RBI Issues Revised Guidelines for Customer Identification Procedure

[RBI Circular No. 51 dated 15^th November 2012]

Sub: Know Your Customer (KYC) norms/Anti-Money Laundering (AML) standards / Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) Obligation of Authorised Persons under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, (PMLA), 2002, as amended by Prevention of Money Laundering (Amendment) Act, 2009 Money changing activities.

Attention of Authorised Persons is invited to F-Part-II of the Annex to the A.P. (Dir Series) Circular No. 17 [A.P. (FL/RL Series) Circular No. 04] dated November 27, 2009, as amended by the A.P. (Dir Series) Circular No. 60 dated December 22, 2011.

2. Based on several representations received from Full Fledged Money Changers (FFMCs), regarding difficulties in obtaining documents other than passport, and taking into account the procedure followed for money changing in other countries, it has been decided to amend certain instructions contained in the aforementioned Part. The amended instructions are given in the Annex.

3. All the other instructions contained in the A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 17 [A.P. (FL/RL Series) Circular No. 04] dated November 27, 2009, as amended from time to time shall remain unchanged.

4. Authorised Persons may bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their constituents concerned.

5. These guidelines are also applicable mutatis mutandis to all agents/ franchisees of Authorised Persons and it will be the sole responsibility of the franchisers to ensure that their agents / franchisees also adhere to these guidelines.

6. Please advise your Principal Officer to acknowledge receipt of this circular letter.

7. The directions contained in this Circular have been issued under Section 10(4) and Section 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999)and also under the, Prevention of Money Laundering Act, (PMLA), 2002, as amended by Prevention of Money Laundering (Amendment) Act, 2009 and Prevention of Money-Laundering (Maintenance of Records of the Nature and Value of Transactions, the Procedure and Manner of Maintaining and Time for Furnishing Information and Verification and Maintenance of Records of the Identity of the Clients of the Banking Companies, Financial Institutions and Intermediaries) Rules, 2005 as amended from time to time and are without prejudice to permission/approvals, if any, required under any other law.

Annex [Annex to A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. dated November, 2012]

Customer Identification Procedure Features to be verified and documents that may be obtained from customers

Extant Guidelines		Revised Guidelines
Features	Documents	Features	Documents
Transactions With Individuals		Transactions With Individuals
- Legal name and any other names used	(i) Passport (ii) PAN card (iii) Voter's Identity Card (iv) Driving licence (v) Identity card (subject to the AP's satisfaction) (vi) Letter from a recognized public authority or public servant verifying the identity and residence of the customer to the satisfaction of the AP.	- Legal name and any other names used	(i) Passport (ii) PAN card (iii) Voter's Identity Card (iv) Driving licence (v) Identity card (subject to the AP's satisfaction) (vi) Letter from a recognized public authority or public servant verifying the identity and residence of the customer to the satisfaction of the AP.
- Correct permanent address	(i) Telephone bill (ii) Bank account statement (iii) Letter from any recognized public authority (iv) Electricity bill (v) Ration card (vi) Letter from employer (subject to satisfaction of the AP). (any one of the documents, which provides customer information to the satisfaction of the AP will suffice). Note: - In case of foreign tourists, copies of passport containing identification particulars and address, may be accepted as documentary proof for both identification as well as address. Further, a copy of the visa of non-residents, duly stamped by Indian Immigration authorities may also be obtained and kept on record.	- Correct permanent address	(i) Telephone bill (ii) Bank account statement (iii) Letter from any recognized public authority (iv) Electricity bill (v) Ration card (vi) Letter from employer (subject to satisfaction of the AP). (any one of the documents, which provides customer information to the satisfaction of the AP will suffice). Note: - In case of foreign tourists, copies of passport containing identification particulars and address, may be accepted as documentary proof for both identification as well as address. Further, a copy of the visa of non-residents, duly stamped by Indian Immigration authorities may also be obtained and kept on record. However, where neither passports contain any address nor foreign tourists are able to produce any address proof, APs may obtain and keep on record, a copy of passport and visa duly stamped by the Indian Immigration authorities and a declaration duly signed from foreign tourists regarding the permanent address.