One director must be resident in India
At least one director must have stayed in India for 182 days or more in the previous financial year. That person need not hold shares. A foreign founder can be a director and a shareholder alongside them.
For foreign founders and NRIs
Set up in India from anywhere.
An Indian subsidiary for your existing company, or a new Private Limited Company for you as a founder. Resident director, apostille, FDI reporting, bank account, PAN and GST, handled end to end.
Private Limited Company, set up from abroad
from ₹3,999 + govt fees
Our fee for two directors and up to ₹1 lakh capital. Government fees and stamp duty itemised on the call. Notary and apostille abroad paid where you are.
- 2 to 4 weeks, depending on document legalisation
- No visit to India needed
- Automatic route in most sectors
Six things to know before you start
These are the rules that decide the structure, the timeline and the paperwork. None of them is a blocker.
Your documents are notarised and apostilled
Passport and address proof of every foreign director and shareholder are notarised where you live and apostilled if your country is in the Hague Convention, or attested by the Indian embassy if it is not. This step sets the timeline.
Foreign investment is automatic in most sectors
Most sectors allow 100% foreign ownership under the automatic route with no prior approval. A few need government approval or carry caps. We confirm which applies to your activity before the name application.
The bank account and FEMA reporting come next
The share money arrives through an Indian bank as an inward remittance. Shares must be allotted within 60 days of receipt and Form FC-GPR filed within 30 days of allotment. Miss it and the company pays a late submission fee.
PAN and TAN arrive with the certificate
The company's PAN and TAN are allotted with the incorporation certificate through SPICe+. Foreign directors do not need an Indian PAN to be appointed; NRIs who are Indian citizens do.
GST when you sell in India
Registration is compulsory above ₹20 lakh of services turnover or ₹40 lakh of goods, and from day one for inter-state supply of goods or sales through marketplaces. A subsidiary invoicing its parent usually registers early to claim input credit and file the export LUT.
What we do, end to end
One named expert runs the whole sequence and messages you on WhatsApp at each step, in your time zone where we can.
See the Private Limited Company pageBefore filing
- Structure call: subsidiary or new company, shareholding, resident director
- Sector check under the FDI policy
- Document checklist by person, with apostille guidance for your country
- Name check and reservation in SPICe+ Part A
- Digital signatures with video verification, done from abroad
Filing and after
- SPICe+ Part B with MOA, AOA and AGILE-PRO-S; PAN and TAN with the certificate
- Bank account opening and the inward remittance paperwork
- Share allotment within 60 days and FC-GPR within 30 days of allotment
- INC-20A, first auditor, share certificates and the first board meeting
- GST registration and the export LUT where they apply
Timeline: 2 to 4 weeks, set by document legalisation
Working days, counted from the day your apostilled documents reach us as scans. Government portals decide the exact dates.
- 1Week 0
Documents notarised and apostilled abroad
Passport and address proof for each foreign director and shareholder; charter documents and a board resolution for a corporate shareholder. One to ten working days depending on your country.
- 2Week 1
Name reserved, digital signatures issued
SPICe+ Part A for the name (2 to 3 working days), DSCs with video verification for every director, registered office proof and NOC collected in India.
- 3Week 2
SPICe+ filed, certificate issued
Part B with MOA, AOA and AGILE-PRO-S. Incorporation typically 3 to 5 working days after filing. PAN and TAN arrive with the certificate.
- 4Weeks 3 to 4
Bank account, share money, FEMA reporting
Account opened, inward remittance received, shares allotted, FC-GPR filed, INC-20A within 180 days. GST registration if you are invoicing from day one.
Documents, by person
Scans are enough to start. Originals stay with you. Anything signed outside India is notarised and apostilled or embassy-attested.
Foreign director or shareholder (individual)
- Passport, notarised and apostilled
- Address proof not older than two months (bank statement or utility bill), notarised and apostilled
- Passport-size photo
- Email and mobile number for the DSC video verification
Resident Indian director
- PAN and Aadhaar
- Address proof not older than two months
- Passport-size photo
- Registered office proof: utility bill not older than two months plus a no-objection letter from the owner
Foreign company as shareholder (subsidiary)
- Certificate of incorporation and charter documents, apostilled
- Board resolution approving the Indian investment and naming the authorised signatory, apostilled
- Passport of the authorised signatory, apostilled
- Shareholding and beneficial ownership details for the FEMA and MCA declarations
Questions foreign founders and NRIs ask
Do I need to visit India to set up the company?
No. Every step happens online: digital signatures with video verification, SPICe+ filing on the MCA portal, PAN and TAN with the certificate, and the bank account opened with the incorporation documents. The only things that happen abroad are notarisation and apostille of your identity and address proofs, at a notary near you.
Do I need an Indian partner or director?
You need at least one director who has stayed in India for 182 days or more in the previous financial year. That person does not have to hold shares or run the business. Founders usually appoint a trusted person in India or a professional who serves as the resident director. Tell us your situation and we will say what is workable.
Can a foreign company or a foreign national own 100% of an Indian company?
Yes, in most sectors, under the automatic route with no prior approval. A Private Limited Company needs two shareholders, so a wholly owned subsidiary usually has the parent holding all but one share and a nominee holding one share on the parent's behalf, declared to the registrar. A few sectors need government approval or carry caps; we check yours before filing.
How much does it cost to set up from abroad?
Our fee starts at the amount shown at the top of this page, for a Private Limited Company with two directors and up to ₹1 lakh of capital. Government fees and stamp duty are itemised on top and vary by state and capital. Notary and apostille charges abroad are paid by you where you are. There is nothing added later.
What taxes will the Indian company pay?
Corporate tax at 25% for domestic companies with turnover up to ₹400 crore, or 22% under Section 115BAA for a company that gives up exemptions, plus surcharge and cess. Dividends paid to a foreign shareholder carry a withholding of 20% plus surcharge and cess before treaty relief. GST applies to sales in India at 5% or 18% for most services.
I am an NRI. Is anything different for me?
An NRI can be a director and a shareholder in a Private Limited Company, and since 2021 an NRI can also form a One Person Company, which a foreign national cannot. You will need a PAN for the director identification number and your documents are notarised and apostilled where you live. The resident director requirement still applies.
Coming soonAsk about UAE setup
India to UAE
Going the other way, from India to a UAE free zone or mainland company? The page is in progress. Until then, tell us on the contact page and we will reply personally.
Tell us where you are and what you want to set up. We'll send the full price.
One expert replies on WhatsApp within 6 working hours, Mon to Sat, 10am to 7pm IST, with the all-in number and the document list for your country.