Project, branch, liaison or WOS — which fits.
India Entry
Relevant for:For Foreign Companies
Project Office Registration in India
A Project Office (PO) is the right vehicle when a foreign company has won a specific contract in India and needs a presence to execute it — without setting up a permanent subsidiary or branch. We handle eligibility under FEMA, AD-bank coordination, registrations and the closure once the project ends. Key takeaways: a PO is project-specific; activities are limited to that project; approval is normally through the AD bank; closure and repatriation follow auditor certification.
What's Included
Eligibility assessment under the FEMA branch / project office regulations
AD-bank coordination and Project Office approval (RBI approval where required)
ROC registration via Form FC-1, PAN, TAN and GST
Project-period bank account and inward-remittance set-up
Annual Activity Certificate, FC-3 / FC-4 filings and tax returns
Transfer pricing positions for inter-company project cost recovery
Closure, auditor certificate and repatriation of surplus
Our Process
STEP 1
Contract review
Review the awarded contract, funding source and PO eligibility under FEMA.
Week 1
STEP 2
AD-bank submission
File Form FNC and supporting KYC with the designated AD bank.
Week 1–2
STEP 3
PO approval
AD bank issues UIN / approval; account opened.
Week 3–5
STEP 4
Registrations
Form FC-1 with ROC, PAN, TAN, GST and other project-state registrations.
Week 4–6
STEP 5
Run & report
Bookkeeping, GST, TDS, AAC and annual filings through the project life.
Ongoing
STEP 6
Closure
Wind-up, auditor certificate, repatriation and de-registration.
On project end
Documents Required
- Awarded contract / Letter of Intent from the Indian customer
- Constitutional documents of the foreign company (apostilled / notarised)
- Audited financials of the foreign parent for the last 3 to 5 years
- Board resolution and Power of Attorney for the Authorised Representative in India
- Banker's reference / KYC of the foreign parent
- Project funding / inward-remittance source proof
Key Statutory References
| Item | Reference |
|---|---|
| FEMA | Branch / Liaison / Project Office Regulations — AD bank route by default |
| Companies Act, 2013 | Form FC-1 within 30 days of establishment; FC-3 / FC-4 annual filings |
| Permitted activities | Limited to executing the specific awarded project — no other commercial activity |
| Closure | Auditor certificate, AD-bank route, repatriation of surplus on project end |
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Services
Guides & Resources
RBI filing requirements for foreign presence in India.
Set up the right India presence for your project
Book a free 15-minute advisory call with Regi Tom Antony.