The Reserve Bank of India has on 13 November 2025 introduced an amendment to the Foreign Exchange Management (Export of Goods & Services) Regulations, 2015.
The below reliefs have been provided to the exporters on an immediate basis (w.e.f. 14 November):
1. Extension in timeline of export realisation
The mandatory timeline of 9 months within which the exporters are required to realise and repatriate the export proceeds has been increased to 15 months. Therefore, exporters of goods, services or software will now be required to realise the export receivables within a period of 15 months from the date of such export. This benefit shall also be available to units in Special Economic Zones (SEZ) / Status Holder exporter / Export Oriented Units (EOUs) and units in Electronics Hardware Technology Parks (EHTPs), Software Technology Parks (STPs) and Bio-Technology Parks (BTPs).
2. Increase in the time-period for shipment of goods against advance payments
The RBI has increased the time limit from 1 year to 3 years for shipment of goods in cases where the Indian exporter has received any advance payment from the overseas buyer / third party. Accordingly, in the absence of any agreement, Indian exporters are now allowed to export the goods within a period of 3 years from the date of receipt of such advance amount.
Additionally, the RBI permission, as required by an exporter, to refund the unutilised portion of advance amount or any interest amount after the expiry of 1 year from the date of receipt of such advance amount (due to exporter’s inability to ship the goods) shall now be mandated only after the expiry of 3 years. The existing provisions in relation to long-term supply of goods and payment of interest, if any, against advance payment shall continue to operate without any additional changes.
The present extension of timelines for both the realisation of export proceeds and shipment of goods against advance payment will offer greater flexibility to exporters in managing their funds and operations and provide a significant relief to traders particularly in circumstances involving delays in the manufacturing of goods, or to address issues of any unforeseen delay where no prior agreement is in place between the traders. It serves as a much-needed breather amid the ongoing challenging trade environment caused by supply-chain and geopolitical disruptions.