Banking
FIRC & BRC Guide for Indian Exporters
Physical vs e-FIRC, eBRC on DGFT portal, provider-specific process (Payoneer, Wise, PayPal, Amazon), and common issues.
By Aaryan Kakani · · Updated · 6 min read
What are FIRC and BRC, and why do I need them?
Both certificates prove that export proceeds were received in India, but they serve different regulatory purposes, are issued by different authorities, and are required for different compliance filings.
| Parameter | FIRC | BRC / eBRC |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Foreign Inward Remittance Certificate | Bank Realisation Certificate |
| Issued by | Authorised Dealer (AD) bank | DGFT (via AD bank confirmation) |
| Legal basis | FEMA 1999, RBI Master Direction on Export of Goods & Services | Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023, Handbook of Procedures (HBP) |
| What it proves | Foreign currency was received in your bank account | A specific shipping bill's proceeds were realised |
| Required for | GST refund, LUT compliance, income tax audit, CA certification | RoDTEP claim, Advance Auth discharge, EPCG discharge, Duty Drawback |
| Format | Physical certificate or e-FIRC (electronic) | Electronic only (eBRC) since 2014 |
What do I need to know about FIRC?
When do I need a FIRC?
- GST refund. Officers routinely ask for FIRC as proof of export realisation when processing ITC refund (LUT route) or IGST refund claims.
- LUT compliance verification. The LUT condition requires that export proceeds be received within the prescribed time. FIRC is your evidence.
- Income tax audit. Section 44AB audit reports require proof of foreign exchange earned. FIRCs serve as the primary supporting document.
- CA certification for DGFT. Chartered accountants issuing certificates for export obligations (Advance Auth, EPCG) rely on FIRCs.
What information does a FIRC contain?
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Beneficiary name & account | Your (exporter's) bank account details |
| Remitter name | Entity that sent the payment (e.g., Amazon, Payoneer, buyer) |
| Amount in foreign currency | Original amount received (USD, GBP, EUR, etc.) |
| Amount in INR | Converted amount credited to your account |
| Purpose code | RBI purpose code (P0108 for export of goods, P0802 for commission) |
| Date of credit | Date the funds were credited to your account |
| SWIFT/UTR reference | Unique transaction reference for tracing the remittance |
| AD bank details | Name and branch of the Authorised Dealer bank |
What is the difference between physical FIRC and e-FIRC?
| Aspect | Physical FIRC | e-FIRC |
|---|---|---|
| Issued for | Direct SWIFT transfers from overseas buyers | Payments routed through intermediaries (Payoneer, PayPal, Amazon ACCS) |
| Format | Stamped, signed hard copy from bank | Digital certificate, downloadable from bank portal |
| Validity | No expiry; valid as long as the underlying transaction is valid | Same as physical |
| Bank fee | INR 200-500 per certificate | INR 100-300 (some banks issue free) |
What is eBRC and where is it required?
The Bank Realisation Certificate links a specific shipping bill to the corresponding payment receipt. Since 2014, BRC is issued only in electronic form (eBRC) through the DGFT portal. Your AD bank confirms the realisation, and DGFT generates the certificate.
When do I need an eBRC?
| Purpose | Why eBRC Is Needed |
|---|---|
| RoDTEP claim | DGFT requires eBRC to confirm export proceeds were realised before releasing RoDTEP scrips |
| Advance Authorisation discharge | Export obligation fulfilment requires eBRC as proof of realisation against each shipping bill |
| EPCG discharge | Similar to Advance Auth. EBRC links export performance to the licence obligation |
| Duty Drawback | Customs may require eBRC to release drawback where realisation is pending |
| Star Export House status | FOB value calculation for status recognition relies on eBRC data |
How is eBRC different from FIRC?
A FIRC is a bank-level document that says "we received X amount of foreign currency on Y date." It does not reference any shipping bill. An eBRC, by contrast, ties a specific shipping bill number and date to the realised amount. This is why you need both: FIRC for RBI/GST compliance, eBRC for DGFT export benefit claims.
How do I get a FIRC from my bank?
What is the step-by-step process to get FIRC?
- Receive payment. Foreign currency arrives in your AD bank account via SWIFT, or INR is credited via intermediary (Payoneer, Amazon ACCS, PayPal, Wise).
- Request FIRC from your AD bank. Submit a written request or apply through your bank's online portal. Provide the transaction date, amount, and remitter details.
- Bank verifies in EDPMS. The bank checks that the remittance is tagged correctly in RBI's EDPMS system with the right purpose code.
- Bank issues FIRC. Physical FIRC is printed, stamped, and signed. E-FIRC is generated digitally and made available for download.
