Real professionals, not a ticket queueCAs, CSs, advocates and compliance professionals step in where their expertise is needed.
Start your Indian company from anywhere
Company Registration in India for Foreigners — 100% Remote, Done For You
You never need to fly to India. Tell ComplyKart what you want to build and our team of CAs, CSs, advocates and compliance professionals will handle the structure, foreign documents, incorporation and first-year compliance. You will hear from a real person within minutes.
The short answer: most foreign founders choose a Private Limited Company. You need at least two directors, including one who meets India’s residency condition. Most sectors allow up to 100% foreign ownership under the automatic route. We check your activity before you move money or sign documents.
Led by CAs, CSs, advocates & compliance professionals
A real reply within minutes
100% remote setup — no India visit
Fixed written quote before you pay anything
Why founders abroad choose ComplyKart
One team for your entire India setup — company, tax, FEMA and compliance
CAs, CSs, advocates and compliance professionals work together on your setup
Starting in another country can feel risky. You should not have to chase one person for company law, another for tax and a third for FEMA. ComplyKart brings the work together. You get clear answers by email, the work kept together and the scope explained in writing before you pay.
ComplyKart has already helped founders from many countries set up their businesses in India — fully remote, from the first call to the first compliance filing.
The quick version
Can a foreigner start a company in India without visiting India?
Here are the answers most founders need before the first call.
7–15 working daysThat is the usual incorporation window once your documents are ready. A foreign-owned setup often takes 3–5 weeks overall because legalising documents takes time.
Up to 100% FDIMost sectors allow full foreign ownership under the automatic route. We check your sector, investor country and conditions before you transfer funds.
2 directorsA Private Limited Company needs at least two. One must meet the Indian resident-director condition.
No minimum capitalThere is no statutory minimum paid-up capital. Each subscriber must still take at least one share.
We guide the apostilleForeign identity and address documents usually need notarisation and apostille or consular authentication. We show you what to do, in the right order.
You approve the quote firstYou see the professional scope, government charges, third-party costs, assumptions and exclusions in writing before you pay.
Want to know if your plan is possible?Share your country and business activity. We will check the likely route and reply within minutes.
Get my India registration guide
Five questions. A guide written for your situation.
Generic advice is cheap. Answer five quick questions and we will build you a registration and compliance guide around your country, your entity, your sector and your plans — the way we would brief you on a first call.
Question 1 of 5
What will it cost?
How much does it cost to register a company in India as a foreigner?
The honest answer depends on your state, capital, document country, sector and entity type. Tell us those details and we will separate professional fees, government charges and outside costs in one written quote.
See what your setup may involve
Start by choosing an entity
How many directors or partners?
2
Who will be the shareholders?
Will funds come into India as share capital?
Your likely setup profile
Standard cross-border setup
- Likely incorporation window3–5 weeks*
- What happens to foreign documentsApostille / notarisation
- Likely regulatory routeAutomatic route in most sectors
- Capital & FEMA workFC-GPR + FIRC mapping
- What you payFixed written quote first
*This starts once your documents are ready. Apostille and sector approvals can add time. Your final quote separates every cost before you decide.
Choose the right entity
Private limited company, Indian subsidiary, LLP or branch office: which should a foreigner choose?
The best choice depends on who will own it, what the business will do, how money will move and how much compliance you want. Compare the common options before you send funds or legalise documents.
2+ directors1 resident director
Private Limited Company
This is the usual choice when you want to trade, hire, sign contracts or raise investment in India. Liability is limited, the equity structure is familiar and there is no statutory minimum paid-up capital.
Often right for
- Operating businesses and startups
- Teams planning investment or equity incentives
- Foreign and Indian shareholders together
Foreign parent ownershipIndian company
Wholly Owned Subsidiary
If your overseas company is entering India, this gives the parent control of a separate Indian company. Most sectors allow 100% FDI under the automatic route, subject to caps and conditions.
