Sebi unlocks digital POAs for FPIs, eases access

Meanwhile, the Economic Times daily newspaper is available online now.

Key points

• Top Trending Stocks: SBI Share Cost, Axis Bank Share Rate, HDFC Bank Share Cost, Infosys Share Rate, Wipro Share Cost, NTPC Share Rate.
• SEBI now permits Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) to submit digitally signed Power of Attorney documents, complying with the Information Technology Act, 2000.
• SEBIForeign Portfolio InvestorsPower of AttorneyFPI onboardingKYC requirementsCommon Application Formdigital signaturesInformation Technology ActFPI registrationnotarisation.
• Sebi's FPI Master Circular specifies the KYC requirements for FPIs and the list of supporting documents admissible as proof of address.
• Power shift, a déjà vu: Air India could be new CEO's toughest flight yet.

Meanwhile, the Economic Times daily newspaper is available online now. Sebi unlocks digital POAs for FPIs, waives notarisation & apostillisation. Sebi unlocks digital POAs for FPIs, waives notarisation & apostillisation. ETMarkets.comLast Updated: Aug 20, 2026, 06: 05: 00 PM IST.

SEBI now permits Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) to submit digitally signed Power of Attorney documents, complying with the Information Technology Act, 2000. This initiative eliminates notarisation and apostillisation requirements, aiming to streamline onboarding and improve ease of doing business.

Notably, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has allowed Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) to submit digitally signed Power of Attorney (POA), removing the need for notarisation, apostillisation or consularisation of the document.

In practice, the move, confirmed in the regulator's latest circular, is part of its continued efforts to digitalise the FPI onboarding process and reduce the overall time taken for registration. Sebi's FPI Master Circular specifies the KYC requirements for FPIs and the list of supporting documents admissible as proof of address. Over the years, the regulator has taken a number of measures to streamline and digitalise the FPI registration process. These include the introduction of the Common Application Form (CAF) for registration, PAN, bank and demat accounts; permitting the employ of Indian digital signatures for executing CAF and other registration documents; facilitating digital signature functionality within the CAF portal; and granting registration based on scanned copies. Notably, the latest decision extends the digitalisation of the onboarding process to Power of Attorney documents submitted by FPIs to custodians. The digitally signed POA will be accepted when executed in accordance with the provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000. Live Events.

"As part of Sebi's continued efforts to digitalise the FPI onboarding process, it has now been decided to permit accepting a Power of Attorney digitally signed by FPIs in accordance with the provisions of Information Technology Act, 2000, " Sebi remarked in the circular.

According to the regulator, the move eliminates the need for notarisation, apostillisation or consularisation of the POA. Sebi remarked this will reduce the overall time taken for FPI onboarding and improve ease of doing business for FPI applicants.: IT stocks extend gains for second day; Coforge, Infosys, Persistent Systems rise up to 3% Accordingly, a POA given by an FPI to custodians specifying the address can now either be duly notarised and/or apostilled or consularised, or be executed using a digital signature in accordance with the provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000. The provisions of the circular came into force with effect from August 20, 2026.

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For now, sebi unlocks digital POAs for FPIs, eases access remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.