Typical Timeline
3-7 working days from request, assuming the remittance is already credited and tagged. Can extend to 15+ days if the bank needs to verify the purpose code or if the remittance came through an intermediary that the bank does not regularly handle.
How do I get FIRC from different payment providers?
| Provider | How FIRC Works | Action Required |
|---|---|---|
| Direct SWIFT | Standard physical FIRC from your AD bank. Foreign currency arrives directly. | Request from bank branch or net banking portal |
| Amazon ACCS | Amazon routes through partner bank. E-FIRC issued by the partner AD bank (typically Kotak or HSBC). | Auto-generated in most cases; verify on bank portal |
| Payoneer | Payoneer's partner AD bank (Yes Bank / ICICI) issues e-FIRC equivalent. Payoneer also provides a "Payment Proof" document. | Download from Payoneer dashboard; request formal FIRC from AD bank if needed |
| Wise | Funds arrive as domestic NEFT/RTGS from Wise's partner bank. Your bank may not recognise it as a foreign remittance automatically. | Request FIRC from receiving AD bank with Wise transaction proof |
| PayPal | PayPal's AD bank in India (ICICI) processes the conversion. FIRC issued by PayPal's AD bank. | Request from PayPal India or from ICICI with PayPal transaction ID |
How do I apply for eBRC on the DGFT portal?
What is the step-by-step process to apply for eBRC?
- Log in to DGFT portal. Dgft.gov.in using your IEC and digital signature / Aadhaar OTP.
- Navigate to Services > eBRC. Select "eBRC Application" from the services menu.
- Enter shipping bill details. Shipping bill number, date, port code, FOB value, and currency.
- Enter bank receipt details. Bank name, branch, account number, amount realised, date of realisation, and bank reference number (UTR/SWIFT reference).
- Submit for bank confirmation. The application goes to your AD bank for electronic confirmation of the realisation.
- AD bank confirms. The bank verifies the details against their records and confirms on the DGFT portal.
- DGFT issues eBRC. Once the bank confirms, the eBRC is generated and available for download on your DGFT dashboard.
What documents do I need for eBRC?
- Shipping bill. Number, date, port code, and FOB value
- Bank credit advice. Showing the foreign remittance credit with UTR/reference number
- FIRC. Matching the realisation amount to the shipping bill
- Invoice. Export invoice corresponding to the shipping bill
- IEC. Active Import Export Code
- Digital signature / Aadhaar OTP. For signing the application on the DGFT portal
Timeline
7-15 working days from application to issuance. The bottleneck is usually the AD bank confirmation step (5-10 days). If the bank has queries, it can take 30+ days.
Common Delays
- AD bank does not have a dedicated DGFT desk. Application sits in queue
- Shipping bill amount does not match realised amount (platform fees deducted)
- Bank reference number entered incorrectly on DGFT portal
- Multiple shipping bills mapped to a single aggregated payment
What are common FIRC/BRC problems and how do I fix them?
These are the problems exporters hit most frequently with FIRC and eBRC, along with specific resolutions.
| Issue | Cause | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| FIRC amount does not match shipping bill FOB value | Platform fees (Amazon referral, FBA), payment provider FX markup, or partial payments deducted before remittance | Provide platform settlement report showing gross sale, deductions, and net payout. Bank can issue FIRC for net amount with a note. |
| Wrong purpose code on FIRC | Bank tagged as P0107 (services) instead of P0108 (goods), or used a general code | Write to AD bank requesting purpose code amendment. Provide shipping bill as evidence. Takes 2-4 weeks. |
| AD bank delays FIRC issuance | Bank not familiar with intermediary payments (Payoneer, Wise) or lacks DGFT desk staffing | Escalate to branch manager with RBI circular reference (A.P. DIR Series). Consider switching to a bank with export-desk experience. |
| eBRC rejected. SB number mismatch | Typo in shipping bill number or wrong port code entered on DGFT portal | Verify SB number against ICEGATE. Re-apply with corrected details. |
| eBRC rejected. Amount variance >5% | Net realisation differs from SB FOB value by more than DGFT's tolerance (typically 5%) | Submit platform deduction proof (settlement report, fee invoice). If variance is legitimate, apply with a covering letter explaining the shortfall. |
| eBRC rejected. Currency mismatch | Shipping bill in USD but payment received in GBP or EUR (multi-marketplace) | Ensure currency on SB matches the actual payment currency. If mismatch is at source, request SB amendment through customs before re-applying. |
| Bank not confirming on DGFT portal | Bank's DGFT nodal officer has not actioned the pending confirmation, or login credentials expired | Contact the bank's trade finance / forex desk directly. Provide the DGFT application reference number. Follow up weekly. |
How does FIRC/BRC work for e-commerce exports?