Often right for
- Overseas groups establishing Indian operations
- Local hiring, contracting and revenue
- Long-term controlled market entry
Partnership modelLimited liability
Limited Liability Partnership
An LLP can suit a closely held or professional venture that wants flexible profit sharing. Foreign investment is automatic only in qualifying sectors with 100% automatic-route FDI and no FDI-linked performance conditions.
Often right for
- Professional and closely held ventures
- Flexible profit-sharing arrangements
- Owners not seeking venture equity
Foreign-company extensionApproval-led
Branch, Liaison or Project Office
A branch or liaison office stays part of your foreign company instead of becoming a separate Indian company. The permitted activities are narrower, and setup usually goes through an AD Category-I bank under RBI rules.
Often right for
- Defined India activities without a subsidiary
- Market representation through a liaison office
- Eligible project-specific execution
| Structure | Ownership & control | FDI route | Compliance load | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Limited | Indian or foreign shareholders | Automatic in most sectors | Structured | Operating company, fundraising |
| Wholly Owned Subsidiary | Overseas parent controls | Automatic in most sectors | Structured + FEMA | Long-term India expansion |
| LLP | Partner-led | Automatic only in qualifying sectors | Moderate | Professional ventures |
| Branch / Liaison | Part of foreign entity | RBI / AD bank approval | Approval-led | Specific or representative activity |
You do not need to guess the entity.Tell us your activity and ownership plan. We will explain the practical trade-offs before you commit.
How it works
How to register a company in India as a foreigner: the exact process
The filing is online. Your job is to explain the business and provide the documents. ComplyKart checks the structure, guides the legalisation, files with MCA and gives you the next-step compliance plan.
We check the activity, owners, sector, FDI route and resident-director position before anything moves.
You get a country-specific checklist for notarisation, apostille and certified records. We walk you through the step foreigners find hardest.
We coordinate DSC, name reservation, SPICe+ Part B, e-MoA, e-AoA and AGILE-PRO-S.
You receive the incorporation records, PAN/TAN and a calendar for the compliance that follows.
1
Plan checkDay 1–2We review your sector, FDI route and resident director.
2
Foreign documentsTiming variesWe guide notarisation, apostille and certified copies.
3
Digital signaturesDay 2–4Set up digital signatures for the proposed directors.
4
Company nameDay 3–6Reserve and check the name through SPICe+ Part A.
5
MCA filingDay 6–12File SPICe+ Part B and the linked forms.
6
You are incorporatedWorking day 7–15*Receive the certificate, PAN/TAN and compliance map.
*The incorporation itself usually takes 7–15 working days once the papers are filing-ready. Foreign cases often take 3–5 weeks overall because document legalisation is usually the slowest part. Start the checklist now if you have a target launch date.
Have a launch date in mind?Start with the document checklist now. The apostille stage is usually the part you cannot rush later.
Your documents
What documents does a foreigner need to register a company in India?
The list changes with your nationality, country of residence, shareholder type and Indian office. Start here, then ask us for the exact checklist for your country.
Which checklist fits you?
Choose the closest option. We will confirm how each document must be legalised in your country.
✓Passport copy
✓Recent address proof
✓Passport-size photograph
✓Digital signature application records
✓Notarised and apostilled documents
✓Parent-company records, where applicable
NRI with an Indian passport? You can generally skip the apostille and use self-attested copies. We will confirm the exact treatment before you prepare anything.
✓Registered office proof
✓Owner's no-objection certificate
✓Recent utility bill
✓Resident director KYC records
✓Proposed names and business objects
✓Shareholding and capital details
Send the pack for review before filing. We catch avoidable gaps early so you are less likely to face a resubmission or name objection.
The apostille step does not have to be confusing.Tell us where every director and shareholder lives. We will map the exact legalisation route.
After registration
What happens after your company is registered in India?
We do not disappear after the certificate arrives. Banking, capital receipt, share allotment, FEMA reporting and Companies Act deadlines must happen in the right order. Your handover includes a roadmap for the first 12 months.
Essential
For founders who already understand the route and have their documents ready.
