A FIRA or FIRC from Yes Bank is the bank's written proof that a foreign payment reached your account, with the amount, currency, remitter and purpose code. You ask for it through your relationship manager, your branch or whichever service channel Yes Bank offers for trade documents, and you should check the purpose code and remitter name the day it arrives, because those two fields cause most later trouble.
Key takeaways
- FIRA (advice) and FIRC (certificate) both evidence an inward foreign remittance. Ask your bank which one it issues and whether it meets your purpose.
- You need it to close EDPMS entries for invoices above ₹10 lakh, to support GST refund claims, and for audit.
- Request it per remittance, quoting the date, amount, currency and remitter.
- Check five fields on every document: remitter, amount, currency, purpose code, date of credit.
- Fix errors immediately with a written request. Corrections months later are slower and messier.
FIRA or FIRC: what you are actually asking for
The two terms are used loosely, even by bankers.
- FIRC (Foreign Inward Remittance Certificate) is the traditional certificate that a bank issues to confirm a foreign inward remittance.
- FIRA (Foreign Inward Remittance Advice) is an advice of the same remittance, often generated per transaction.
For most service exporters, the question is not the label but whether the document shows what your bank, CA and tax records need. Our comparison of FIRA vs FIRC covers the difference in detail. When you ask Yes Bank, say what you need it for, such as "closing EDPMS entries and supporting a GST refund", and let the bank tell you which document serves that.
What you use it for
| Purpose | Why the FIRA/FIRC matters |
|---|---|
| Closing EDPMS entries above ₹10 lakh | The bank needs the invoice, payment evidence and matching instructions |
| Realisation declaration for invoices up to ₹10 lakh | You declare realisation; the FIRA backs your declaration if questioned |
| GST refund on exports | Evidence that payment was received in convertible foreign exchange |
| eBRC | Realisation matched in EDPMS and DGFT systems feeds the eBRC |
| Audit and year-end reconciliation | Ties each invoice to a specific remittance |
| Income tax records | Supports foreign receipts in your books |
How to request it from Yes Bank
Yes Bank, like every bank, sets its own process. We do not list menu paths, charges or email IDs because they change and vary by customer segment. The reliable approaches are:
- Ask your relationship manager. Many business customers have an RM who can arrange FIRAs for a batch of remittances.
- Check your online banking or trade services. If Yes Bank offers inward remittance documents online for your account type, your RM can tell you where.
- Send a written request. A signed letter on your letterhead works with any branch. Our free FIRC request letter has the format.
Whichever route you use, give the bank enough to find the remittance:
- Date the money was credited.
- Amount and currency.
- Remitter name (your client, or the paying platform).
- Any reference shown on your account statement.
Ask once whether there are charges for the document so you are not surprised.
What to check on every FIRA
When the document arrives, check it against your invoice before you file it away.
| Field | What to look for | Common problem |
|---|---|---|
| Beneficiary | Your exact legal name and account | Trade name used instead of registered name |
| Remitter | Your client's name | An affiliate, parent or platform paid instead |
| Amount and currency | Matches the invoice, or explains the difference | Intermediary charges not shown |
| Purpose code | Matches the service you exported | Generic code chosen by the remitter or bank |
| Date of credit | The day funds reached your account | Confused with the date of the document |
If a third party paid on behalf of your client, note it. The EDF has fields for third-party payments (1.15 and 1.16), and the bank may ask about the relationship.
Purpose codes: the field to watch
Purpose codes are RBI codes that classify why the money was sent. For services, you will often see codes such as P0802 (software consultancy and implementation), P0807 (off-site software exports), P1006 (business and management consultancy and PR) or P1007 (advertising, trade fair and market research). Always confirm the right code with the bank.
If Yes Bank tags a payment with a code that does not match your service, for example an advertising code on a software development invoice, ask for a correction in writing. Our purpose code correction letter is built for this. To find the right code for your service before you speak to the bank, try the purpose code finder.
A worked example
Juniper Lane Studios LLP, a Pune design firm, banks with Yes Bank. On 14 January 2027 it received USD 7,600 from a New York client against invoice JL/2026/88 dated 10 December 2026.
The partner checked the account statement, then emailed the RM asking for the FIRA for that remittance, quoting the credit date, amount and client name. When the advice arrived, two things were off: the remitter was shown as the client's parent company, and the purpose code was a general one rather than the design-related code the firm expected.
Juniper Lane wrote back the same week. It confirmed the parent company paid on the client's behalf, attaching the client's email saying so, and asked the bank to review the purpose code. Because the invoice was under ₹10 lakh, the firm planned to include it in its quarterly realisation declaration, with the FIRA kept on file as backup.
Keeping FIRAs organised
- Name each file by date and invoice, for example "2027-01-14_JL-2026-88_USD7600.pdf".
- Record the FIRA reference in your EDF register beside the invoice and EDF month.
- Reconcile monthly: every invoice should eventually have a FIRA, and every FIRA should map to an invoice.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
Does Yes Bank issue a FIRC or a FIRA for export payments?
Ask your RM or branch. Banks issue inward remittance evidence in different forms, and the label matters less than whether the document shows the remitter, amount, currency, purpose code and date you need for EDPMS closure and GST.
How long after payment can I request a FIRA from Yes Bank?
There is no published universal deadline we can cite, and banks set their own processes. Request it soon after the money arrives, while details are fresh and any errors can be corrected quickly.
What if the purpose code on my Yes Bank FIRA is wrong?
Write to the bank asking for a correction, quoting the remittance details and explaining the correct nature of the service. Attach your invoice. Do this promptly, because a wrong code can complicate EDPMS matching and GST refund claims.
Do I need a FIRA to file the EDF?
No. The EDF is due based on the invoice month, whether or not you have been paid. The FIRA comes after payment and is used to close the EDPMS entry and support GST records.
Is a bank statement enough instead of a FIRA?
For invoices above ₹10 lakh, banks expect payment evidence such as a FIRA, FIRC or bank advice. A statement line alone usually lacks the purpose code and remitter detail. Ask your bank what it accepts.
Bottom line
Request a FIRA for every remittance, check it the day it arrives, and fix errors in writing straight away. If you bank with Yes Bank, see our guide to the Yes Bank EDF for the filing side, and use the free FIRC request letter to ask for your documents.
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.