indian bank (SBI, HDFC, ICICI) automatically generates an A2 FIRC for every inward wire above ₹1 lakh. Request it explicitly — some banks charge ₹200–500 for the certificate.
- Wise: Wise routes money through banking partners. The receiving Indian bank may or may not generate a FIRC depending on how the payment is classified. For large transfers, use a bank wire instead of Wise if you need guaranteed FIRC.
- Remitly, Western Union: These typically do not generate FIRCs automatically. Not recommended for transfers where FIRC is required.
Form 15CA: When Required
Form 15CA is a declaration filed by the person remitting money outside India (or receiving money from abroad into India in some contexts). For NRIs sending money to India, the relevant scenario is when NRIs repatriate funds out of India from NRO accounts:
| Amount | Form Required |
|---|---|
| Below ₹5 lakh | Form 15CA Part A (self-declaration, no CA needed) |
| Above ₹5 lakh, DTAA benefit claimed | Form 15CA Part B + Form 15CB from CA |
| Above ₹5 lakh, no DTAA benefit | Form 15CA Part C + Form 15CB from CA |
Note: Form 15CA/15CB is required for outward remittances from India to your foreign account — not for inward transfers from abroad. When you send money to India from Europe, no Form 15CA is needed on your end.
Form 15CB: The CA Certificate
Form 15CB is a certificate from a Chartered Accountant confirming that the taxes on the amount being remitted have been paid or are not applicable. The CA verifies:
- The nature of payment (property sale proceeds, interest, dividend, etc.).
- The applicable DTAA provisions.
- TDS deducted and deposited by the relevant parties.
- That repatriation is within FEMA limits.
CA fees for Form 15CB typically range from ₹3,000 to ₹15,000 depending on complexity.
LRS: The Outward Scheme for Resident Indians
A common confusion: NRI inward remittances are not governed by the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS). LRS applies only to resident Indians sending money abroad (up to USD 250,000/year for residents). NRIs are not subject to LRS restrictions when sending money into India — there is no cap on inward remittances.
Use the NRI Tools Remittance tracker to monitor your EUR/INR rate and log large transfers with notes for your records — open the remittance tool.