- Core incorporation scope
- Document checklist
- Filing status updates
Complete
For founders abroad who want the incorporation and the next compliance steps connected.
- Everything in Essential
- FDI/FEMA workstream mapping
- Post-incorporation calendar
- Cross-functional team coordination
Premium
For overseas groups that need broader setup and continuing governance support.
- Everything in Complete
- Priority professional review
- Ongoing compliance scope
- Cross-functional coordination
One coordinated teamYour work stays connectedOur multidisciplinary team supports the documents, filing, FEMA steps and first-year compliance together.
No hidden chargesA fixed written quote before paymentYour scope, assumptions, exclusions and outside costs are documented before you pay.
You will not wait daysA real reply within minutesSend your plan and our team will reply within minutes.
We stay after registrationFrom incorporation to ongoing complianceWe connect the applicable FEMA and RBI workstreams, so you do not have to chase multiple vendors.
Know the full scope before you pay.Get government charges, third-party costs and professional fees in writing. No vague package and no surprise add-ons.
Talk from anywhere
Book an online meeting at a time that works in your country
Choose a day, India time and the way you prefer to talk. Evening IST slots can work well for the US, UK and Europe. We will confirm the invitation in your timezone.
Bring your questions. Leave with a clear next step.
We can talk through your entity choice, foreign documents, expected timeline and the scope you want priced.
- Meet by Google Meet, Zoom, phone or WhatsApp
- Choose from the next 14 days, Sundays included
- See times in IST; your invite shows your local time
- No booking account and no obligation
Bring your questions — a finished plan is not needed. If you know what the business will do and who will own it, that is enough to start. The more direct your questions, the more useful the conversation.
What you will never get from us: no spam, no cold calls chasing you afterwards, no sales pressure on the call. Your details stay private, and the meeting is free either way.
Not ready to talk?
Start with a free guide to setting up in India
Take the process at your pace. Download the guide you need now, then come back when you are ready to discuss your company. Just your email — no spam, ever.
How to Start a Company in India as a Foreigner
- Which entity may fit you
- How the apostille step works
- What gets filed through SPICe+
- Where the timeline usually slows down
Your First 12 Months After Incorporation
- INC-20A and the first board meeting
- Share certificates and auditor steps
- AOC-4, MGT-7 and DIR-3 KYC
- BEN-2 and DPT-3 checkpoints
FDI and FEMA for Foreign Shareholders
- Automatic route or approval route
- How funds and share allotment connect
- When FC-GPR is due
- What the annual FLA return covers
Why this feels different
Why a DIY filing portal is risky for foreign founders
The biggest risk is not filling the wrong box. It is choosing the wrong structure, ownership or money route before the filing even starts.
What can go wrong with a basic portal
- —You pick a package before anyone tests the structure
- —The low headline fee grows through exclusions
- —Incorporation ends before FEMA work begins
- —Your question moves between ticket queues
How ComplyKart works with you
- ✓CAs, CSs and advocates review the structure together
- ✓You approve a fixed written quote before payment
- ✓FEMA/RBI steps stay connected to incorporation
- ✓A Delhi team supports filings across India
A good India setup answers three questions before the first form is filed: which entity, how the money moves and what you must do after registration.
Get those three answers for your business.Tell us what you plan to do in India. We will reply with a practical next step, not a generic package.
Straight answers
FAQs: company registration in India for foreigners
You can own and register an Indian company, subject to the FDI rules for your sector and investor country. Most founders choose a Private Limited Company or an Indian subsidiary. In most sectors, up to 100% foreign ownership is allowed under the automatic route. Start with a sector and structure check before you transfer money.
The filing commonly takes 7–15 working days after all documents are ready. A foreign-owned case often takes 3–5 weeks overall because notarisation, apostille or consular authentication can take the longest. Name objections, missing documents or sector approvals can add time.
A foreign director usually needs a passport, recent address proof, photograph and digital-signature records. The passport and address documents normally need notarisation and apostille, or consular authentication where applicable. We give you a country-specific checklist so you know exactly what to prepare.
