How Do You Receive Money from Egypt to India in 2026?

Inside Egypt, clients pay by local bank transfer through the Instant Payment Network (IPN), the EG-ACH or the RTGS system, all run under the Central Bank of Egypt. These are domestic systems. To pay an Indian bank directly, an Egyptian client normally sends a SWIFT wire, often in US dollars or euros.

• Rails: The IPN, launched on 22 March 2022, links all banks operating in Egypt for instant transfers to accounts, Meeza cards and mobile wallets. The EG-ACH handles direct credits and debits such as salaries and supplier payments. The RTGS settles large-value payments.
• Client enters: For a local EGP transfer, the client enters the beneficiary name and Egyptian IBAN, which the Central Bank of Egypt fixes at 29 characters starting with EG. For a SWIFT wire, the client enters your name, Indian account number, your bank's SWIFT code and address, and your invoice reference.
• Client cost: Charges for a domestic EGP transfer are set by the client's bank. An international wire carries the client bank's charges, and the client may choose whether it or you bears the fees.
• Speed: An InstaPay transfer is completed in real time, including on holidays, up to EGP 70,000 per transaction. A SWIFT wire to India often takes one to three business days, depending on the banks in the chain.
• Cross-border limits: The Central Bank of Egypt describes the IPN as a network of banks operating inside Egypt. Its international remittance service is for money sent into Egypt. An Egyptian client paying an Indian account directly usually sends an international wire over SWIFT, which Egypt joined in 1994.

The table ranks platforms with full published pricing for EGP by the INR received on EGP 280,000, then lists other business platforms that accept EGP, unranked. Fees were checked on 30 Sept 2026 or later.

You receive less than the invoice because fees and the exchange margin come off the amount sent. Egyptian payers often pay in US dollars, so a pound invoice may be converted twice. For example, at an example mid-market rate of ₹85.00 per USD, a bank rate of ₹84.20 on USD 2,000 pays ₹1,68,400 instead of ₹1,70,000.

Each row applies the platform's published fee, FX markup and 18% GST on the fee to the mid-market rate of ₹1.713 per EGP for 3 Nov 2026.

• Total cost: Add the percentage fee, any fixed fee and the exchange margin, then compare the rupees credited with the invoice amount at the mid-market rate.
• Local rail coverage: Check whether the method gives your client local EGP account details, or whether the client must send an international wire in US dollars or euros.
• Settlement speed: Ask how many business days pass between the client's payment and the rupee credit, and what the cut-off times are.
• FIRA: Confirm you get an inward remittance advice for every payment, showing the purpose code, foreign currency amount and rupee amount.
• Client experience: Egyptian companies may need your invoice and contract to send foreign currency abroad. Agree the invoice currency and documents before work starts.
• Support: Check how the provider handles returned payments, name mismatches and documents your AD bank asks for.

Receiving money from Egypt as export income needs the right purpose code, an EDF where required, and realisation within nine months. These rules come from the FEMA (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026, in force from 1 October 2026. Your AD bank closes the EDPMS entry when payment arrives.

• FIRA / e-FIRA: FIRA is a common name for the bank's inward remittance advice. It is not a term defined in FEMA. GST refund rules under CGST Rule 89 refer to a foreign inward remittance certificate issued by an AD Category-I bank. See what is FIRA.
• Purpose code: Use a services code from the RBI purpose code list, such as P0802 "Software consultancy/implementation (other than those covered in SOFTEX form)" or P1006 "Business and management consultancy and public relations services".
• EDF (services): Under Regulation 3(2) of the 2026 Regulations, a services exporter files an EDF within 30 days from the end of the invoice month. One EDF can cover all exports in a month. A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 20 replaced SOFTEX with the EDF from 1 October 2026.
• EDF (goods): Goods exporters declare the full export value in the EDF at the time of export. For shipments through EDI ports, the EDF is deemed part of the shipping bill under Regulation 3(1).
• EDPMS: Export value must be realised within nine months of the invoice date for services or the shipment date for goods, or 12 months if invoiced or settled in rupees. For invoices up to ₹10 lakh, your AD bank may close the EDPMS entry on your declaration.
• PA-CB fund safety: A PA-CB must keep collected funds in an Inward Collection Account with a scheduled commercial bank, under paragraph 16 of the RBI Payment Aggregator Master Direction.

