On Friday 19 May 2023, Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) announced it will withdraw Rs 2,000 notes from circulation. As expected, this has created some confusion among people who hold Rs 2000 notes with them, especially those who are outside India.
In this article, we will discuss how Non-Resident Indians: NRI can change Rs 2000 notes which they may have with them abroad.
1 SEPTEMBER 2023 UPDATE
RBI has requested the public to use September to either deposit or exchange their Rs 2,000 banknotes. This will help avoid any last-minute rush. September 30 has been decided as the last date for exchange.
You can go to your bank or an RBI regional branch to exchange or deposit your Rs 2,000 notes. Even if you don’t have a bank account, you can still exchange them, but there’s a limit of Rs 20,000 per transaction at any bank branch.
Deadline To Change Rs 2000 Notes
As per Reserve Bank of India announcement, people can exchange or deposit them by 30 September 2023.
As per the RBI, banknotes in Rs 2,000 denomination will continue to be legal tender, so consumers can use the currency to buy goods.
This means, the currency notes will not cease to be legal tender immediately unlike when demonetization was announced in November 2016. In November 2016, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi scrapped the high-value notes of 1,000 and 500 overnight, the RBI began printing the 2,000 note.
What Can You Do With Rs 2,000 Notes
If you have Rs 2000 notes, you have three options:
1. Use the notes to purchase goods and services
As the notes remain legal tender, you can purchase goods and services with them, at least until September 2023.
Can Rs 2000 banknotes be used for normal transactions?
Yes. Members of the public can continue to use Rs 2,000 banknotes for their transactions and also receive them in payment. However, they are encouraged to deposit and/or exchange these banknotes on or before September 30, 2023.
2. Deposit the notes in bank accounts
You can deposit your Rs 2,000 banknotes into your bank account until 30 September 2023. Deposits into bank accounts can be made in the usual manner, without restrictions and subject to applicable provisions.
Upon depositing the notes, cash can be drawn from these deposits if needed.
From 23 May 2023, RBI’s 19 regional offices (Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Belapur, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jammu, Kanpur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Patna and Thiruvananthapuram) and other banks will accept Rs 2,000 notes for exchange with lower denomination notes.
3. Exchange Rs 2000 notes through banks
It is possible to exchange Rs 2,000 banknotes for banknotes of other denominations at any bank branch.
Starting May 23, 2023, you can exchange up to Rs 20,000 worth of Rs 2,000 banknotes at a time into banknotes of other denominations. Until September 30, 2023, all banks will accept deposits and/or exchanges of Rs 2,000 banknotes.
To exchange INR 2,000 banknotes from a bank branch, must I be a customer?
No. Non-account holders can also exchange Rs 2,000 banknotes at any bank branch up to a maximum of Rs 20,000. Make sure you carry the necessary documents when exchanging. An identity proof, such as an Aadhaar card, PAN card, passport, or driver’s license, as well as bank account information is typically required.
Is there any fee to be paid for the exchange facility?
No. The exchange facility shall be provided free of cost.
To complete the exercise in a time-bound manner and to provide adequate time to the members of public, all banks shall provide deposit and/or exchange facility for ₹ 2000 banknotes until September 30, 2023. Separate guidelines have been issued to the banks.
How NRI Can Change Rs 2000 Notes
The following options are currently available to non-resident Indians (NRIs):
1. Exchange the notes through exchange houses in country of residence
You can exchange money through a money exchange house in your country of residence. However note that there is a possibility some exchange houses may refuse to accept these.
2. Take the notes with you to India
If you are travelling to India before 30 September, you can take currency notes with you.
3. Send the notes with some else travelling
If you are not travelling before 30 September, you can try to send the notes with friends or family members who are travelling soon.
The good news is that you have more than 4 months to do this (until 30 September 2023 to be specific).
Please check the rules regarding currency limit when travelling to India.
Limits On Deposit and Exchange of Rs 2000 Notes
- You can change 10 banknotes of Rs 2000 denomination at a time.
- This means, you can exchange Rs 20,000 at a time.
- However, there is no limit on deposit and you can deposit any amount in Rs 2,000 currency notes.
You can utilize time up to September 30, 2023 to deposit and/or exchange the Rs 2,000 banknotes.
Note that banks will also ensure that such transactions will comply with Cash Transaction Reporting (CTR) and Suspicious Transaction Reporting (STR) requirements, where applicable.
The RBI has advised that while crediting the value of Rs 2000 notes to Jan Dhan Yojna Accounts/Basic Savings Bank Deposit (BSBD) Accounts, the usual limits will apply.
Additionally, banks are encouraged to make special arrangements to minimize inconvenience for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and women seeking to exchange/deposit Rs 2000 notes, RBI said.
The Reserve Bank of India has also advised banks to stop issuing Rs 2000 denomination banknotes with immediate effect.
What will happen if one cannot deposit / exchange Rs 2000 banknote immediately?
To make the entire process smooth and convenient for the public, a period of over four months has been given for deposit and/or exchange of Rs 2000 banknotes. Members of the public, are therefore, encouraged to avail this facility at their convenience within the allotted time.
