Citi launches eFPI to cut foreign investor registration time in India to 5 days

Citi has launched eFPI, a digital solution aimed at cutting the registration timeline for foreign portfolio investors entering India to five business days. The first-to-market solution was announced at the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai, where Citi is the Banking Innovation Partner. The service is aimed at simplifying market entry for foreign portfolio investors at a time when India is drawing higher interest from global institutions.

Citi said the FPI registration process, which earlier took anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, can now be fast-tracked to five business days through eFPI@Citi.

The launch comes as international investors are increasingly evaluating India as a strategic allocation. For such investors, faster registration and easier onboarding can become an important factor while entering Indian capital markets.


Citi's Services business in India has oversight of about one-third of FPI assets under custody in the country. The bank said this gives it the scale and market position to address the onboarding requirement for global investors.

Tuhin Kanta Pandey, Chairman of Sebi, welcomed the initiative. "We appreciate Citi's initiative to provide faster registration timeline of 5 days for FPIs in India. It aligns with Sebi's thrust on utilizing technology to facilitate FPIs to access Indian Capital markets expeditiously," Pandey said.

The comment also underlines the regulator’s broader push to use technology to reduce friction for investors and market participants.

Mridula Iyer, Head of Services, Asia South at Citi, said market attractiveness depends on how easily investors can enter it. "India has long been recognized for its immense opportunities, and this initiative is a significant step in realizing this potential. eFPI @ Citi is an outcome of our continued focus on innovation, simplification and client-centricity," Iyer said.

The service is expected to make the onboarding journey faster and more predictable for foreign investors. A shorter timeline can help regulated funds and other eligible investors move from registration to market participation with fewer delays.