Foreign Branch Office Registration in India
An extension of your foreign company in India — permitted to earn revenue from approved activities. Requires RBI approval before operations begin and ongoing FEMA and MCA compliance.
Set up your Indian branch office
RBI approval to MCA registration — handled as one end-to-end engagement.
Talk to a CS →RBI approval to annual compliance for your Indian branch office
RBI Approval via AD Bank
Application prepared and submitted to the RBI through the Authorised Dealer bank.
Form FC-1 — MCA Filing
Branch registered with MCA under Section 380 of the Companies Act, 2013.
PAN & Bank Account
PAN obtained for the branch; current bank account opened.
Annual Activity Certificate
AAC compiled and filed with the AD bank annually.
Income Tax Compliance
Branch taxed as a foreign company in India — tax advisory coordinated.
FEMA Ongoing Compliance
Remittance and repatriation compliance maintained throughout operations.
What RBI and MCA require for a foreign branch office
RBI Prior Approval
Mandatory — branch office cannot operate in India without RBI's written approval.
Permitted Activities Only
Only activities listed in the RBI approval letter can be carried out.
Form FC-1 within 30 Days
MCA registration required within 30 days of establishment.
Annual Activity Certificate
Filed with AD bank annually — audited by a CA — certifying permitted activities only.
Net Worth Requirement
Foreign parent must have a profit track record and minimum net worth as prescribed by RBI.
No Manufacturing
Branch offices cannot undertake retail trading or manufacturing activities directly.
A branch office is not a separate legal entity. The foreign parent company is fully liable for the branch's obligations in India. If independent liability is required, a wholly owned subsidiary is the appropriate structure.
Common issues in branch office setup
Simple steps, no surprises
Activity & structure advisory
Confirm permitted activities and whether branch office is the right structure vs WOS.
RBI application via AD bank
Application with parent company financials and activity description submitted.
MCA Form FC-1 & PAN
Branch registered with MCA; PAN and bank account set up post-RBI approval.
Annual compliance calendar
AAC, income tax and FEMA compliance calendar established for ongoing operations.
Other services you may need
Frequently asked questions
A branch office is an extension of the foreign parent company in India — not a separate legal entity. It carries out specific RBI-approved activities.
Export/import of goods, professional or consultancy services, research, promoting collaborations, representing the parent company and acting as a buying/selling agent. Manufacturing and retail trading are not permitted.
Yes. RBI approval through the Authorised Dealer bank is required before a branch office is established.
Yes — unlike a liaison office, a branch office is permitted to earn revenue from its approved activities.
Annual Activity Certificate (AAC) filed with the AD bank, income tax compliance and Form FC-1 registration with MCA.
Yes. The branch can be wound down and a fresh subsidiary incorporated. We advise on the tax and FEMA implications.
RBI approval takes 4–8 weeks. Post-approval, MCA registration and bank account opening take a further 2–4 weeks.
Set up your Indian branch office with full FEMA compliance
Share your parent company details and intended activities. We will prepare the RBI application and handle every step.