India Entry - Branch Office.
A branch office lets a foreign company carry on specified activities in India, such as export and import, consultancy, research and IT services, without incorporating a subsidiary. Approval is given by an AD Category-I bank on Form FNC under RBI's FEMA framework, with prior RBI or Government clearance in certain cases. We handle the application, the registrations and the annual compliance that follows.
Typically 6–10 weeks through the AD bank once apostilled documents are in hand. Applications that need prior RBI or Government approval, such as those from certain neighbouring countries or in sensitive sectors, can take several months.
A partner — a chartered accountant or company secretary — from the first call to sign-off.
Based on your situation, and fixed in writing before any work starts.
Is this for you?
- Foreign companies that want to earn revenue in India in their own name rather than through a subsidiary
- Overseas engineering, consultancy or IT firms serving Indian clients directly
- Parent companies with a profit track record that meets RBI's eligibility criteria
What you receive at the end.
- 01AD bank approval letter with RBI Unique Identification Number
- 02ROC registration as a foreign company (Form FC-1)
- 03PAN, TAN and GST registrations and an operating bank account
- 04Annual calendar for the Annual Activity Certificate, FC-3/FC-4 and income-tax filings
India Entry - Branch Office, step by step.
Typically 6–10 weeks through the AD bank once apostilled documents are in hand. Applications that need prior RBI or Government approval, such as those from certain neighbouring countries or in sensitive sectors, can take several months.
- 1
Eligibility review
We check RBI's profit track-record and net-worth criteria and whether your activities are permitted for a branch. We also confirm whether prior RBI or Government approval applies because of your home country or sector.
- 2
Form FNC application
We prepare Form FNC with apostilled or notarised constitutional documents, audited accounts and a banker's report, and file it with your chosen AD Category-I bank.
- 3
Bank and RBI processing
The AD bank completes its due diligence and obtains a Unique Identification Number (UIN) from RBI before issuing the approval letter.
- 4
Registrations in India
We register the branch with the Registrar of Companies in Form FC-1 within 30 days of establishing a place of business, and obtain PAN, TAN, GST and a bank account.
- 5
Annual compliance
Each year we prepare the Annual Activity Certificate for the AD bank and the income-tax authorities, file the branch's accounts and annual return with the ROC, and file its income-tax return.
What we need from you.
Don't have everything yet? We send a short checklist after the first call and work with what you have.
- Certificate of incorporation and constitutional documents of the foreign company, apostilled or notarised
- Audited financial statements showing the required profit track record and net worth
- Banker's report from the parent's bank in its home country
- Board resolution approving the branch and its proposed activities
- Power of attorney for the authorised representative in India
- Letter of comfort from the parent group, if the applicant does not meet the criteria on its own
- Proposed office address in India
The fee depends on your situation. After a short call, the partner who will do the work tells you what's involved and gives you a fixed fee in writing — before any work begins.
- Government fees and statutory charges are billed at actuals.
- When you pay — upfront, in stages or on completion — is agreed in writing with the fee.
Questions about India Entry - Branch Office.
Ready to discuss India Entry - Branch Office?
30-minute confidential call — no proposal, no commitment. A partner will write back within one business day.