Google now requires all Indian developers selling globally to complete KYC via BillDesk. The move brings Google Play's cross-border transactions under RBI's payment aggregator framework, adding a new compliance layer for revenue. Unverified accounts risk having their international sales paused entirely after specific deadlines.
How We Got Here
RBI introduced its Payment Aggregator–Cross Border (PA-CB) framework in 2023 to regulate online cross-border payments. Google now applies this framework to Indian Play developers selling overseas, requiring them to verify merchant accounts.
The Numbers
- Developers who received a Google Play payout before December 31, 2025, must complete KYC by March 15, 2027.
- Those who started monetising on or after January 1, 2026, face KYC as a prerequisite for any international sales.
- Google has tapped BillDesk to handle the mandatory KYC verification process.
- The RBI extended the previous September 15 deadline after payment aggregators struggled with verifying millions of small businesses.
- Certain merchants require physical verification, a challenge for PAs given manpower and documentation issues.
What Happens Next
🇮🇳 Why This Matters for India
For the thousands of indie developers and small studios in Hyderabad and Pune eyeing global markets, this adds a significant, non-negotiable compliance burden impacting market access and revenue flows.
The Take
The real friction here isn't for Google; it's for solo developers and small teams scrambling for documents, potentially losing critical revenue. Expect a wave of smaller Indian apps to simply drop international sales rather than navigate this.
Source:
MediaNama ↗