SEBI replaces dollar-denominated registration fee to rupee for FPIs

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has amended it's rules replacing the existing US dollar-denominated registration fee for Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) with a rupee-based fee structure.

As per the notification, the regulator has revised the registration fee for Category-I FPIs from $2,500 to ₹2.3 lakh. Similarly, registration fee for FPIs belonging to Category II has been revised from $250 to ₹23,000.

The regulator has also revised the application fee for seeking general relaxations or exemptions from strict enforcement of regulations from $1,000 to ₹90,000 in eligible foreign exchange equivalent.

The revised provisions will come into effect after six months, SEBI said in its notification dated July 3.

The markets regulator has also updated the common application form used for FPI registration to include the applicant's date of birth or date of incorporation in the CAF to facilitate Permanent Account Number (PAN) allotment.

Designated Depository Participants (DDPs) must remit the collected registration fees to SEBI within five working days of granting registration.

The regulator said the move to a rupee-denominated fee structure addresses operational challenges arising from the existing dollar-based system, including manual accounting and invoicing, the lack of real-time accounting visibility, and delays in financial reporting.

SEBI collected $12.98 million, including GST, during the financial year 2025-26 from registration, continuation and other fees paid by FPIs and FVCIs.