Foreign Company Registration in India is the process of registering an overseas company with the Indian Registrar of Companies (ROC) under Section 380 of the Companies Act 2013. It is mandatory for any foreign company that establishes a place of business in India — whether a branch office, liaison office, or project office. Registration must be completed within 30 days of establishing the place of business.

There are three types of foreign company presence in India. A Branch Office can conduct business activities, earn revenue, and repatriate profits. A Liaison Office (also called a Representative Office) can only do marketing, research, and communication — it cannot earn revenue. A Project Office is set up for a specific project with RBI approval and closes after the project is complete. Tax Robo helps you choose the right structure.

The Foreign Company Registration process in India typically takes 30–60 working days from document submission. RBI approval (for Branch or Liaison Office) takes 4–6 weeks. After RBI approval, Form FC-1 filing and ROC registration takes 2–3 weeks. Timeline depends on the completeness of parent company documents and RBI processing.

Form FC-1 is the application for registration of a foreign company in India under Section 380 of the Companies Act 2013. It must be filed with the Registrar of Companies within 30 days of the foreign company establishing a place of business in India. Failure to file within 30 days attracts a penalty. Tax Robo files Form FC-1 on your behalf as part of the registration package.

Yes. Every registered foreign company in India must file Form FC-3 (annual accounts) within 6 months of the financial year end and Form FC-4 (annual return) within 60 days of the financial year end with the Registrar of Companies. Additionally, ITR-6 must be filed with the Income Tax Department and the FLA Return with RBI if foreign investment has been received.

Yes. A registered foreign company operating through a Branch Office can freely repatriate profits, dividends, and royalties to the parent company through authorised banking channels under RBI guidelines. Taxes applicable in India (including withholding tax) must be paid before repatriation. India’s DTAA network with 90+ countries can reduce the withholding tax rate significantly.

A Branch Office is an extension of the foreign parent company — it is not a separate legal entity in India. The parent company is directly liable for all Branch Office obligations. An Indian subsidiary (Private Limited Company) is a separate legal entity incorporated in India — it has its own shareholders, directors, and limited liability protection. A subsidiary is preferred for long-term operations; a Branch Office is preferred for initial market entry.

Yes. RBI approval under FEMA (Foreign Exchange Management Act) is mandatory before establishing a Branch Office or Liaison Office in India. The RBI grants approval based on the nature of business and the track record of the foreign parent company. Project Offices may not need prior RBI approval in certain cases where the project is funded through inward remittances. Tax Robo handles the complete RBI approval process.

A foreign company operating in India through a Branch Office is taxed at 40% on Indian income (plus applicable surcharge and cess). It must file ITR-6 annually. If the company has a Permanent Establishment (PE) in India, all income attributable to the PE is taxable in India. Transfer pricing rules apply to transactions between the Indian branch and the foreign parent. India’s DTAA with 90+ countries may reduce the effective tax rate.

Yes. A foreign company can convert its Branch Office into a wholly-owned Indian subsidiary (Private Limited Company) as its India business grows. This requires winding up the Branch Office registration with ROC, incorporating a new Private Limited Company in India, and obtaining fresh RBI approvals under the FDI policy. Tax Robo handles the complete conversion process when you are ready to upgrade.