Branch / Liaison /
Project Office in India
Set up a Branch Office, Liaison Office, or Project Office in India with prior RBI approval under FEMA. Full application support, AD bank coordination, and annual compliance. Starting ₹19,999.
Timeline
30–60 Working Days
Authority
RBI + MCA
RBI Form
Form FNC (Branch/LO)
Starting From
₹19,999
Outcome
RBI Approval Letter
Annual Return
Form FLA by July 15
Branch, Liaison, or Project Office?
RBI recognises three types of foreign offices in India — each with different permitted activities.
Branch Office (BO)
Can earn revenue from Indian customers. Must be profitable for 5 consecutive years in home country.
₹1 lakh security depositLiaison Office (LO)
Only promotional / liaison activities. Cannot earn income in India. Acts as communication channel.
No security depositProject Office (PO)
For specific project contracts in India. Auto-approval for projects with RBI conditions.
Project-specificWho Should Set Up an India Office?
Foreign Banks
Opening banking operations in India under RBI banking license.
Manufacturers
Testing Indian market before committing to a full subsidiary.
Consulting Firms
Serving Indian clients while maintaining parent company structure.
Market Researchers
Conducting market surveys and liaison activities only (LO).
Construction Companies
Executing specific infrastructure or project contracts (PO).
Tech Companies
Providing technical support or R&D services for parent.
Trading Houses
Import/export activities through branch operations.
NGOs & Foundations
Conducting charitable or development activities in India.
Registration Steps
Eligibility Assessment
Verify that the foreign company meets RBI criteria (profitable for 5 years for BO).
Document Preparation
Collect apostilled parent company documents, audited financials, and board resolution.
Form FNC Filing
Submit Form FNC to an Authorised Dealer (AD) bank in India with all documents.
AD Bank Scrutiny
Bank reviews documents and forwards application to RBI for approval.
RBI Approval
RBI grants approval letter with Unique Identification Number (UIN) in 4–8 weeks.
MCA Registration
Register with Registrar of Companies as foreign company under Section 380 of Companies Act.
PAN & Tax Registrations
Obtain PAN, TAN, and GST registration for the India operations.
Commence Operations
Open bank account and begin permitted activities as per RBI approval.
Documents Required
All foreign documents must be notarised and apostilled by the competent authority in the home country.
Frequently Asked Questions
Set Up Your India Presence Today
Expert RBI application support, AD bank coordination, and annual compliance — handled by FEMA specialists.