India Entry - Liaison Office.
A liaison office is a foreign company's representative presence in India: it can promote the parent's business, explore opportunities and act as a communication channel, but it cannot earn income here. Approval comes through an AD Category-I bank on Form FNC under RBI's FEMA framework. We guide you through eligibility, the application, the registrations and the annual filings that keep the office in good standing.
Typically 6–10 weeks once apostilled documents are ready. Cases that need prior RBI or Government approval take longer.
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 testing the Indian market before committing to a subsidiary
- Overseas manufacturers that need a local presence to support sourcing or technical collaborations
- Groups that want to promote exports and imports with India without trading here
What you receive at the end.
- 01AD bank approval letter with RBI Unique Identification Number
- 02ROC registration as a foreign company
- 03PAN and the liaison office bank account
- 04Annual Activity Certificate and section 505 statement each year
India Entry - Liaison Office, step by step.
Typically 6–10 weeks once apostilled documents are ready. Cases that need prior RBI or Government approval take longer.
- 1
Eligibility and route
We check RBI's profit track-record and net-worth criteria and whether prior RBI or Government approval applies for your country or sector.
- 2
Form FNC filing
We prepare Form FNC with apostilled constitutional documents, audited accounts and a banker's report, and file it with an AD Category-I bank.
- 3
Approval and UIN
The AD bank completes due diligence and obtains a Unique Identification Number from RBI. The approval is generally valid for three years.
- 4
Setting up
We register the office with the Registrar of Companies in Form FC-1, obtain PAN and open the bank account through which the head office funds all expenses.
- 5
Annual filings
We prepare the Annual Activity Certificate for the AD bank and the income-tax authorities, the statement required under section 505 of the Income-tax Act, 2025 (section 285 of the 1961 Act), and the ROC returns.
- 6
Extension or conversion
Before the approval lapses, we apply for an extension or help you convert to a branch or subsidiary, or close the office.
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 liaison office
- Power of attorney for the authorised representative in India
- Letter of comfort from the parent group, if needed to meet the criteria
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 - Liaison Office.
Ready to discuss India Entry - Liaison Office?
30-minute confidential call — no proposal, no commitment. A partner will write back within one business day.