Proposal aims to simplify digital onboarding and verification for overseas investors
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has proposed to relax the geo-tagging requirement for non-resident Indian (NRI) clients during their re-KYC or KYC verification process conducted through digital onboarding or video client identification (V-CIP) , reported timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Sebi’s proposal to ease compliance aims to make digital KYC simpler and more accessible for NRIs.
In a draft circular issued on Thursday, the regulator invited public feedback on its proposal to remove the mandatory condition that requires NRI clients to be physically present in India during their video-based KYC verification.
The proposal comes after multiple representations from stakeholders—including financial intermediaries and investor groups—highlighted challenges faced by NRIs in complying with geo-tagging norms during digital verification
Simplifying compliance for global investors
Sebi’s move is seen as part of a broader effort to streamline compliance requirements and facilitate smoother participation by overseas investors in India’s financial markets. By allowing remote verification without physical presence, the regulator aims to make digital onboarding faster, more efficient, and globally accessible.
The proposal, once finalized, is expected to significantly reduce procedural hurdles for NRIs who wish to open or update investment accounts while residing abroad.
