A FIRA is a Foreign Inward Remittance Advice and a FIRC is a Foreign Inward Remittance Certificate — both are your bank's proof that foreign money reached your account, including the purpose code it was received under. The difference is mostly in name and form; what matters for your EDF is that you have one of them, from your AD bank, for every foreign payment.
Key takeaways
- FIRA and FIRC do the same job: they evidence an inward foreign remittance and its purpose.
- Both are issued by the bank that received the money, normally your AD bank.
- For invoices above ₹10 lakh, payment evidence such as a FIRA, FIRC or bank advice is part of what the bank needs to close the EDPMS entry.
- For invoices up to ₹10 lakh, a declaration of realisation can close the entry, but you should still keep the FIRA or FIRC on file.
What each document is
FIRA — the advice
A Foreign Inward Remittance Advice is a document your bank produces when a foreign payment is credited. It typically shows who sent the money, how much arrived in foreign currency, the rupee amount credited, the date and the purpose code. Many exporters receive it as a PDF or download it from the bank's systems, though how you get it depends on your bank.
FIRC — the certificate
A Foreign Inward Remittance Certificate carries similar information but is framed as a certificate issued by the bank, often on request and often signed or stamped. Some exporters, buyers' auditors and government departments are more familiar with the term FIRC, so you will still hear it asked for by name.
Why the terms get mixed up
In day-to-day use, people say "FIRC" for anything that proves an inward remittance. Banks differ in what they call their document and in what they include on it. Don't get stuck on the label. Check that the document comes from your bank and carries the details you need.
Side-by-side comparison
| Point | FIRA | FIRC |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Foreign Inward Remittance Advice | Foreign Inward Remittance Certificate |
| Issued by | The bank that received the money | The bank that received the money |
| What it proves | Foreign money came in, with purpose code | Foreign money came in, with purpose code |
| Typical form | Advice, often generated per credit | Certificate, often issued on request |
| Used for | EDPMS closure evidence, GST records, audit | Same uses; sometimes asked for by name |
| How to get it | Ask your branch or check your bank's process | Request from your branch; a letter helps |
Fees, formats and turnaround depend on the bank. Ask your branch rather than assuming.
How FIRA and FIRC fit into the EDF cycle
The EDF and the FIRA sit at opposite ends of the same export.
- You raise an invoice to a foreign client.
- You file the EDF within 30 days from the end of the invoice month, listing that invoice as a row in Part 2B.
- Your bank enters the EDF into EDPMS within 5 working days.
- The client pays. Your bank credits the money and issues a FIRA or FIRC showing the purpose code.
- The EDPMS entry is closed once the realisation is matched to the export.
Step 5 is where the documents matter. For invoices above ₹10 lakh, the bank needs the invoice, payment evidence such as the FIRA, FIRC or bank advice, and your matching instructions. For invoices up to ₹10 lakh, the bank may close the entry on your declaration that the money has been realised. That declaration is separate from the EDF and can be given periodically — our realisation declaration tool drafts one.
Once realisation is matched, an eBRC may be issued through EDPMS and DGFT systems.
A worked example
Saffron Grid Technologies Pvt Ltd, Hyderabad, raises two invoices in November 2026.
- Invoice SGT/26-27/041: USD 18,000 to a Texas client, roughly ₹15.1 lakh.
- Invoice SGT/26-27/042: USD 2,500 to a Dublin client, roughly ₹2.1 lakh.
Both go on the November EDF, due by 30 December 2026.
When the Texas client pays, Saffron Grid downloads the FIRA, checks that the purpose code matches its software consultancy work, and sends its bank the invoice, the FIRA and a short matching note so the bank can close that EDPMS entry. Because the invoice is above ₹10 lakh, the declaration route is not available.
The Dublin invoice is below ₹10 lakh. Saffron Grid includes it in its quarterly realisation declaration instead, but still files the FIRA in its EDF register. If anyone later asks how that invoice was paid, the document is there.
What to check on the document
Whatever your bank calls it, scan these details before you file it away. Our guide on how to read a FIRA goes field by field.
- Remitter name matches your client, or a known third party paying for them.
- Foreign currency amount matches the invoice, less any bank charges deducted abroad.
- Purpose code fits your service. A wrong code can cause trouble later, and correcting it is easier soon after the credit.
- Your name and account are right — especially if you have several accounts.
- Date of credit is clear, because your realisation is counted against the invoice date.
If the purpose code is wrong, ask your bank to correct it promptly, in writing.
How to request a FIRC when you need one
Some situations call for a formal certificate: a GST refund application, a buyer's auditor, a funding due-diligence exercise. Ask your branch how it issues FIRCs. A clear letter listing the remittance dates, amounts and references speeds things up, and our FIRC request letter builds one in a couple of minutes.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Your bank sets its own process for issuing these documents.
Frequently asked questions
Is a FIRA as good as a FIRC for closing an EDF entry?
Both are bank-issued evidence that foreign money came in, and the RBI framework refers to payment evidence such as a FIRA, FIRC or bank advice. Ask your bank which document it wants for matching, since bank processes differ.
Do I need a FIRA if my invoice is under ₹10 lakh?
For invoices up to ₹10 lakh, the bank may close the EDPMS entry on your declaration that the money has been realised. You don't have to submit the FIRA for that, but keep it — it supports your GST and income-tax records and answers any later question.
Can a payment platform give me a FIRA?
Payment platforms work through banks, and the document you receive depends on how the money reaches your Indian account. Ask the platform which bank credited the funds and what proof of inward remittance it can provide, then check it carries a purpose code.
What if the FIRA shows the wrong purpose code?
Write to your bank and ask for the purpose code to be corrected, attaching the invoice and a short description of the service. Do it soon after the credit, because a wrong code can complicate EDPMS matching and GST refunds.
Who issues the FIRA if I have accounts in two banks?
The bank that actually receives the foreign money issues the FIRA or FIRC. That bank is usually also your AD bank for the EDF, so keep your export receipts in the account you file EDFs with where you can.
Bottom line
FIRA and FIRC are two names for the same kind of proof, and you need one for every foreign payment. Keep them alongside your EDFs, and when you need a formal certificate, use the free FIRC request letter to ask your bank.
This guide is general information for Indian businesses, not legal or tax advice. Rules and bank processes change — confirm specifics with your AD bank or chartered accountant.