What will happen if a bank refuses to exchange / accept deposit of ₹2000 banknote?
For redress of grievance in case of deficiency of service, the complainant / aggrieved customer may first approach the concerned bank. If the bank does not respond within a period of 30 days after lodging of the complaint or if the complainant is not satisfied with the response/resolution given by the bank, the complainant can lodge the complaint under the Reserve Bank – Integrated Ombudsman Scheme (RB-IOS), 2021 at the Complaint Management System portal of RBI (cms.rbi.org.in).
References: Reserve Bank of India Press Release, RBI FAQ
Related Articles:
- Indian Customs Rules For Carrying Cash
- Indian Customs Duty Free Allowance Guide
- Indian Customs Gold Allowance And Duty
- Indian Customs Rules & Duty On Electronic Items
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I have 2 notes of INR ₹ 2000/- in my visit to australia. No one exchange house accepting it here. I am returning after 6 months on 6th october night 2023. how can I convert it at IGI Airport.
Deadline is extended till October 7, 2023 at all commercial banks, post deadline, you may visit any RBI center to exchange your notes.
SBI VANCOUVER CANADA IS NOT READY TO EXCHANGE OR DEPOSITE RS 2000/-CURRENCY NOTES IN CANADA.
India is the worst country with worst policies. Just creates unnecessary trouble for us, for no good reason.
– Why was there a need to publish 2000 notes in the first place ?
– We have to wait for long GC lines abroad due to population issue.
– SO many quotes reservations in own country India, thats why general category people try to move abroad. This country wont even allow us to live abroad in peace.
i am coming in feb. 2024 India .what should i do.
This is a nothing article. Useless. Have some journalistic integrity at least.
I cannot travel to India before the deadline of 30 September, do not have any local Bank of Money Changer who is prepared to accept the Rs2 000. Will the deadline be extended beyond 30 September for NRIs? I may be able to get to India by December 25.
I can come to india by the end of october 2023. can i then deposit the
2000 rupee note inmy account
No banks, money exchanges are accepting indian rupees, its really frustrating
I am facing the same issue. Did you get any solution?
जो लोग USA में है वो २०००के नोट बदलने के लिए किस बैंक में जायें मेरा मार्गदर्शन करें मेरा ईमेल id
Banks abroad do not accept Rs 2000 notes.
i live in Toronto, i tried scotia back, SBI Canada and ICICI bank and was unable to exchange Rs 2000 bills
The worst Modi govt. we are dealing with. Really Frustrating.
No bank is ready to do the exchange. No other country is as worst as India.
I went to Chase Bank, PNC, AAA, Credit Union etc. in the USA last week, they all refused to exchange Indian currency according to their new policy. Federal Reserve Bank also doesn’t want to take it. What can I do now, kindly suggest some practical advice.
Thanks.
How much money should to exchange sir
If you need I will exchange your all 2000 notes
Sir, I always keep some cash in my personal locker in India for immediate expenses when I arrive in India. I don’t even remember how much I left last time are in 2000 notes. Can NRIs get a special extension until they return to India first time after the announcement?
Dear sir,
I am from Sydney Australia and I am left with some 2000 rupee notes from my trip to India. No one, I repeat No ONE in Sydney accepts these notes. India promotes tourism but does not help tourists in such circumstance.
Very disappointed. HELP!!!!!
I wrote to RBI and FM requesting them to help and to extend the date for people living abroad till they visit India. But no reply
While coming to London on 27th April 2023 from Kolkata, I carried 4 Nos. of INR 2000 Notes in person. I shall return to Kolkata on 6th October when changing of these Notes would not be possible.
Please intimate me how to change INR 2000 Notes while in London.
I have 7 notes of Re. 2000 each. I live in Montreal and will travel to India in the first week of December 2023. How can I change these notes?
I live in spain & want to exchange notes rs 2000
I have 15 notes. Took it to exchange centre but they hVe refused to exchange them
How & where I can exchange them please
Thanks
I have deposit 2000 note in city bank VA before 3 days they deposit note but say to me don’t withdraw aganist deposit some time they say we have no information about 2000 notes
ICICI Canada and SBI Canada, which are Indian-based banks, are also not accepting 2000 or any INR notes, and other Canadian banks are not accepting them. Why RBI can not work with Indian-origin banks to provide services to NRI, PIO or OCI people in converting or depositing their Indian account. (so they get sure that the transaction is clear and not suspicious. Please pass the complaint to RBI India Finance Ministry to work out this so NRI do not lose their hard-earned money. One side claim is that INR is becoming global, and many countries’ businesses are accepting INR. But the fact is no business and no banks, including so-called Indian banks like SBI, ICICI accepting INR.
I agree. I have been struggling , since the news came in about Rs. 2000 currency notes. I checked with icici and they said a flat No.
I have written to RBI as well, but no response. Every time Nri citizens face problems, and our own fellow brothers and sisters think we are earning easy money. So wrong they are.
We went to ICICI bank in Toronto and they said No – so what do we do ?