Subsidiary Company Registration in India for Foreign Companies

StartBusiness sets up Indian subsidiaries for foreign companies: a separate Indian private limited company owned by your parent. We check your FDI (foreign direct investment) route, legalise parent documents, incorporate with the MCA and complete the first RBI reporting. Fees start at ₹19,999 plus government fees and 18% GST. Timelines depend on documents, legalisation and bank onboarding.

Starter

₹19,999+ govt. fees + 18% GST

Incorporated, with your subscriber capital reported. For parents bringing in only the initial subscription capital for now.

FDI route and sectoral cap assessment
Name reservation, and DSC and DIN for 2 directors
Legalisation coordination for parent documents
Parent board resolution and authorised signatory pack
MOA and AOA with custom clauses
SPICe+ incorporation, including PAN, TAN, EPFO and ESIC
Professional tax registration, where the state levies it
After incorporation
Bank account coordination with your AD bank
First board meeting and director disclosures (MBP-1, DIR-8)
First auditor appointed
Nominee declarations (MGT-4, MGT-5, MGT-6), where a nominee holds shares
Entity Master on FIRMS and FC-GPR for subscriber shares
INC-20A once subscription money is received

Launch

₹54,999+ govt. fees + 18% GST

Most popular. Funding reported and registrations in place. For parents remitting capital beyond the initial subscription.

Everything in Starter, plus
FIRC and KYC coordination with your AD bank
GST registration
MSME Udyam registration
Shop Act registration
Further capital, up to 2 allotments
Valuation report coordinated
Share certificates issued and stamped
PAS-3 and FC-GPR within 30 days of each allotment

Growth

₹79,999+ govt. fees + 18% GST

First-year company-law and FEMA filings, as listed. For companies that want first-year filings handled.

Everything in Launch, plus
Annual compliance for the first financial year (full list in Annual compliance)
Director’s report, AOC-4 and MGT-7
FLA return to the RBI

Launch plus a year of annual compliance costs ₹89,999 separately. Growth saves you ₹10,000.

Annual compliance

₹35,000/ year + govt. fees + GST

Growth clients: from the second financial year. Starter or Launch clients: from the first financial year.

Included each year
Director disclosures (MBP-1, DIR-8) for the year
Director’s report drafted
AOC-4 and MGT-7 filed
ADT-1 when an auditor is appointed at an AGM
DPT-3 by 30 June, where applicable
FLA return by 15 July
DIR-3 KYC Web, when due

Not included: statutory audit, income-tax return, transfer pricing report (Form 48), master file, TDS and GST returns, payroll, and event-based changes such as new directors or capital increases. These are quoted separately.

Note: Government fees and stamp duty are charged at actuals, and 18% GST is added to professional fees. First financial year: ends on 31 March, or 31 March of the next year if you incorporate between January and March. Not sure whether a subsidiary, branch office or liaison office fits? Talk to a CA — free 15-minute call

What is an Indian subsidiary?

An Indian subsidiary is a company incorporated in India in which a foreign company holds more than half of the total voting power or controls the composition of the board. It is a separate legal entity, so the parent’s liability is generally limited to its investment.

Most foreign parents use a private limited company, which needs at least two shareholders. The second can be another group company or a nominee holding shares on the parent’s behalf. Where a nominee is used, both owners declare the arrangement to the company, which reports it to the ROC (Registrar of Companies).

Subsidiary vs branch office vs liaison office

	Subsidiary	Branch office	Liaison office
Legal status	SubsidiarySeparate Indian company	Branch officePart of the foreign company	Liaison officePart of the foreign company
Set-up route	SubsidiaryMCA incorporation; FDI under the sector’s route	Branch officeThrough an AD (authorised dealer) bank; some cases need RBI or government approval	Liaison officeThrough an AD bank; some cases need RBI or government approval
Activities	SubsidiaryAny activity allowed under FDI policy	Branch officeOnly activities permitted for branches	Liaison officeLiaison and representation only
Tax	SubsidiaryTaxed as an Indian company	Branch officeTaxed as a foreign company	Liaison officeShould not earn income in India
Typical use	SubsidiaryOperating business, hiring, local contracts	Branch officeSpecific permitted activities	Liaison officeMarket research and representation

Investing as an individual rather than a company? See private limited company registration.