Export income from Egypt is taxed in India, and GST is zero-rated when the export conditions are met. Under the India-Egypt tax treaty, signed in 1969, business profits are taxable only in India unless you have a permanent establishment in Egypt. Egypt can tax professional services performed in Egypt only after a stay of over 183 days.

• GST zero-rating: Services to an Egyptian client are an export when the conditions in IGST Act section 2(6) are met, including payment in convertible foreign exchange. Exports are zero-rated under section 16, and you can supply without IGST under a Letter of Undertaking filed under CGST Rule 96A.
• GST on fees: Fees charged to you by a bank or payment service in India can carry GST, shown on its tax invoice. Under IGST section 16(2), you can claim input tax credit on them even though exports are zero-rated.
• Income tax: From 1 April 2026 the Income-tax Act, 2025 applies. The presumptive schemes that were sections 44AD and 44ADA are now in section 58, per the Income Tax Department FAQ. Earlier years stay under the 1961 Act.
• India-Egypt DTAA: The India-Egypt DTAA, signed at Cairo on 20 February 1969 with the then United Arab Republic, is notified as GSR 2363. Article 7 taxes business profits only in the country of residence unless there is a permanent establishment. Article 15(2) lets Egypt tax an Indian resident's professional services performed in Egypt only if the person is present there more than 183 days in the relevant fiscal year.
• Technical fees: The treaty has no fees for technical services article and no services permanent establishment rule. Article 23 says each country's own laws govern income the treaty does not expressly mention. Article 13 makes royalties taxable only in the country where they arise, and Article 24(1) then has the other country exempt that income, subject to Article 24(2). Check with a tax adviser how these articles apply to your income.
• Client-side tax: Article 56 of Egypt's Income Tax Law No. 91 of 2005, as published in 2005, applies a 20% tax to payments for services that Egyptian businesses make to non-residents, withheld by the payer. The law has been amended since, and the treaty may give relief. Agree the tax treatment with your Egyptian client before invoicing.

Rules and rails are linked to official sources below with the dates they were checked. Platform figures come from each platform's own pages, checked on 30 Sept 2026 or later, and RBI authorisation was checked against RBI's published list. Rates are ExchangeRate-API open access feed, dated 3 Nov 2026. The method is on the methodology page.

