4:00 PM IST Mumbai – The Securities and Exchange Board of India has taken another practical step to make life easier for foreign investors that trying to enter Indian markets. From January 8, 2026, Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) can now apply for a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) directly when they submit their registration form on the Common Application Form (CAF) portal. SEBI put a press release PDF on the official website to announce it.
In simple words: registration and digital signing now happen together, in one online process. They remove the need for separate offline or parallel digital processes and significantly shorten onboarding timelines and too much effort.
What Exactly Has Changed For Foreign Investors?
Until now, FPIs were allowed to use digital signatures, but they had to arrange the DSC separately before completing registration via the portal. This meant extra coordination, emails, and waiting time.
Now, SEBI has connected the dots.
- The FPI registration form and DSC application are merged
- FPIs can request a DSC inside the CAF portal itself
- Verification, document upload, and Video KYC are all online
- Physical signatures and courier delays are mostly avoided
This change directly reduces paperwork and speeds up onboarding.
Where Does This Happen?
The new facility is available on the FPI portal managed by National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL).
SEBI has also published detailed instructions and FAQs on the India Market Access Portal so applicants know exactly what documents are needed and how the process works.
How It Works: A Simple Example
Imagine a UK-based fund manager applying for FPI registration in India.
- The fund logs in to the NSDL FPI portal and starts a new CAF application
- After filling in ownership and regulatory details, they reach the Declaration & Undertaking section
- Here, they select “Apply for Digital Signature Certificate”
- The authorised signatory uploads identity and address documents
- A Video KYC link is sent by the certifying authority
- The signatory completes Video KYC, mobile verification, and payment
- The DSC is approved, often within 30–60 minutes, if documents are in order
Once approved, the same digital signature is immediately used to sign the CAF and related documents.
Is the Digital Signature Legally Valid?
Yes. SEBI has clearly stated that digital signatures are valid only when issued by a licensed Certifying Authority under the Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA), as per the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Such digital signatures:
- Have the same legal value as handwritten signatures
- Are accepted by Indian regulators like SEBI, RBI, Income Tax Department, and MCA
- Can be used for registration, account opening, KYC, renewals, and other filings
Why This Matters for FPIs
India has thousands of active FPIs, many of whom manage multiple funds across countries. For them, even small delays during registration can slow down investments.
By adding DSC issuance directly into the CAF portal, SEBI has:
- Cut down on the counted delays
- Reduced dependence on physical paperwork
- Made the entire process more transparent and traceable
This is not a headline reform, it’s a working, on-the-ground improvement.