Who this service is for

Sector-specific FDI conditions and licences may still apply.

IT and SaaS companies

Software, SaaS and technology businesses entering India.

Manufacturers and supply-chain businesses

Production, sourcing and supply-chain operations in India.

E-commerce and consumer brands

Brands selling to Indian customers.

Professional services firms

Consulting and services firms serving Indian clients.

R&D and technology centres

Captive R&D units and technology centres.

FDI routes and sector limits

Short answer: most sectors allow 100% foreign ownership under the automatic route, with no prior government approval. A few are capped, need approval or are prohibited.

Sector or activity	Limit and route	Key conditions
IT and software, consulting, R&D, most manufacturing	Limit and route100%, automatic	Key conditions—
Insurance companies	Limit and route100%, automatic	Key conditionsIRDAI approval; a resident Indian citizen as chairperson, MD or CEO. LIC: 20%
Insurance intermediaries	Limit and route100%, automatic	Key conditionsIRDAI registration and conditions
Telecom services	Limit and route100%, automatic	Key conditionsDoT licence and security conditions
Defence	Limit and route74% automatic; above that, government route	Key conditionsIndustrial licence and security conditions
News and current affairs	Limit and routePrint 26%, digital 26%, TV up-linking 49%; government route	Key conditions—
Multi-brand retail trading	Limit and route51%, government route	Key conditionsSourcing and investment conditions
Lottery, gambling and betting, chit funds, Nidhi companies, real estate business, cigarette manufacturing	Limit and routeProhibited	Key conditions—

Sources: Consolidated FDI Policy 2020, Press Note 4 (2021), telecom, Press Note 1 (2026), insurance.

Investors linked to countries bordering India

Short answer: an entity or citizen of a country sharing a land border with India (China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar or Afghanistan) can invest only with government approval. An investor incorporated elsewhere can use the automatic route if beneficial ownership from those countries is non-controlling and no more than 10%.

Beneficial ownership is tested at the investor-entity level, so we trace every layer of your group.
Sectoral caps and conditions still apply, and the Indian company must report the investment to DPIIT. Reporting is not approval.

Sources: PIB, 10 March 2026; DPIIT Press Note 2 (2026).

Why StartBusiness

Named CA or CS

A named CA or CS runs your project from structuring to RBI reporting.

Every filing reviewed

Every MCA and RBI filing is reviewed before submission.

Fixed professional fees

Fixed professional fees, with government charges at actuals.

Legalised once

Document routes confirmed first, so each document is legalised once.

Why 1,000+ Founders Trust StartBusiness

From documentation to MCA approvals, our experts manage every step of your incorporation—so you can focus on building your business instead of paperwork.

25-35

Day Turnaround

Estimated incorporation timeline.

1:1

Dedicated CA

A single expert from start to finish.

100%

Pre-Filing Review

Every application is reviewed before submission.

₹0

Hidden Charges

Clear pricing with government fees at actuals.

Compliance Kit

Everything you need for your Foreign Subsidiary.

Documents required

What the foreign parent, directors and registered office need to provide.

Who or what	Documents
Foreign parent	Certificate of incorporation; charter documents; board resolution approving the investment and signatory; ultimate beneficial owner details; good standing certificate, where issued
Directors and nominee	Foreign nationals: passport and recent address proof. Indian residents: PAN, Aadhaar and address proof. One director resident in India for 182+ days in the financial year
Registered office	Recent utility bill; rent agreement and owner’s NOC, if rented

Documents issued abroad must be notarised and apostilled, or consularised where apostille is not available.

What You Get:
Full-Service Foreign Subsidiary Setup

You provide your documents. We handle everything else — every form, every filing, every follow-up with government portals — until your business is live.

Documents We Prepare for You

FDI route and sectoral cap assessment
Legalisation coordination for parent documents
Parent board resolution and authorised signatory pack
MOA and AOA with custom clauses
DSC and DIN for 2 directors

Registrations We File

Name reservation on MCA
SPICe+ incorporation, including PAN, TAN, EPFO and ESIC
Entity Master on FIRMS
FC-GPR for subscriber shares
INC-20A once subscription money is received

Your Registration, Step by Step

A clear timeline from document upload to certificate — no guesswork, no waiting in the dark.

