Re-KYC for NRIs: SEBI Removes Mandatory Geo Tagging Requirement from India
Moneylife Digital Team 11 December 2025
Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has removed the mandatory geo-tagging requirement for non-resident Indians (NRIs). The geo-tagging required proof of physical presence in India during the renewal of know-your-customer (re-KYC) for NRIs. With this change, NRIs can now complete their re-KYC entirely through digital mode from anywhere in the world. The move is intended to make the process more convenient, reduce compliance hurdles and support SEBI’s broader shift toward digital, paperless systems.
 
In its circular, SEBI states that it had received multiple references from stakeholders who highlighted the practical difficulties that NRIs face when required to be present in India for re-KYC. After considering these concerns, the regulator decided to amend its 12 October 2023 master circular on KYC.
 
Under the revised provisions, the requirement for a client’s physical presence in India during digital re-KYC has been removed for existing NRI clients. This relaxation makes it possible for them to complete the entire process remotely, regardless of their location.
 
However, SEBI has clarified that the relaxation applies only to re-KYC for existing clients. First-time digital on-boarding for NRIs will continue to require that the user be physically located in India at the time of verification.
 
Despite easing the location requirement, SEBI has retained several safeguards to ensure the authenticity and integrity of the verification process. Digital KYC applications must continue to utilise tools such as random prompts, timestamping and geo-tagging to confirm that the interaction is genuine and not pre-recorded.
 
The app is also required to match the GPS coordinates it captures with the country specified in the client’s proof of address and block any connections originating from spoofed IP addresses. These measures are intended to maintain security while providing flexibility for NRIs.
 
This move brings considerable relief to NRIs, who will no longer need to travel to India solely to complete re-KYC formalities. It aligns with SEBI’s ongoing effort to simplify digital compliance and helps intermediaries—including stockbrokers, mutual funds and portfolio managers serve NRI clients more efficiently.
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