What is Authorised Signatory?
An authorised signatory is someone a business has formally authorised to sign on its behalf. For a company, authority usually comes from a board resolution; for an LLP, from the partners or the LLP agreement; for a partnership, from the partnership deed or a letter from the partners. Banks record authorised signatories on the account, together with their specimen signatures and the limits or conditions on their authority, for example "any one director" or "two signatories jointly above ₹10 lakh".
Why it matters for exporters
Export paperwork involves a steady stream of signatures. The EDF itself ends with a declaration in Part 4, signed by the exporter with name and date. Covering letters, requests for FIRC or eBRC, realisation extension requests, purpose code corrections and the periodic ₹10 lakh realisation declaration all need a signature the bank recognises.
If the person who signs is not on the bank's records as an authorised signatory, the bank may return the document or ask for proof of authority. When staff change, update the bank promptly with a fresh resolution and KYC for the new signatory. Each bank publishes its own process for accepting EDFs, so check whether your branch accepts scanned signatures, digital signatures or only wet-ink originals.
Example
Aurora Bioservices Pvt Ltd's finance head, who has signed all export letters for three years, resigns in September 2026. Before the first EDF under the new rules is due on 30 November, the board appoints the new CFO as an authorised signatory and passes a resolution. Aurora sends the bank the resolution, the new CFO's KYC and a change of signatory letter. Once the bank updates its records, the CFO signs the October EDF.
Common confusion
An authorised signatory is not necessarily a director or owner; it can be any employee with formal authority. A board resolution is the document that grants the authority. Read change of authorised signatory letter.