What is eBRC and What an Exporter Needs to Know?

If you’re exporting services or products from India today, you already know that cross-border payments and compliance are becoming more complex every year. Banks, GST authorities, and the RBI now expect clear proof that your export income has been received in India. This is where the Electronic Bank Realisation Certificate (eBRC) becomes important.

The eBRC acts as official confirmation from your bank that the foreign payment linked to your export invoice has been successfully realised. Without it, your export may not qualify for benefits, GST refunds, or even basic compliance checks during audits.

Continue reading this guide to understand what eBRC is, why it matters, and how you can manage it smoothly.

What is an Electronic Bank Realisation Certificate (eBRC)?

An eBRC is proof that you’ve received payment in India for your export of services or goods. When a client abroad sends you money, the bank records that payment and generates an eBRC against your invoice that confirms your export is genuine.

Technically, an eBRC is the digital version of the Bank Realisation Certificate issued by authorised banks. It confirms that foreign exchange has been realised and settled in India, and it is automatically uploaded to the DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade) system. This data is later used for GST refunds, export incentives, and FEMA compliance checks.

Earlier, exporters had to rely on a physical BRC, which caused delays and manual follow-ups. To speed up verification and reduce paperwork, the government replaced it with eBRC, making export documentation fully electronic and traceable.

Related Read: Bank Realisation Certificate (BRC): What Exporters in India Must Know

Why is the eBRC Non-Negotiable for Indian Exporters?

An export payment is not considered complete until it is supported by an eBRC. It’s more than just a document; it plays a direct role in tax benefits, compliance, incentives, and your business reputation. Here’s why every exporter must actively track and secure their eBRC.

Claiming GST Refunds

Exports are classified as zero-rated supplies under GST, which means you’re eligible for a refund. But the refund is not approved unless you prove that the payment has actually been received in India. That proof comes from your eBRC, which is uploaded by the bank and used by the GST system to validate your claim.

Today, refund applications are assessed directly against eBRC records. If the amount doesn’t match the invoice or the eBRC takes too long to reflect, the refund may be held back until you clarify the transaction. 

Availing Benefits Under the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP)

Many government schemes under the Foreign Trade Policy offer incentives to exporters, but they are granted only when the export proceeds are officially confirmed through an eBRC. The DGFT uses this data to confirm that payment has been received in India through proper banking channels.

Without a valid eBRC, your export may not be considered eligible for benefits  even if the shipment was successful and the invoice was issued. 

Proving Compliance with FEMA

Every export is governed by FEMA guidelines, which require payment to be received within a specific timeline. The eBRC helps demonstrate that the foreign income has been realised in Indian currency through authorised channels.

During scrutiny, authorities may check whether each export invoice has a corresponding eBRC entry. If it’s missing or mismatched, the transaction may attract queries or delay future approvals. Maintaining accurate eBRC records ensures your exports remain fully compliant and traceable under FEMA.

Building Credibility and Financial History

For growing exporters, especially SaaS startups, freelancers, and e-commerce sellers  foreign payments often form a major part of business revenue. A strong eBRC record helps establish financial credibility by providing consistent export income through verified channels.

Banks, lenders, fintech platforms, and even foreign clients may look at your eBRC history to assess reliability. Clean and traceable records make it easier to apply for business loans, access trade finance, or upgrade to a higher export status in the future.

The Step-By-Step eBRC Generation Process

Step 1: Exporter Receives Payment

The full export payment must be received in your bank account within 15 months from the shipping bill date, as per RBI regulations. Once the payment is credited, the bank records the foreign inward remittance, and you prepare your export documents to initiate the eBRC process.

Step 2: Bank Issues FIRA

After the payment is received, the bank issues a Foreign Inward Remittance Advice (FIRA/FIRC). This document confirms that money was received from abroad and is linked to a specific purpose code under FEMA guidelines. This becomes the base document for issuing the eBRC.

Step 3: Exporter Submits Documents

You then submit required export documents, such as the invoice, eFIRC, shipping bill (for physical goods), or Softex form (for IT/ITeS services), with the respective bank. These documents allow the bank to match your payment with the corresponding export transaction.

Step 4: Bank Processes and Uploads to DGFT

Once the bank verifies your documents, it then prepares a digitally signed eBRC XML file and uploads it to the DGFT server, usually once or twice a day. During this upload, the bank also enters the INR equivalent of the realised foreign exchange, based on the exchange rate notified by CBIC.

Step 5: Exporter Downloads the eBRC

After the upload is complete, the eBRC becomes available for download on the DGFT portal. You can log in using your IEC and retrieve it as proof that foreign earnings were realised against your export. This document is essential for audits, tax filings, and claiming export benefits.

