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Indian Subsidiary & Foreign Company Registration in India

Set up your wholly-owned Indian subsidiary — up to 100% foreign ownership, fully remote, no need to fly in. Here's exactly what NRIs, foreign nationals and overseas companies need.

By the QwikFilings CA team · Updated 2026 · FEMA & FDI compliance handled end to end

Can a foreigner own a company in India?

Yes. NRIs, OCIs, foreign nationals and overseas companies can hold up to 100% of an Indian private limited company in most sectors under the FDI automatic route — no prior government approval. The one rule that always applies: at least one director must be an Indian resident (182+ days in India). The whole process is online — you can get your Certificate of Incorporation without visiting India.

Below: the entry routes, a checklist tailored to who's investing, and the FEMA reporting you can't skip.

How a foreign business enters India

Most common

Wholly-Owned Subsidiary (Pvt Ltd)

A private limited company owned up to 100% by the foreign parent or individuals. Limited liability, taxed as an Indian company, full operating freedom. The default choice for a real, long-term business in India.

Joint Venture

A private limited company co-owned with an Indian partner — used when a sector caps foreign ownership or local expertise is needed.

Branch / Liaison / Project Office

An extension of the foreign company rather than a separate entity. Needs RBI clearance and has activity restrictions — quicker for a limited presence, not for full operations.

What you'll need — tailored to who's investing

Requirements differ for NRIs, foreign individuals and overseas companies. Pick yours.

Who is setting up the company?

Required for every foreign-owned company

  • At least one Indian resident director (182+ days in India) — Section 149(3)
  • Minimum 2 directors and 2 shareholders
  • No minimum capital — start with what suits you
  • DSC for all proposed directors (issued remotely by video verification)
  • We confirm your sector's FDI route (automatic vs government approval)
  • FC-GPR filed with the RBI within 30 days of allotting shares

FDI route & FEMA, in plain English

Which route applies to you

Most sectors — IT, software, services, manufacturing, trading and more — allow 100% FDI under the automatic route, meaning no prior RBI or government approval. A few sectors (such as defence, print media, insurance and parts of telecom) need government approval. We confirm the exact route for your sector before filing.

One important exception: under Press Note 3 (2020), investment from countries sharing a land border with India (China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan, Afghanistan) generally requires the government approval route, whatever the sector.

FEMA reporting you can't skip

FC-GPR must be filed with the RBI's FIRMS portal within 30 days of allotting shares to the foreign investor — a missed deadline is a FEMA violation. Shares to foreign investors must be priced at or above fair market value, and an annual FLA return is due by 15 July. We handle all of this alongside your incorporation and ongoing compliance.

Set up your Indian entity — fully remote

From entity choice and apostille to SPICe+ filing and FC-GPR, a real CA runs your India entry end to end. No trip to India required.

Incorporate your Indian entity →

Related: Documents required · Registration process · Ongoing compliance

FAQs

Can a foreign company own 100% of an Indian subsidiary?
Yes — in the many sectors where 100% FDI is allowed under the automatic route, a foreign company or individual can own the entire Indian subsidiary with no Indian partner. The company must still have at least one Indian resident director.
Do I need to visit India to register the company?
No. The entire process is online — DSCs are issued by video verification and documents are apostilled in your home country. You can receive your Certificate of Incorporation without travelling to India.
What is the resident director requirement?
At least one director must have stayed in India for 182 days or more in the financial year (Section 149(3)). The remaining directors can be foreign nationals or NRIs based abroad.
What is FC-GPR and when is it due?
FC-GPR is the RBI filing that reports foreign investment, submitted on the FIRMS portal within 30 days of allotting shares to the foreign investor. Missing it is a FEMA violation, so we file it on time as part of the engagement.
How long does it take?
Typically about 15–20 business days once apostilled documents are ready. The most common delay is the apostille step in the home country, which can take 1–3 weeks — so we start that early.