ComplyKart Services
Project Office by Foreign National
Won a project in India and need a local presence to execute it? A project office gives your foreign company a compliant footprint — often under RBI's general permission, without a separate approval process. We confirm the route and handle the setup.
CA/CS-guided review
Your documents and structure are checked before anything is filed.
Written scope first
Inclusions and payable charges are explained before work begins.
Support till it’s done
One team owns your filing, from the first call to the final handover.
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Your details stay private — we only call about this enquiry.
Experience behind every filing
A quick snapshot of the work so far.
Fees
Fees and packages for Project Office by Foreign National
Every requirement is a little different, so we quote after a short discussion — the consultation itself is free.
Custom quote
Project Office by Foreign National
Talk to a ComplyKart expert — we’ll understand your requirement and share an exact written quote before you pay anything.
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Project Office by Foreign National Package Inclusions
- Project office eligibility and RBI intimation route
- Application filing with the Authorized Dealer bank
- ROC registration of the project office
- PAN, bank account and project documentation
- Closure and extension compliance support
Overview
What a project office actually is
It is a temporary India office of a foreign company, set up to execute a specific project — not a general business presence.
Many project offices qualify for general permission under FEMA — funded by inward remittance, bilateral/multilateral financing, or contracts from Indian companies.
Where general permission doesn't apply, RBI approval is sought in Form FNC through an Authorised Dealer bank.
The office must file with the RoC (Form FC-1) and obtain Indian tax registrations.
Its validity is tied to the project duration, with closure filings when the project ends.
Benefits
Why foreign companies set up project offices through us
Open each benefit to see what it means for you.
General permission checked first
Many project offices qualify for RBI's general permission — no prior approval needed. We confirm whether yours does before you file anything.
RBI approval handled where needed
Where approval is needed, we file Form FNC through the AD bank with the project documentation RBI expects.
Tax and RoC setup included
The project office, its contracts, and its staff all need Indian tax registrations and filings. We set them up together.
Aligned to your project lifecycle
Project offices live and die by their project timeline — we align the office's validity, filings, and closure plan with it.
Documents
Documents required to set up a Project Office in India
Clear, current documents matter more than a long checklist. Names, dates of birth and addresses should match across every record — that's what the MCA checks first. Tick what you already have below.
0 documents marked ready
Tick what you already have. This checklist resets when you leave the page.
Foreign company and project details
Verified against MCA requirements
India office and representative details
Verified against MCA requirements
What is a CIN?
Every Private Limited Company gets a unique 21-character Corporate Identification Number from the MCA. It's proof your company legally exists. You'll need it for bank accounts, tax filings, and contracts. We handle the entire application — you just provide the documents above.
Not sure if your documents are ready?
Send us what you have. A ComplyKart expert will review them for free and tell you exactly what's missing — no obligation.
Get Free Document ReviewQuestions Founders ask us about documents
What if my address proof is old?
Utility bills and bank statements must be less than 2 months old. If yours are older, get a fresh copy — the MCA rejects stale proofs.
Do I need original documents?
No. Clear scans or photos work for the entire process. We never ask you to courier originals.
What if directors live in different cities?
That's normal. Each director uploads their own documents separately. Our system keeps everything organised.
I'm outside India. Can I still register a company?
Yes. India allows 100% foreign ownership in most sectors, and the entire process happens online. You need one Indian resident director, and your passport + address proof must be apostilled — we'll guide you through both. NRI founders and foreign investors do this with us regularly.
Check if you're eligible →How long does registration actually take?
7 to 10 working days from the day your documents are verified. Name approval takes 2-3 days, MCA incorporation another 5-7. We track every stage and update you.
Can I start if I'm missing one document?
Yes. Start now with what you have — we begin name reservation and DSC while you arrange the rest. Most founders are missing one proof; it rarely blocks the timeline.
Process
Project Office setup process — step by step
You’ll see each stage, what’s pending and what we need from you — so filings don’t bounce back.
Step 1 of 6
Who needs a project office?
A project office is for foreign companies that have won a specific project in India — construction, engineering, infrastructure, turnkey contracts — and need a temporary on-ground presence to execute it. Unlike a liaison office, a project office can undertake commercial activity limited to that project.
