New SEBI Rules Reduce Onboarding Time for Foreign Portfolio Investors

The revised onboarding framework, effective from August 20, 2026, removes the requirement for PoA notarisation, apostille or consularisation. By permitting digital signatures, SEBI aims to make the onboarding of FPIs faster and more efficient, supporting smoother market entry for overseas capital. The regulator has previously introduced a Common Application Form (CAF) for FPI registration, PAN, bank and demat accounts, all of which now accept Indian digital signatures.