1. RBI: Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026 (FEMA 23(R)/2026-RB, as amended), Reg 2(1)(c) EDF; Reg 3(1) EDF for goods, deemed part of shipping bill at EDI ports; Reg 3(2) services EDF within 30 days from end of invoice month, single EDF per month, non-software may file on or before payment; Reg 4 EDPMS closure on declaration up to Rs 10 lakh; Reg 5 realisation nine months, twelve months if invoiced/settled in INR, AD may extend. (checked 8 Oct 2026)
2. RBI: A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 20 dated 16 January 2026, Supersedes Master Directions on Export/Import and SOFTEX circulars from 1 October 2026. (checked 8 Oct 2026)
3. RBI Master Direction on Regulation of Payment Aggregators, Para 11(d): max value per PA-CB transaction Rs 25 lakh; para 11(h): PA-CB to provide documents for EDPMS closure; para 16(a): funds in escrow, called Inward Collection Account (InCA) for PA-CB, with a scheduled commercial bank. (checked 8 Oct 2026)
4. RBI circular RBI/2026-27/08 dated 9 April 2026: Guidelines to facilitate faster cross-border inward payments, Para 3: banks shall endeavour to credit inward payments received during forex market hours within the same business day, after-hours on the next business day, subject to FEMA; inform customers on receipt. Effective six months from the circular date (9 October 2026). (checked 8 Oct 2026)
5. RBI: A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84 (29 Feb 2012), purpose codes for reporting forex transactions, P0802 Software consultancy/implementation (other than those covered in SOFTEX form); P1006 Business and management consultancy and public relations services. (checked 8 Oct 2026)
6. IGST Act, 2017, section 2 (definition of export of services), Section 2(6): supplier in India, recipient outside India, place of supply outside India, payment in convertible foreign exchange or INR where RBI permits, not establishments of a distinct person. (checked 8 Oct 2026)
7. IGST Act, 2017, section 16 (zero rated supply), 16(1) export of services is zero rated; 16(2) input tax credit may be availed; 16(3) supply under bond or LUT with refund of unutilised ITC. (checked 8 Oct 2026)
8. CGST Rules, 2017, Rule 96A, Bond or Letter of Undertaking in FORM GST RFD-11 furnished prior to export for supply without payment of integrated tax. (checked 8 Oct 2026)
9. CGST Rules, 2017, Rule 89, Refund application refers to Bank Realisation Certificate or foreign inward remittance certificate issued by Authorised Dealer-I Bank. (checked 8 Oct 2026)
10. Income Tax Department: FAQs on objective and scope of the Income-tax Act, 2025, Presumptive taxation schemes (44AD, 44ADA, 44AE) consolidated into section 58; tax year concept applies from 1 April 2026. (checked 8 Oct 2026)
11. RBI Master Direction - Reserve Bank of India (Deposits and Accounts) Directions, EEFC: 100% of export earnings may be credited; accruals converted by the last day of the following month after approved uses. (checked 8 Oct 2026)
12. Income Tax Department: India-UAR (Egypt) Comprehensive Agreement (DTAA), Signed at Cairo 20 February 1969; notified GSR 2363 dated 30-9-1969. Art 3(1)(b) 'United Arab Republic' means Egypt; Art 5 PE (fixed place, construction over 90 days, dependent agent; no services PE); Art 7(1) business profits taxable only in residence state unless PE; Art 13(1) royalties arising in a State and paid to a resident of the other taxable only in the first-mentioned State; Art 15(2) professional services of an Indian resident taxable in UAR only if present more than 183 days in the relevant fiscal year; Art 23 domestic laws govern income not expressly mentioned; Art 24(1) exemption method; no fees for technical services article. (checked 8 Oct 2026)
13. Central Bank of Egypt: Instant Payment Network (IPN), National network linking all banks operating in Egypt, launched 22 March 2022; real-time transfers on weekdays and holidays to bank accounts, Meeza cards and mobile wallets; InstaPay (Banque Misr / Egyptian Banks Company) limits EGP 70,000 per transaction, EGP 120,000 per day, EGP 400,000 per month; IPN International Remittance serves money sent home by Egyptian expatriates. (checked 8 Oct 2026)
14. Central Bank of Egypt: Automated Clearing House (EG-ACH), EG-ACH for direct credits and direct debits, including salaries, supplier payments and domestic direct transfers between bank customers. (checked 8 Oct 2026)
15. Central Bank of Egypt: Real Time Gross Settlement System (RTGS), RTGS used for large value and important funds settlement within the country; Egyptian pound and multicurrency RTGS. (checked 8 Oct 2026)
16. Central Bank of Egypt: IBAN, Egyptian IBANs have a fixed length of 29 characters, starting with country code EG. (checked 8 Oct 2026)
17. Central Bank of Egypt: SWIFT, Egypt signed up to SWIFT in 1994; over 55 participating financial institutions in Egypt. (checked 8 Oct 2026)
18. Egyptian Tax Authority: Income Tax Law No. 91 of 2005 (Arabic, Official Gazette No. 23 of 9 June 2005), Article 56 (as published): 20% tax, without deduction of costs, on amounts paid by sole proprietors, resident juridical persons and non-resident entities with a PE in Egypt to non-residents, including interest, royalties, payments for services, and athletes or artists; payer withholds and remits within 15 days of the following month. (checked 8 Oct 2026)
19. Stripe India pricing, International cards with USD/other currency presentment 4.3% + 2% if currency conversion is required; Mastercard and Visa cards issued outside India 3% + 2%; American Express outside India 3.5% + 2%; dispute received INR 1,000.00 (checked 7 Oct 2026)
20. Cashfree Docs: Global Collections overview (checked 6 Oct 2026)
21. Tazapay Pricing, Global Collection Accounts: *Contact sales; Global Cards 3.8% + USD 0.5; APMs 0.8%-2.5%; FIRC (India) USD 4; Custom tier: Volume-Based Discounts, Payment Method-Specific Rates, Customized FX (checked 7 Oct 2026)