Company registration in India for NRIs and foreign nationals
NRIs and foreign nationals can own and direct an Indian private limited company. The process is the same SPICe+ filing, with three extra things to plan for: a resident director, notarised or apostilled documents, and foreign investment reporting.
Requirements
- At least one director who stays in India 182 days or more in the financial year. See resident director requirement.
- Foreign directors and subscribers provide passport and address proof, notarised or apostilled in their country.
- Each foreign individual needs a DSC, issued against passport-based KYC.
- The sector must allow foreign investment under the automatic route, or government approval is needed.
Foreign investment compliance
- 1.Subscription money must come through normal banking channels from abroad (or an NRE/FCNR account).
- 2.The bank issues a foreign inward remittance certificate and KYC.
- 3.Shares are issued at or above fair value under FEMA pricing rules.
- 4.File FC-GPR on the RBI FIRMS portal within 30 days of allotment.
- 5.File the annual return on foreign liabilities and assets each year.
Frequently asked questions
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Government fees and procedures change; confirm current figures before you file.
- Resident director requirement for Indian companies
Why every Indian company needs a director who stayed in India for 182 days, how residency is counted, and options for foreign founders.
- Documents required for private limited company registration in India
Complete checklist of documents for registering a private limited company: director KYC, registered office proof, NOC, MOA, AOA, DIR-2 and INC-9.
- Issuing new shares: rights issue, private placement and PAS-3
How a private company raises equity by issuing new shares: rights issue, preferential allotment, private placement, valuation and PAS-3.