Starting a Branch Office in India
A Branch Office lets an established foreign company operate directly in India, under RBI permission, without incorporating a separate Indian entity. We handle the RBI and ROC filings and the compliance that follows.
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The parent company’s own presence in India
A Branch Office is an extension of a foreign company, permitted by the Reserve Bank of India to carry out specific activities in India. Unlike a subsidiary, it isn’t a separate legal entity — it operates under the parent company’s own identity, and the parent remains directly responsible for what it does here.
Permitted activities are defined narrowly: things like export/import, consultancy, research tied to the parent’s business, technical support, or acting as the parent’s representative. Retail trading and general commercial activity fall outside what a branch office can do.
- Prior approval from the Reserve Bank of India
- An established, profitable operating track record for the parent company
- Registration with the Registrar of Companies after RBI approval
- Activity restricted to what RBI permits — no retail trading
- A local authorised representative in India
Foreign companies testing or serving India directly
Executing a specific engagement
Foreign companies carrying out a defined project or contract in India, without needing a permanent local subsidiary.
Professional services under the parent’s name
Firms providing consultancy or research linked to the parent’s core business, operating directly under its identity.
Exploring India before committing further
Companies wanting a direct presence — export/import, buying/selling agency, or technical support — without incorporating a full subsidiary yet.
RBI approval to annual compliance
Eligibility review
Confirming your parent company’s track record and net worth meet RBI’s current criteria before you apply.
RBI application
Form FNC-1 prepared and routed through an Authorised Dealer bank to the RBI.
ROC registration
Filing Form FC-1 with the Registrar of Companies once RBI approval is granted.
PAN, TAN and banking
Tax registrations obtained and support opening the branch’s Indian bank account.
Annual Activity Certificate
The chartered-accountant-certified AAC that must go to the RBI every year, prepared and filed on time.
Statutory audit and tax filings
Annual audit, income tax return and ROC filings kept current for as long as the branch operates.
Four steps to operating in India
We check eligibility
Parent company’s track record reviewed against RBI’s current criteria.
We file with the RBI
Application routed through an Authorised Dealer bank.
We register with the ROC
Filed once RBI approval comes through.
Ongoing compliance runs
AAC, audit and tax filings handled as a standing engagement.
Questions companies ask first.
Can a branch office do retail trading in India?
No. Branch offices are restricted to activities like export/import, consultancy, research linked to the parent’s business, and similar permitted functions — general retail trading isn’t allowed.
Is a local representative required?
Yes, a branch office must appoint an authorised representative based in India to deal with regulators and run day-to-day compliance.
How is a branch office different from a subsidiary?
A branch office operates under the foreign parent’s own legal identity and is restricted to RBI-permitted activities. A subsidiary is a separate Indian company that can trade and operate far more freely — the right choice depends on what you plan to do here.
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A short call to understand where you stand and how we would run this for you. No obligation.
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