Check whether prior RBI approval is needed
In many cases, no prior RBI approval is needed — if the project is funded by inward remittance or by a bilateral/multilateral agency, and other FEMA conditions are met, the project office can be set up through an AD Category-I bank. We confirm which route applies before filing anything.
Report to the RBI through an AD Category-I bank
We prepare the reporting documentation and route it through an AD Category-I bank as required under FEMA. Getting this step right avoids compliance trouble later.
Register with the ROC
We register the project office with the Registrar of Companies as required for foreign companies operating in India.
Open the bank account
We help you open the project office's bank account in India, through which project funds flow and expenses are paid.
Ongoing compliances during the project
A project office must file annual activity statements with the RBI and maintain project-wise accounts. We handle the compliance calendar for the life of the project.
Why ComplyKart
Why ComplyKart for this
You should know who’s doing what. Open a stage to see how the work is shared.
FEMA entry specialists
Foreign-company entry — liaison, branch, project office, subsidiary — is a practice area for us.
Lifecycle thinking
Setup, tax presence, and closure planned together — no loose ends at project end.
Single point of contact
One team from the first eligibility call through the final closure filing.
FEMA entry specialists: Foreign-company entry — liaison, branch, project office, subsidiary — is a practice area for us.
For NRI founders & foreign investors
If a founder or investor is outside India
You don't need to fly down. Most of our foreign-founder incorporations are completed without the founder ever visiting India — 100% foreign ownership is allowed in most sectors, and the entire process happens online.
Before you start
- 100% foreign ownership is allowed in most sectors — no Indian partner needed
- One Indian resident director is required by law — we help you find a compliant way forward
- Check whether your sector permits automatic-route foreign investment
- Your passport + address proof need an apostille, not an embassy visit
- Map ownership, beneficial ownership and pricing early
After incorporation
- Receive funds through permitted banking channels
- Complete RBI/FEMA reporting (FC-GPR, FLA) and keep the bank evidence
- Coordinate tax and ongoing compliance advice early
Free 15-minute eligibility call. No obligation.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Search all 7 answers, or filter by the stage you’re thinking about.
Showing 7 of 7 answers
A project office is a temporary India presence of a foreign company to execute a specific project — typically construction, infrastructure, or turnkey contracts. Unlike a liaison office, it can undertake the project activity; unlike a branch, its scope is limited to the project.
In many cases, yes — where the project is funded by inward foreign remittance, financed by a bilateral or multilateral agency, or awarded by an Indian company, general permission applies. We verify your project qualifies before you rely on it.
The office's life is tied to the project — it is meant to wind up when the project completes. Extensions and closure filings follow the project timeline.
Yes — PAN, income tax filings, and RoC filings (Form FC-1 and annual filings) apply. A project office executing a contract has Indian tax presence, so tax planning matters from day one.
Typically 4–8 weeks depending on whether the approval route is needed and how quickly project documents are ready.
Yes, with proper filings — tax clearances, RoC filings, and RBI/AD bank intimations. We plan the closure alongside the setup so nothing is left hanging.
Quote-based, covering the eligibility assessment, filings, and tax setup. Request a quote with your project details.
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What clients say about working with us
Real stories from businesses we've worked with.
Our Trademark was applied in all the classes with a short span of time by Complykart Trademark Experts and I can say the level of expertise and commitment they carry is remarkable. It's an A+ from my side. We are now sticking to ComplyKart only.
I found the professionalism of the staff at complykart.com, a pleasure to work with. As a foreigner to India, they took the time to explain the documentation and assisted in every question I raised. I was pleased that complykart.com made it easy for my Business.
Trust, Commitment, Dedication and responsiveness are the best things with ComplyKart. Thanks for handling our Merger assignment with so much care. After my business disputes, complykart handles all things with own sense of understanding.
Learning center
Guides on Project Office by Foreign National
Deeper reading from our articles — the same rules, explained in plain words.
Trust & transparency
Sources & how we keep this page accurate
Primary sources we refer to:
- Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA)
- GST Portal
- Income Tax Department
- IP India (Trademark / Patent / Copyright)
Last verified: 6 October 2026
Compliance rules change. If something on this page looks outdated, tell us on WhatsApp and we'll fix it — and your filing will always follow the current rules, not just what's written here.
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