Explore Razorpay’s Global Payment Solutions

How to Check and Download Your eBRC from the DGFT Portal?

Once your bank uploads the eBRC, you can download it directly from the DGFT website. Follow these steps:

1. Visit the official DGFT portal at dgft.gov.in and log in using your registered credentials along with your IEC.
2. After logging in, click on ‘My Dashboard’, and then select ‘Repositories’ to access the eBRC section.
3. Under the ‘Bills Repositories’ tab, click on the ‘Explore’ option to proceed further.
4. In the dropdown menu labelled ‘Select Bill’, choose ‘Bank Realisations (e-BRC)’ to open the search module.
5. Enter relevant filters such as the shipping bill number, date range, or bank realisation number to search for the required eBRC.
6. The system will display all matching eBRC records, and you can click on the bank realisation number to view the full details.
7. After opening the record, use the ‘Print eBRC’ or ‘Download eBRC’ button to save a PDF or print-ready copy for your records.

Why Does Export Compliance Feel So Complicated?

If you’re exporting digitally  whether through SaaS, design services, consulting, or e-commerce  entering global markets is now easier than ever. But staying compliant is not. Many exporters receive international payments every month yet remain unsure about what paperwork is needed, where it goes, and what happens if something is missed.

The confusion usually begins after the payment arrives. Most exporters know how to raise a foreign invoice and receive money, but don’t fully understand frameworks like eBRC, EDPMS, Softex, or FEMA purpose codes. As a result, documentation gets delayed, mismatched, or ignored. 

Here’s what usually goes wrong when export compliance is not completed properly:

• GST refunds get delayed when the export payment is not linked to a valid eBRC in the system.
• Eligibility for export schemes is affected because DGFT checks eBRC records before releasing incentives.
• Banks may raise queries under FEMA if remittances are not properly documented or linked to the right purpose code.
• Audits become stressful when export earnings lack traceable proof, even when payment has already been received.

Razorpay – Simplifying Export Payments Before eBRC

Most compliance issues start before the eBRC stage  when payments are received, converted, or documented. Razorpay solves these pain points by streamlining every step that leads up to eBRC generation.

Accept Payments from 180+ Countries

Razorpay allows exporters to receive payments from global clients in over 130 currencies through multiple methods:

• International cards
• Global bank transfers
• Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal
• SEPA / ACH / SWIFT transfers

This helps SaaS exporters, freelancers, designers, and e-commerce sellers receive money without asking clients to change their payment method.

Instant and Digital FIRA/FIRC

Traditionally, FIRCs take weeks to arrive from banks. Razorpay automates this process  enabling exporters to download digital FIRCs in seconds. This keeps the eBRC process on track and avoids delays caused by missing remittance proof.

Better Currency Conversion

With Razorpay, exporters get live Google FX rates with zero markup, which means they retain more of what they earn. This is particularly useful for recurring SaaS subscriptions and monthly retainers billed to global clients.

Smooth Documentation for Banks

Banks need clear paperwork before issuing eBRC. Razorpay supports:

• Invoice visibility
• Shipping bill/Softex form tracking
• Automated tagging of purpose codes

This reduces errors that commonly lead to compliance queries or mismatched payments.

MoneySaver Export Account (Virtual Global Bank Account)

Instead of relying only on SWIFT transfers, Razorpay enables exporters to receive payments via local bank transfers in the US, UK, and EU  just like a domestic transaction. This improves success rates and reduces remittance fees significantly.

FAQs

1. Is eBRC mandatory for all exports from India?

Yes. Whether you export goods or services, an eBRC is required as proof of payment received in India. It is used for GST refunds, FEMA compliance, DGFT incentives, and audit purposes.

2. How much does it cost to get an eBRC?

Downloading an eBRC from the DGFT portal is free of cost. However, banks may still charge a small processing fee for issuing the eBRC, depending on the transaction and their internal policies.

3. What is the difference between an eBRC and an e-FIRA?

An e-FIRA simply confirms that a foreign payment has reached your bank account. An eBRC goes further to prove that the payment is linked to a valid export and is recorded with the authorities for compliance. In short, e-FIRA is just a payment receipt, while eBRC serves as official proof of export realisation.

4. What happens if there is an error in my eBRC?

You need to contact your bank and request a correction. The bank must update the entry and re-upload it to the DGFT system. Until it is corrected, it may affect GST claims or DGFT benefits.

5. Do I need a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) for the eBRC process?

No, a DSC is not required to generate or receive an eBRC. Your bank uploads it directly after the payment is realised.