Registering Your Company in India, Step by Step
What actually happens between "we've decided on India" and a certificate of incorporation — documents, timelines, costs, and the deadlines that carry penalties.
The essentials, before the steps
- No minimum capital. India abolished minimum paid-up capital in 2015. You capitalise what your business plan needs.
- Two directors minimum, of whom at least one must be resident in India (182 or more days in the financial year, applied pro-rata in the year of incorporation). We can help you meet this requirement properly.
- Two shareholders minimum for a private limited company — typically your parent company and a nominee holding one share on its behalf.
- No travel required. Every filing is digital. Foreign directors' documents are notarised and apostilled in their home country.
The eight steps
| Step | What happens | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · FDI review | Confirm your sector is automatic-route and structure the shareholding. | 1–3 days |
| 2 · DSC & DIN | Digital signature certificates for all directors; DINs for up to three directors are allotted through SPICe+ itself. | 3–7 days |
| 3 · Name reservation | Two proposed names filed with MCA; approval usually in 24–48 hours. | 1–2 days |
| 4 · Charter documents | MOA and AOA drafted; parent-company documents apostilled and verified. | 3–7 days (often parallel) |
| 5 · SPICe+ filing | One integrated form covers incorporation, PAN, TAN, EPFO, ESIC and more. Certificate of incorporation issued. | 4–7 days |
| 6 · Bank account & capital | Corporate account opened; share capital remitted from the parent; FIRC obtained. | 5–10 days |
| 7 · FC-GPR filing | Foreign investment reported to RBI within 30 days of share allotment. Non-negotiable. | Within the deadline |
| 8 · GST & licences | GST registration where required, import-export code if you will trade across borders, state registrations such as professional tax and shops & establishment where the state levies them, and any sector licences. | 5–30 days |
Documents you will need
From the foreign parent company
- Certificate of incorporation and charter documents (notarised and apostilled)
- Board resolution approving the India investment and authorising a signatory
- Registered address proof and a brief profile of the parent
From each director and shareholder
- Passport (apostilled for non-residents), photograph, and address proof no older than two months
- For the resident director: Indian PAN and address proof
For the registered office in India
- Utility bill, plus a no-objection letter from the premises owner (we can arrange a compliant registered office if you have none yet)
What it costs
Government fees, stamp duties and professional charges together typically fall between ₹60,000 and ₹2,50,000 (approximately US$600–2,700 at current exchange rates) depending on authorised capital, state of registration and sector approvals. We quote a single all-inclusive fee before we begin — no meters running.
The first 30 days after incorporation
Several things must happen quickly. Shares must be allotted within 60 days of the capital arriving, and the company registers once on RBI’s FIRMS portal before it can file anything. Then: the FC-GPR filing (within 30 days of allotment — delays are regularised by a Late Submission Fee that scales with the amount and the delay), the first board meeting and the Board’s appointment of the statutory auditor (both within 30 days of incorporation), and the commencement-of-business declaration, Form INC-20A (within 180 days — the company cannot borrow or begin business without it). Our post-incorporation checklist covers all of it, so nothing slips while you focus on the business.
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Content on this site is general information, not professional advice. Regulations change; speak to us before acting.