ComplyKart Services
Set up a liaison office in India for your foreign company
A liaison office lets a foreign company establish a presence in India without incorporating a subsidiary — representing the parent, building relationships, and studying the market. The RBI approval runs through an Authorised Dealer bank, and the file has to be right.
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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Experience behind every filing
A quick snapshot of the work so far.
Fees
Fees and packages for liaison office by a foreign national
Every requirement is a little different, so we quote after a short discussion — the consultation itself is free.
Custom quote
Liaison Office by a 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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Liaison Office by Foreign National Package Inclusions
- RBI approval route assessment for liaison office
- Application filing with the Authorized Dealer bank
- ROC registration of the liaison office
- PAN and bank account opening support
- Annual activity certificate and compliance reminders
Overview
What a liaison office actually is
It is a representative office of a foreign company in India — not a separate legal entity.
RBI approval is required under FEMA, applied for in Form FNC through an Authorised Dealer Category-I bank.
The parent generally needs a three-year profit track record and net worth of at least USD 50,000.
The office cannot earn income or do commercial business in India — expenses come from inward remittances by the parent.
Approvals are typically granted for three years and are extendable; RBI allots a Unique Identification Number (UIN).
Benefits
Why foreign companies set up through us
Open each benefit to see what it means for you.
Eligibility screened before applying
RBI applications get rejected on eligibility details — net worth, track record, sector route. We screen you first, before the AD bank sees the file.
AD bank and RBI paperwork handled
The application goes through an Authorised Dealer bank to RBI. We prepare the file the way banks and RBI expect to see it.
Tax and RoC compliance set up
The office, its staff, and the parent all need Indian tax registrations and annual filings. We set them up together.
Funding structure done right
LOs can't earn revenue in India — expenses come from the parent. We structure the funding and accounting correctly from day one.
Documents
Documents you will usually need
Clear, current documents matter more than a long checklist. Names, dates of birth and addresses should match across records.
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From you
We prepare
Process
How we handle your liaison office setup
You’ll see each stage, what’s pending and what we need from you — so filings don’t bounce back.
Step 1 of 5
Eligibility and route check
We review your parent's financials and sector against RBI's eligibility norms before anything is filed.
Prepare and file the application
Form FNC, board resolutions, comfort letters, attested charter documents — compiled and filed through the AD bank.
Follow up to approval
We respond to any bank or RBI queries and track the approval to issuance.
Register and operationalise
RoC filing, PAN, bank account, and the setup intimation — the office becomes operational.
Ongoing compliance calendar
Annual Activity Certificate, tax filings, and RoC returns — we keep the office compliant year after year.
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 into India — FEMA, RBI, RoC — is a practice area for us, not a one-off favour.
Coordinated compliance
Your office's filings and the parent's reporting stay consistent — the way RBI expects.
Single point of contact
One team from the first eligibility call through the third-year renewal.
FEMA entry specialists: Foreign-company entry into India — FEMA, RBI, RoC — is a practice area for us, not a one-off favour.
If a founder or investor is outside India
Foreign ownership is possible in many sectors, but it adds document authentication, banking and FEMA work. Set the route before funds move.
Plan before you start
- Check whether your sector permits automatic-route foreign investment
- Confirm the Indian resident director arrangement
- Map ownership, beneficial ownership and pricing
- Allow time for apostilled or consularised documents
Plan for after setup
- Receive funds through permitted banking channels
- Complete RBI/FEMA reporting and keep the bank evidence
- Coordinate tax and ongoing compliance advice early
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Search all 8 answers, or filter by the stage you’re thinking about.
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Typically 6–10 weeks end to end: a few weeks for the RBI approval through the AD bank, then RoC registration and bank account setup. Timelines depend on document readiness and department processing.
Generally, the parent needs a profit track record of at least three years and net worth of at least USD 50,000 as per the latest audited balance sheet. RBI can ask for more in specific cases — we assess your file honestly before applying.
No. A liaison office cannot earn income in India — no invoicing, no contracts, no commercial activity. It represents the parent, promotes business, and acts as a communication channel. Expenses are met entirely through inward remittances from the parent.
Then you want a branch office (limited commercial activity) or a subsidiary company (full operations). We will tell you plainly which structure fits, even if it means a different engagement.
RBI approval is typically granted for three years and can be extended. If the office isn't set up within six months of approval, the approval lapses — so we move quickly after approval.
Yes — income tax filings, an Annual Activity Certificate to RBI through the AD bank, and RoC filings. A 'no income' office still has compliance. We handle the annual calendar for you.
Quote-based, covering the RBI application, RoC registration, and tax setup. Request a quote with your parent company's details.
Yes, through a fresh approval process with RBI and MCA. Many companies start with an LO and convert when the business case is proven — we handle the conversion too.
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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.
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