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Foreign Subsidiary Company Registration

  • 100% foreign ownership permitted in many sectors under the FDI Policy
  • Legal recognition as an Indian company under the Companies Act, 2013
  • Full control for the foreign parent company while ensuring limited liability
  • Easier access to Indian markets, resources, and customers
  • Eligible for government incentives, Startup India registration, and tax benefits
  • Separate legal identity enabling contracts, asset ownership, and banking in India

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7 Years

Of Experience

Cases Solved Icon

3622 +

Cases Solved

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10 +

Awards Gained

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144 k +

Trusted Clients

Queries Solved Icon

36 k+

Queries Solved

Experience Icon

7 Years

Of Experience

Cases Solved Icon

3622 +

Cases Solved

Awards Gained Icon

10 +

Awards Gained

Trusted Clients Icon

144 k +

Trusted Clients

Queries Solved Icon

36 k+

Queries Solved

Experience Icon

7 Years

Of Experience

Cases Solved Icon

3622 +

Cases Solved

Awards Gained Icon

10 +

Awards Gained

Trusted Clients Icon

144 k +

Trusted Clients

Queries Solved Icon

36 k+

Queries Solved

Overview

a. Introduction
A Foreign Subsidiary Company is an Indian company incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013, where a foreign company holds more than 50% of the total share capital. It operates as an Indian legal entity but is controlled by a foreign parent company.

This model is ideal for international companies seeking to establish a long-term business presence in India while maintaining full ownership, operational flexibility, and access to
local benefits.

Foreign Subsidiaries can be set up as either:
• Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS): 100% shares held by a foreign entity (in sectors where 100% FDI is permitted).
• Joint Venture: Partial ownership shared with Indian partners.

b. Why You Should Register
• To establish a local presence and operate as an Indian company
• To access India’s large consumer base and skilled workforce
• To enjoy limited liability and separate legal identity
• To operate under automatic FDI route (no RBI pre-approval needed in many sectors)
• To repatriate profits legally as per RBI and FEMA guidelines
• To gain credibility with Indian clients, suppliers, and banks

c. Compliance and Taxation
• Governed by the Companies Act, 2013, and regulated by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA).
• Must comply with Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and RBI’s FDI Policy.
• Annual Filings:
o AOC-4 & MGT-7A – Annual Financial Statements & Returns
o Form FC-GPR – Reporting of foreign investment to RBI
o Form FLA – Annual return on foreign liabilities and assets
• Taxation:
o Corporate tax rate – 25% (for turnover up to ₹400 crore), plus surcharge and cess
o Transfer pricing regulations apply for international transactions
o GST registration required if turnover exceeds the prescribed limit


Documents Required

Documents
  • 1 Certificate of Incorporation
  • 2 Memorandum & Articles of Association
  • 3 Board Resolution authorizing investment in India
  • 4 List of directors and shareholders
  • 5 Proof of registered office abroad
  • 6 Apostilled or notarized KYC documents
  • 1 PAN, Aadhaar, and photographs of directors
  • 2 Proof of registered office in India (rent agreement, utility bill, NOC)
  • 3 Digital Signature Certificates (DSC) of directors
  • 4 Director Identification Numbers (DIN)
  • 5 Memorandum of Association (MOA) & Articles of Association (AOA)
  • 6 Bank account opening documents and FDI declarations

For More Information


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2nd Floor, Sanali Estate, Abids, , Hyderabad, Telangana , 500001, IN

Advantages and Limitations

Advantages
  • Full control for foreign parent company
    Full control for foreign parent company
  • Separate legal identity in India
    Separate legal identity in India
  • Access to India’s market and talent
    Access to India’s market and talent
  • Limited liability protection
    Limited liability protection
  • Easier profit repatriation under FEMA
    Easier profit repatriation under FEMA
Limitations
  • Must comply with Indian FDI and FEMA laws
    Must comply with Indian FDI and FEMA laws
  • Higher compliance cost compared to local firms
    Higher compliance cost compared to local firms
  • Subject to transfer pricing and tax scrutiny
    Subject to transfer pricing and tax scrutiny
  • Certain sectors still require government approval
    Certain sectors still require government approval
  • Complex regulatory reporting requirements
    Complex regulatory reporting requirements

Other Registrations Required

Registration Type Purpose Requirement
PAN & TAN (Company) For taxation and TDS compliance Mandatory
GST Registration For domestic tax compliance Mandatory (based on turnover)
RBI / FEMA Filings (FC-GPR, FLA) For foreign investment compliance Mandatory
Udyam Registration For MSME recognition and benefits Optional
Import Export Code (IEC) For export/import activities As applicable
Professional Tax Registration As per state laws Conditional
Business Bank Account For financial operations in India Mandatory

Comparison

Particulars Foreign Subsidiary Company Branch Office Liaison Office
Legal Status Separate Indian legal entity Extension of foreign company Representative office
Ownership >50% foreign shareholding 100% foreign 100% foreign
Liability Limited Unlimited (parent liable) Unlimited (parent liable)
Approval Needed Automatic or government route (as per sector) RBI approval required RBI approval required
Permitted Activities Full commercial operations Limited operations Liaison only (no income)
Taxation Indian corporate tax (25%) 40% (foreign company rate) Not applicable
Compliance MCA + RBI + FEMA RBI + FEMA RBI + FEMA
Perpetual Succession Yes No No
Best Suited For Long-term business operations Temporary setup Market research and liaisoning

FAQs

What is a Foreign Subsidiary Company?

It is an Indian company in which a foreign entity holds more than 50% of the share capital, registered under the Companies Act, 2013.

Can a foreign company own 100% of an Indian company?
What are the approvals required to register a foreign subsidiary in India?
How is a foreign subsidiary taxed in India?
What is the difference between a foreign subsidiary and a branch office?
Can profits be repatriated abroad?
How long does it take to register a foreign subsidiary in India?
What are the post-registration compliances?
Is RBI approval required for foreign subsidiary registration?

Why Partner With ARK?

A seamless blend of technology and Chartered Accountant expertise to simplify your business registration.

Comprehensive Tax Services

From GST to income tax, we ensure timely and accurate filings with end-to-end support.

Financial Strategy

We help businesses plan, grow, and manage finances effectively through customized consulting.

ARK Advisor Expert
Startup & MSME Support

Right from business registration to ROC compliance, we assist MSMEs at every stage.

Experienced CA Team

Led by Chartered Accountants with deep domain expertise and industry-specific experience.

What Our Clients Say

Discover what our satisfied clients have to say about their experience working with us

Sandeep Reddy
Founder, Retail Trading Business
" ARK Advisors made our audit process smooth and stress-free. Clear checklist, timely follow-ups, and very practical guidance. "
Anusha Sharma
Partner, Professional Services Firm
" Their team quickly identified compliance gaps and suggested actionable fixes. Reporting was crisp and easy for management to understand. "
Rohit Kulkarni
CFO, Manufacturing Unit
" We got strong process recommendations and control improvements. The audit insights genuinely helped us reduce leakage and improve discipline. "
Meghana Rao
Director, Startup
" Professional, responsive, and very transparent. They explained everything in simple terms and kept the entire process on schedule. "
Imran Khan
Owner, Hospitality Business
" The team ensured our documentation was audit-ready and supported us throughout. Great experience and strong attention to detail. "

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