Oyster Holidays
Getting foreign exchange right saves real money and a lot of last-minute stress. We arrange your currency and a multi-currency forex card at competitive rates, advise on how much cash to carry versus load on a card, complete the RBI paperwork, and have it delivered to your home or office in Bangalore.
No scrambling at the airport, where rates are at their worst. Whether or not you book a holiday with us, we can handle your forex.
There's no single best option — the smart choice is usually a forex card for the bulk of your spend, a little cash for arrival, and a card as backup. Here's the trade-off for each.
Best forYour main spending instrument abroad
Best forTips, taxis, and cash-only vendors
Best forHotel holds, emergencies and a safety net
Best forNo longer recommended for travel
Forex for travel is governed by the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) and a few tax rules. The essentials, current for 2026 — we confirm the exact figures at the time of your booking.
A resident individual may remit up to USD 250,000 per financial year for all permitted purposes, including travel. The limit is annual and cumulative — not per trip. Not available for Nepal & Bhutan.
Up to USD 3,000 in foreign currency notes per trip; carry the rest on a forex card. You may take up to ₹25,000 in Indian rupee notes in or out of India.
From 1 April 2026 (FY 2026-27), overseas tour packages attract a flat 2% TCS with no threshold. TCS is not an extra tax — it's credited against your income tax and refunded if excess when you file your return.
If you buy currency or load a card yourself (not as a package), TCS is nil up to ₹10 lakh in a financial year, and 20% only above that. Most leisure trips fall well under ₹10 lakh.
A small 18% GST applies to the conversion service value (a tiered slab), not the whole amount — typically a few hundred rupees, capped at about ₹10,800 on the largest transactions.
You may retain up to USD 2,000 for a future trip; surrender the balance within 180 days of return. Keep your encashment certificate — it's your proof of legal purchase.
RBI and tax rules change frequently — the figures above are current for 2026 and confirmed with you at the time of travel. International credit-card spends abroad currently fall outside LRS/TCS, but this is a deferral and can change.
Destination, dates and how much you need — on WhatsApp or a call.
A live, competitive rate and the right card-plus-cash mix for your trip.
Passport, visa, ticket and PAN; Form A2 signed digitally. We handle the rest.
Currency and forex card delivered to your home or office in Bangalore.
Documents you'll need: valid passport · visa / e-visa · confirmed return ticket (travel within 60 days) · PAN card. Payment must come from your own bank account.
Reputable, RBI-authorised options if you prefer to compare or buy yourself. (We can arrange everything for you too.)
| Provider | Best known for | Helpline | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Cook India | Currency, forex cards & remittance | 1800 2099 100 | thomascook.in |
| BookMyForex | Online marketplace — live rates, doorstep delivery | 1800 1033 817 | bookmyforex.com |
| BuyForex (ex-Centrum) | Online forex marketplace | 1800 1202 56666 | buyforex.com |
| Fxkart | Aggregates 200+ RBI-licensed money changers | +91 93410 44044 | fxkart.com |
| Niyo Global | Zero-markup travel debit card (app-first) | 1800 2099 335 | goniyo.com |
| Orient Exchange | RBI-licensed money changer; 34-currency cash | 080 4600 3700 | orientexchange.in |
| Muthoot Forex | Outward remittance & forex (Muthoot Group) | +91 9188 300 600 | muthootforex.com |
| HDFC Bank | Multicurrency Platinum ForexPlus card | 1800 1600 | hdfcbank.com |
| ICICI Bank | Sapphiro / Expressions travel cards | 1800 1080 | icicibank.com |
| Axis Bank | 16-currency forex card with TripAssist | 1800 108 5577 | axisbank.com |
| SBI | State Bank Foreign Travel Card (9 currencies) | 1800 1234 | sbi.bank.in |
Listed for convenience; Oyster Holidays is not affiliated with these providers. Always compare the live rate against the interbank rate and avoid airport counters, where markups are highest.
| Destination | Currency | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Andaman | Indian Rupee | Domestic |
| Australia | Australian Dollar | International |
| Azerbaijan | Azerbaijani Manat | International |
| Bali | Indonesian Rupiah | International |
| Dubai | UAE Dirham | International |
| Europe | Euro | International |
| Georgia | Georgian Lari | International |
| Goa | Indian Rupee | Domestic |
| Gujarat | Indian Rupee | Domestic |
| Himachal | Indian Rupee | Domestic |
| Japan | Japanese Yen | International |
| Kashmir | Indian Rupee | Domestic |
| Kerala | Indian Rupee | Domestic |
| Ladakh | Indian Rupee | Domestic |
| Malaysia | Malaysian Ringgit | International |
| Maldives | Maldivian Rufiyaa | International |
| Mauritius | Mauritian Rupee | International |
| Meghalaya | Indian Rupee | Domestic |
| Nepal | Nepalese Rupee | International |
| Oman | Omani Rial | International |
| Philippines | Philippine Peso | International |
| Rajasthan | Indian Rupee | Domestic |
| Sikkim | Indian Rupee | Domestic |
| Singapore | Singapore Dollar | International |
| South Korea | South Korean Won | International |
| Sri Lanka | Sri Lankan Rupee | International |
| Thailand | Thai Baht | International |
| Turkey | Turkish Lira | International |
| UK | Pound Sterling | International |
| Uttarakhand | Indian Rupee | Domestic |
| Varanasi | Indian Rupee | Domestic |
| Vietnam | Vietnamese Dong | International |
We confirm the current rate and the best mix of card and cash for your destination and travel dates.
You can carry up to USD 3,000 in foreign currency notes per trip; the balance is carried on a forex card or remitted. All forex draws count within the RBI Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) limit of USD 250,000 per financial year. You may also take up to ₹25,000 in Indian rupee notes in or out of India.
TCS (Tax Collected at Source) is collected on certain foreign remittances. From 1 April 2026, an overseas tour package attracts a flat 2% TCS with no threshold; self-bought forex is nil up to ₹10 lakh in a financial year. TCS is not an extra tax — it is credited against your income tax and refunded if excess when you file your return. Figures are current for 2026 and confirmed at booking.
For most travellers, a multi-currency forex card is the main instrument — it gives a better rate than cash, locks the rate when you load it, and is safe and replaceable. Carry a small amount of cash for arrival, tips and taxis, and keep a regular card as backup. We advise on the right mix for your destination.
A valid passport, your visa or e-visa, a confirmed return ticket (travel within 60 days of purchase) and your PAN card. The RBI Form A2 is signed digitally, and payment must come from your own bank account.
Yes. We arrange currency and a forex card at a competitive rate and have them delivered to your home or office in Bangalore, so there is no need to use airport counters where rates are at their worst.
Tell us where you'd like to go — we reply quickly, and the visa, documents and booking are handled officially by email, phone or in person.
Tell us where you're headed — we'll quote a competitive rate and deliver it to your door.