Typical total: 25-35 working days

Step 1

FDI and ownership review

Sector, route, land-border position and shareholders.

Step 2

Parent documents

Prepared, signed and legalised in the country of issue.

Step 3

DSCs and name approval

Digital signatures for directors; name reserved on MCA.

Step 4

MCA incorporation

SPICe+ filed; certificate issued with PAN and TAN.

Step 5

Bank and capital

AD bank account opened; parent remits subscription money.

Step 6

FEMA reporting and commencement

FC-GPR within 30 days of issuing shares; INC-20A within 180 days.

Incorporation typically takes 25–35 working days from when we hold complete, legalised documents; legalisation, document corrections, regulatory queries and bank onboarding can extend it. Incorporation creates the company. Regulated activities may still need licences.

Total set-up cost

Government fees and stamp duty: vary by state and authorised capital.
Legalisation abroad: paid locally in your country.
Share capital: no statutory minimum; shares must be priced in line with FEMA valuation rules.
Ongoing: annual compliance; audit, tax and payroll quoted separately.

Compliance after incorporation

Short answer: company-law filings with the MCA, FEMA (Foreign Exchange Management Act) reporting to the RBI, and tax filings. What applies depends on your dates, ownership and transactions.

Category	Key examples	Timing
Initial company law	Key examplesFirst board meeting; MBP-1, DIR-8; first auditor; nominee declarations	TimingWithin 30 days of incorporation
Capital and FEMA	Key examplesFC-GPR; PAS-3; INC-20A; FLA return	TimingFC-GPR and PAS-3 within 30 days; INC-20A within 180 days; FLA by 15 July
Annual company law	Key examplesFour board meetings; AGM; AOC-4; MGT-7; DPT-3; ADT-1	TimingAOC-4 and MGT-7 within 30 and 60 days of the AGM; DPT-3 by 30 June
Tax and transfer pricing	Key examplesIncome-tax return; Form 48 for international and specified domestic transactions; master file (Form 56)	TimingForm 48 one month before the return due date; Form 56 by the return due date

A subsidiary of a foreign company cannot be a “small company”, so the full annual return and four board meetings a year apply. Director KYC is now due once every three financial years. Already incorporated? See FEMA compliance and annual ROC compliance.

Talk to a CA before you start

In a free 15-minute call we confirm your FDI route, the documents your parent needs and the right package.

Talk to an Expert

Frequently Asked Questions

Got questions? Find quick, expert answers to everything you need to know before getting started

Yes, in most sectors, under the automatic route. The second shareholder a private company needs can be a group company or a nominee for the parent. Some sectors are capped or need approval, and investors linked to countries bordering India need approval unless they qualify for the 10% non-controlling route.

The parent’s incorporation certificate, charter documents and board resolution; passport and address proof for foreign directors; PAN, Aadhaar and address proof for Indian directors; and registered-office proof. Documents issued abroad must be notarised and apostilled, or consularised where apostille is not available.

Professional fees are ₹19,999 (Starter), ₹54,999 (Launch) or ₹79,999 (Growth), plus 18% GST. Government fees and stamp duty are charged at actuals and vary by state and capital. Annual compliance is ₹35,000 a year. Overseas legalisation, audit and tax filings are separate.

Typically 25–35 working days from when we hold complete, legalised documents. Slow overseas legalisation, document corrections or regulatory queries can extend this. Opening the bank account and filing FC-GPR follow incorporation, and regulated activities may need separate licences.

Apostille is not available, because the UAE is not party to the Hague Apostille Convention. UAE documents are usually certified locally, attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then by the Indian Embassy or Consulate. The route depends on the document, so we confirm it before you begin.

First, the board meeting and auditor appointment within 30 days, FC-GPR within 30 days of issuing shares and INC-20A within 180 days. Then each year: board meetings, the AGM, AOC-4, MGT-7 and the FLA return by 15 July. International or specified domestic transactions add transfer pricing reporting, and group membership adds master file reporting.

Client testimonial

See how we've helped 1,000+ Indian founders launch and
manage their businesses stress-free

“StartBusiness made our LLP registration incredibly simple. They handled all legal requirements and paperwork efficiently. Highly recommended for any new founders.”

Mr. Hemant Patil

Apaha Institute Of Construction Project Management LLP