Foreign Company / FDI Registration in India
Foreign-backed Indian entity with full FDI and FEMA compliance.
Best for
- ✓Foreign founders or investors setting up an Indian subsidiary
- ✓Indian startups with foreign co-founders or angel investors
- ✓Companies receiving FDI for the first time
Pricing depends on number of foreign directors/shareholders, documents requiring apostille, and FDI amount. Contact [email protected] for a custom quote.
Get a custom quoteRequirements
- Minimum 2 directors
- At least 1 must be a resident Indian
- Foreign directors need apostilled identity and address documents
- Foreign shareholders allowed under Automatic or Government FDI route
- Sector-specific caps apply
No minimum, but FDI amount must be reported to RBI via Form FC-GPR within 30 days of share allotment
Limited — standard Pvt Ltd or LLP structure with foreign investment
- Documents from foreign countries must be apostilled/notarised
- FDI sectors under Government route require prior FIPB approval
Registration process
| Step | Action | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
01 | Identify FDI route and sector cap Confirm whether the business sector allows FDI under the Automatic Route (no prior approval) or Government Route (prior approval required). Most sectors are under the Automatic Route. | 1–2 days |
02 | Apostille / notarise foreign documents All identity and address documents from foreign directors/shareholders must be apostilled in their country of origin (or notarised for non-Hague Convention countries) and sent to India. | 5–14 days |
03 | DIN / DSC for all directors Foreign directors apply for DIN using their apostilled passport. NR directors must pay ₹10,000 for DSC (vs standard DSC for Indian residents). | 2–3 days |
04 | SPICe+ filing and COI File SPICe+ with MCA. For foreign shareholders, the MOA must clearly specify foreign shareholding. COI is issued upon approval. | 7–15 days |
05 | RBI reporting — Form FC-GPR Within 30 days of receiving FDI (share capital), the Indian company must report to RBI via Form FC-GPR (Foreign Currency — Gross Provisional Return) through the FIRMS portal. | 7–14 days (post incorporation) |
Document checklist
Prepare these before starting — Nexub will guide you through each one.
Foreign Director / Shareholder
- ☐Apostilled copy of passport
- ☐Apostilled address proof (bank statement or utility bill from country of residence)
- ☐Board Resolution of the foreign investing company (if a corporate body)
- ☐Certificate of Incorporation of the foreign company (apostilled)
Indian Resident Director
- ☐PAN card
- ☐Aadhaar card
- ☐Address proof (bank statement or utility bill)
- ☐Passport-sized photograph
Registered Office (India)
- ☐Electricity bill or utility bill (within 2 months)
- ☐NOC from property owner
- ☐Rent agreement (if rented)
What Nexub delivers
Everything included in your formation fee — no hidden extras.
Optional add-ons
Add at formation time or anytime after incorporation.
Startup India (DPIIT) Registration
₹6,000DPIIT recognition + eligibility for Section 80-IAC tax exemption and Startup India benefits.
Add thisGST Registration
₹5,000GST registration on the GSTN portal, including GSTIN issuance and business verification.
Add thisIE Code (Import Export)
₹3,500Import Export Code from DGFT — mandatory for any business involved in international trade.
Add thisLUT Registration
₹3,000Letter of Undertaking filing with GST authorities — enables zero-rated exports without upfront tax payment.
Add thisAnnual compliance obligations
After formation, these filings keep your company in good standing.
| Filing | Frequency | Penalty for delay |
|---|---|---|
| AOC-4 (Annual Financial Statements) | Annual | ₹200/day delay |
| MGT-7 (Annual Return) | Annual | ₹200/day delay |
| DIR-3 KYC (Director KYC) | Annual | — |
| FEMA Annual Return on FLA (Foreign Liabilities and Assets) | Annual by July 15 | — |
| FC-GPR (each time FDI is received) | Within 30 days of allotment | — |
| Income Tax Return (ITR-6) | Annual | — |
FDI / Foreign registration — common questions
Everything founders ask before registering a Foreign Company / FDI in India.
Under the Automatic Route, a foreign investor or company can invest in India without prior approval from the Government of India or RBI. Only post-facto reporting to RBI (via FC-GPR) is required. Most sectors allow 100% FDI under the Automatic Route.
Sectors like defence, media, insurance, telecom, and pharmaceutical brownfield projects require Government Route approval. Nexub confirms the applicable route before starting your formation.
Form FC-GPR (Foreign Currency — Gross Provisional Return) must be filed on the RBI FIRMS portal within 30 days of issuing shares to a foreign investor. Delay attracts compounding penalties.
Documents from countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention must be apostilled. Documents from non-signatory countries must be notarised and then attested by the Indian Embassy in that country.
Yes. NRIs can invest on a non-repatriation basis freely. Repatriable NRI investment is treated on par with FDI and follows the Automatic Route rules for eligible sectors.
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