No. Indian law does not prescribe a statutory minimum paid-up capital for a Private Limited Company, although each subscriber must take at least one share. Capital should still be chosen commercially, considering setup costs, ownership percentages, banking needs and the planned foreign-investment reporting sequence.
No, not for the incorporation filing. The setup can generally be completed remotely through legalised documents, digital signatures and electronic MCA forms, so you do not need to board a flight. A bank may separately ask for physical presence, and travel may help with operations, but it is not normally required just to incorporate.
Yes, a Private Limited Company must have at least two directors, and at least one must satisfy the resident-director condition under Section 149(3) of the Companies Act, 2013. That condition is based on a stay in India of at least 182 days during the financial year.
SPICe+ is the integrated MCA incorporation route. Part A handles name reservation, while Part B covers incorporation and links to e-MoA and e-AoA. AGILE-PRO-S connects registrations such as PAN, TAN, GST, EPFO and ESIC, depending on the selections and applicable requirements.
Usually, yes. Foreign directors’ and shareholders’ identity and address documents generally need notarisation and apostille, or consular authentication where required. We walk you through this step. NRIs with Indian passports can generally use self-attested copies, subject to a filing-specific check.
Registration is the start, not the finish. Early steps commonly include the first board meeting within 30 days, share certificates within 60 days, auditor appointment, the bank account and INC-20A within 180 days where applicable. ComplyKart includes a post-incorporation roadmap, and the free guide lays out your first 12 months.
Foreign share subscription usually requires the capital receipt, allotment and reporting steps to be coordinated. FC-GPR is generally filed within 30 days of share allotment. An Indian entity with foreign investment may also need an annual FLA return and must maintain records supporting valuation and remittance.
Yes, but automatic-route FDI in an LLP is limited to sectors where 100% FDI is permitted automatically and there are no FDI-linked performance conditions. Other cases may require prior approval. Sector eligibility and the proposed activities should be confirmed before foreign funds are transferred.
An Indian subsidiary is usually better for long-term local operations, hiring, contracts and revenue. A branch or liaison office can suit a narrower presence but has restricted activities and generally requires approval through an AD Category-I bank. The two are not interchangeable, so review the activity before choosing.
The process is the same in principle: choose the entity, confirm the FDI route, legalise your passport and address documents in your country, obtain digital signatures and file the incorporation electronically. You can do it remotely. ComplyKart coordinates the India side and confirms each step by email.
An NRI can become a director and shareholder of an Indian company. If you hold an Indian passport, you can generally use self-attested identity and address documents instead of completing the foreign apostille route, subject to a filing-specific check. The resident-director and FDI rules still need to be reviewed for the proposed company.
Yes, in most sectors. India's FDI policy allows up to 100% foreign ownership under the automatic route — no prior government approval — in sectors such as IT, manufacturing and e-commerce marketplaces. A few sectors have caps or need approval, so confirm your sector before you move money.
Government fees are modest; the total depends on the entity, number of directors, state and document legalisation. ComplyKart sends a fixed written quote covering every fee before you pay, so there are no surprises.
After you approve the written quote, you can make a simple, secure online payment from anywhere in the world. The team will share the payment instructions with your engagement documents. You will see the scope and any outside costs before you pay.
Book an online meeting in the section above or message ComplyKart on WhatsApp. Evening IST slots can work for founders in the US, UK and Europe. Your meeting invite will show the time where you are, and the team replies to new requests within minutes.
Ready when you are
Ready to set up in India? Talk to us — it's free.
Share your business activity, who will own the company and where you are based. We will map the entity, foreign-document route, filing sequence and the compliance that follows. You receive the scope and costs in writing before you pay.
A real person will reply within minutes
Talk to ComplyKart in India
710, 7th Floor, Jaina Tower-2
District Centre, Janakpuri
New Delhi 110058, India
District Centre, Janakpuri
New Delhi 110058, India