|| General FAQ's || Private Visits || Business Visits ||

|| Participation in International Conferences/seminars || Training / Study Tour ||

|| Studies Abroad || Medical Treatment || Employment/ Emigration abroad ||

|| Other Purpose ||

• Is a resident eligible for foreign exchange for private visits abroad ?
  Yes, under the Basic Travel Quota (BTQ) Scheme.
  
  
• What is Basic Travel Quota Scheme (BTQ) ?
  Under the Basic Travel Quota (BTQ) Scheme, resident Indian citizens are permitted to purchase foreign exchange up to U.S.$5000 for its equivalent for undertaking in a calendar year one or more private visits to any country abroad (except Nepal and Bhutan). The foreign exchange can be purchased directly from any branch of an authorised dealer or from a full- fledged money-changer(FFMC).
  
  
• Who are eligible for drawal of exchange under the scheme ?
  All resident Indian citizens including children above two years of age are entitled to draw full BTQ of U.S. $3000 per year. Children below two years of age are not eligible for this facility.
  
  
• Can a person ask for exchange beyond the specified limit of U.S.$10000 under BTQ in case of need ?
  No.
  
  
• Can foreign nationals avail of BTQ ?
  Only foreign nationals permanently resident in India can get this facility. They have to apply in writing to an office of the Reserve Bank under whose jurisdiction they are residing for release of exchange under the Scheme. The application should contain particulars, such as, name, address, nationality, country/ies of visit and the number, date and place of issue of passport. Foreign nationals also have to declare the exchange already availed of under the Basic Travel Quota, if any, during the calendar year and other remittance facilities they have availed of.
  
  
• Can a person holding a student visa and proceeding abroad for studies get exchange under BTQ ?
  Yes
  
  

• Can travel under BTQ be combined with visits . for other purposes also ?
  Yes, travel under BTQ can be combined with visits for business, conference, seminar, training, study tour, Haj pilgrimage and employment. Persons emigrating from India and drawing foreign exchange for that purpose cannot, however, draw additional exchange under BTQ.
  
  
• Can a traveller avail of BTQ on outbound (one way) ticket also ?
  Yes.
  
  
• Are persons going to a neighbouring country by land route eligible for BTQ facility ?
  Yes. Travellers going to neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh by bus or rail can draw foreign exchange from authorised dealers/ full-fledged money-changers, on production of the ticket.
  
  
• What about persons going to neighbouring countries by land route in their own vehicles ?
  Selected authorised dealers can release limited exchange up to U.S.$100 for travel to Pakistan and Bangladesh when travel is performed by road. Persons requiring additional exchange should approach the concerned office of Reserve Bank through their bankers.
  
  
• Is BTQ facility available for more than one visit ?
  Yes, a person can avail of BTQ for more than one visit abroad, provided the total foreign exchange drawn in a calendar year does not exceed U.S.
  $5,000 or its equivalent.
  
  
• Can the unspent balance surrendered to an authorised dealer be drawn again while undertaking a second visit in the same year ?
  No.