E-commerce exports create unique FIRC/BRC challenges that traditional exporters do not face. The core problem: platforms aggregate many orders into a single payout, deduct fees at source, and process returns that reduce net realisation. All of which break the clean 1:1 mapping between shipping bill and payment that the FIRC/eBRC system expects.
Why is FIRC/BRC harder for e-commerce exporters?
| Challenge | Impact on FIRC/eBRC |
|---|---|
| Aggregated payouts | One FIRC covers 50-500 orders across multiple shipping bills. Splitting the FIRC amount across SBs for eBRC requires detailed reconciliation. |
| Platform fee deductions | Net payout is 60-85% of gross sale value. FIRC amount will never match SB FOB value. Variance documentation needed for every eBRC. |
| Returns and refunds | Refunds reduce net payout in a future settlement period, creating negative line items that further complicate SB-to-payment mapping. |
| Multi-order settlements | A single settlement may span orders from different dates, different shipping bills, and even different customs ports. |
How do I handle FIRC/BRC for Amazon, Payoneer, Wise, or PayPal?
Amazon (ACCS or Payoneer)
Amazon's settlement reports (available in Seller Central > Reports > Payments > Date Range Reports) are your primary reconciliation tool. Each settlement shows order-level breakdown with product sales, fees, refunds, and net proceeds.
- Download the "V2 Settlement" flat file for every payout cycle
- Map each order to its shipping bill using the order date and your dispatch records
- ACCS payments through partner bank typically generate auto e-FIRC
- If using Payoneer for Amazon, download Payoneer's payment proof alongside Amazon settlement
Payoneer (non-Amazon)
Payoneer provides a "Proof of Payment" document for each withdrawal to your Indian bank. This is accepted by most banks as supporting documentation for FIRC.
- Ensure your Payoneer account is linked to your AD bank account (not a savings account)
- FIRC is issued by Payoneer's partner bank, not your receiving bank
- If your bank does not accept Payoneer's FIRC equivalent, get a letter from Payoneer confirming the foreign currency origin
Wise
Wise is the most challenging for FIRC because funds arrive as a domestic INR transfer. Your AD bank may not recognise it as a foreign remittance without additional documentation.
- Download Wise transaction statement showing original foreign currency, exchange rate, and fees
- Provide this to your AD bank along with your export invoices and shipping bills
- Some banks (SBI, HDFC) have internal processes for Wise FIRCs; others may require escalation
- Consider switching to Payoneer if your bank consistently refuses Wise FIRCs
PayPal
PayPal withdrawals to Indian banks go through PayPal's AD bank (ICICI). The FIRC is issued by ICICI, not your receiving bank.
- Request FIRC through PayPal India's merchant support or directly from ICICI with your PayPal transaction ID
- PayPal's FX conversion happens at their rate. The FIRC will show the INR amount after conversion
- PayPal holds and disputes can delay FIRC issuance significantly
How do I reconcile FIRC and eBRC for every shipment?
Track these items for every export shipment. Reconcile at least quarterly to avoid year-end scrambles and regulatory issues.
What should I track for each shipment?
| Item | When to Complete | Risk if Missed |
|---|---|---|
| Payment received date recorded | Day of bank credit | Cannot track 9-month FEMA deadline |
| FIRC obtained | Within 7 days of credit | GST refund delayed; audit documentation gap |
| FIRC amount matched to SB | Within 15 days of FIRC | eBRC application will fail |
| eBRC applied on DGFT | Within 30 days of FIRC | RoDTEP / Advance Auth claims blocked |
| eBRC issued by DGFT | 7-15 days after application | Follow up with bank if pending >15 days |
| EDPMS entry closed | Verify monthly with AD bank | RBI caution list; future export restrictions |
How do I do quarterly FIRC/eBRC reconciliation?
- Export register vs bank credits. Match every shipping bill from the quarter to a bank credit. Flag any SBs with no corresponding payment (these are your pending EDPMS entries).
- FIRC completeness. Verify that every bank credit has a corresponding FIRC. Request missing FIRCs immediately.
- eBRC completeness. Check DGFT portal for eBRC status against all shipping bills. Re-apply for any rejected applications with corrected data.
- EDPMS status check. Request an EDPMS statement from your AD bank. Identify any entries approaching the 9-month deadline. Escalate immediately.
- Variance report. Document all cases where FIRC amount differs from SB FOB value, with reasons (platform fees, returns, FX differences). This report supports your CA during annual audit.
Update history
- Content reviewed and updated.
- First published.