There is no single national portal for the services EDF. You submit it to your AD bank — normally the bank where the foreign money lands — through whatever channel that bank has chosen, because Regulation 19 requires each bank to publish its own policy on how it accepts EDFs. In practice that means a branch counter, an email to a trade or forex desk, or an upload on the bank's net-banking trade portal. Whatever the channel, the job is not finished until you have an acknowledgement.
Key takeaways
- Ask your branch or relationship manager which channel your bank uses before you send anything.
- Submit within 30 days from the end of the invoice month; for services other than software, on or before the payment date also works.
- Send a signed EDF, invoice copies and a short cover note. Add payment references where money has already come in.
- Always get and record an acknowledgement — a stamped copy, a reply email or a portal reference.
- The bank must enter your EDF into EDPMS within 5 working days of receipt.
Why the channel differs from bank to bank
The 2026 Regulations deliberately left the "how" to banks. Regulation 19 says each AD bank must have and publish a policy on accepting EDFs. One bank may want physical forms at the branch; another may route everything through its corporate net-banking; a third may accept scanned, signed forms by email from a registered address.
So if a friend tells you "just upload it on the portal", that is only true for their bank. Ask yours. A quick message to your relationship manager — "What is your process for accepting the monthly EDF for services?" — saves you a wasted trip.
The three common channels compared
| Channel | How it usually works | Strengths | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Branch counter | Hand in signed form and invoice copies; get a stamped copy back | Clear, physical acknowledgement | Travel time; branch staff unfamiliar with the new form |
| Email to RM or trade desk | Send scanned signed EDF plus attachments from your registered email | Fast, creates a written trail | Must use the email ID the bank has on record; confirm receipt |
| Net-banking trade portal | Upload documents in the bank's trade or forex section | Built-in reference number; status tracking | Access rights for the user; file size or format limits |
We are not listing menu paths for any specific bank, because each bank sets and changes its own. Your bank's trade services page or your RM will tell you exactly where to go.
What to put in the package
A well-prepared package gets processed quickly. For Oriel Consulting LLP, a fictional Pune firm with four foreign invoices in October 2026, the package looks like this:
- The EDF itself, filled and signed by an authorised partner. All four invoices go in Part 2B as separate rows, because one EDF per month can cover multiple recipients.
- Copies of the four invoices, in the same order as the Part 2B rows.
- A cover letter listing the invoices, the total value and contact details. Our EDF cover letter template does this in a minute.
- Payment references for any invoice already paid — the FIRA number or the bank's credit advice — so the bank can match money to invoice.
- Contract or engagement letter, only if the bank asks. Some banks want it for a new client the first time.
Total value of Oriel's October invoices: ₹18,42,600. Deadline: 30 November 2026. Oriel sends the package by email on 10 November, giving itself three weeks of buffer in case the bank asks for corrections.
Step by step: from signed form to acknowledgement
| Step | What you do | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Confirm the bank's channel and any format it prefers | Ask once, then note it in your EDF register |
| 2 | Fill the EDF with all invoices of the month | Our EDF form generator totals Part 2B for you |
| 3 | Check AD code, GSTIN, PAN and invoice numbers | A wrong AD code is the commonest rejection reason |
| 4 | Sign as an authorised signatory | Use the signatory the bank already has on file |
| 5 | Submit through the bank's channel | Keep file names clear, e.g. "EDF_Oct2026_OrielLLP.pdf" |
| 6 | Get an acknowledgement | Stamped copy, reply email or portal reference |
| 7 | Record the acknowledgement number and date | Needed later for follow-ups and reconciliation |
| 8 | Follow up after a week if you hear nothing | The bank's own EDPMS deadline is 5 working days |
The acknowledgement: don't skip it
An acknowledgement proves you filed on time. If the bank later says it never received the form, or a payment gets held, the acknowledgement settles it.
What counts:
- Branch: a stamped and dated copy of your EDF or cover letter, ideally with the receiving officer's initials.
- Email: a reply from the bank confirming receipt. An automated "message received" is better than nothing, but ask for a human confirmation.
- Portal: the transaction or reference number the system generates, plus a screenshot of the confirmation screen.
Record it in your EDF register alongside the month, invoice numbers and total. We explain why in our piece on the EDF acknowledgement number.
What the bank does next
Once your bank has the EDF, it must enter it into EDPMS — the Export Data Processing and Monitoring System — within 5 working days under Regulation 18. From then on, each invoice is an open entry until the money comes in and is matched.
For invoices up to ₹10 lakh, the bank may close the entry on your declaration that the money has been realised, and that declaration can be given periodically. Above ₹10 lakh, the bank will want payment evidence and matching instructions. That closure step is separate from submitting the EDF.
Common hiccups and how to handle them
The branch has not seen the new form. It happens in the first months of any change. Politely point to the 2026 Regulations and ask the branch to check with its trade operations team.
You missed the 30-day window. The bank may accept a delayed EDF for reasonable cause. Submit as soon as you can with a short note explaining the delay. Don't wait for the next month to combine it.
Your money arrived before you filed. For services other than software, the EDF may be submitted on or before the date payment is received. If the bank holds the credit pending an EDF, filing promptly is the quickest way to release it.
You bank with two banks. File with the AD bank that receives the export proceeds for those invoices. If different clients pay into different banks, ask each bank how it wants the split handled.
This article is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a government portal where I upload the services EDF?
No. For services exporters outside an SEZ, the EDF goes to your AD bank (or STPI for software). Each bank decides its own channel and must publish its policy under Regulation 19. SEZ units file with the SEZ Development Commissioner instead.
Can I email the EDF to my bank?
Many banks accept a scanned, signed EDF by email, but not all. Ask your branch or relationship manager, use the email ID registered with the bank and ask for a written confirmation of receipt.
Which bank do I submit the EDF to if I have accounts in several banks?
Submit it to the AD bank where the export proceeds for those invoices are received. If your clients pay into different banks, confirm with each bank how it wants the EDF split.
How do I know my bank has processed my EDF?
The bank must enter the EDF into EDPMS within 5 working days. Ask your bank how it confirms this — some show status on their portal, others will tell you on request. Keep your acknowledgement until each invoice is matched and closed.
Do I need to submit invoices with the EDF?
Most banks will want copies of the invoices listed in Part 2B, at least the first time. Send them in the same order as the table rows to make checking easy.
Bottom line
Submitting the EDF is simple once you know your bank's preferred channel: ask once, prepare a clean package, and never leave without an acknowledgement. Fill the form in our free EDF form generator and attach a ready-made cover letter so your bank has everything in one go.
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.