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Are you a foreign company that wants to set up a Liaison office in India? Well then, you need to obtain a certificate of Liaison office registration in India in order to represent the parent company. Connect with Enterslice for setting up Liaison office in India.
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What are the Benefits Documents Required How to Register What is the Timeline Eligibility Criteria List of Activities Annual Compliance Why Trust Enterslice FAQs Schedule Meeting Liaison Office Registration in India- An Overview If you are a foreign company that wants to establish a business operation in India then you must obtain a Liaison office registration in India. It acts as the communication channel between Indian and foreign companies. A Liaison Office (LO), also known as a representative office in India, is a setup that a foreign company can establish under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 with prior RBI approval for liaison office in India. It acts as a communication bridge between the foreign head office and Indian entities. An LO cannot undertake any commercial, trading, or industrial activities or earn income in India. Its role is limited to representing the parent company, promoting imports and exports, facilitating collaborations, and maintaining communication. At Enterslice, we have dedicated experts on the ground assisting in document apostille, local regulatory coordination, and in-market support for clients expanding globally, ensuring 100% success rate for liaison office registration in India, best in the market. GDP Nominal- USD 4.27 Trillion, 3rd by PPP USD 71B+- Top global FDI destination Foreign LOs in India- 9,200+ Liaison / Branch / Project Offices Top Source Countries- USA, UK, Japan, UAE, Singapore, etc. Key LO Hubs in India- Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, etc. AD Banking Network (HDFC, SBI, Axis, ICICI, etc.) Secure RBI Approval for Liaison Office in India Get fast RBI approval for liaison office in India. Requires 3 years track record & USD 50K net worth. Expert compliance support. Schedule a Meeting What are the Benefits of Liaison Office Registration in India? The benefits of Liaison office registration in India are as follows: Name and Permissible Activities The liaison office will have the same name as the foreign parent company, such that it is not permitted to carry out any business activity or earn any income in India. It can only work as a channel of communication between the parent company and business entities. Expenses of Liaison Office All the expenditure of the liaison office is covered by the Head Office through inward remittances received in Convertible Foreign Exchange. Bank Account In order to receive remittances from the head office outside India, a Liaison office will have to open a current account with a designated Ad Category I bank in India. Closure of Liaison Office In order to close the Liaison office, you must submit a closure request to your designated AD Category-I bank along with the required documents. Accordingly, the bank will process the request and allow the remittance of remaining funds to the foreign head office. What are the Documents Required for Liaison Office Registration in India? The list of Documents required for liaison office registration in India is as follows: Certificate of Incorporation (apostilled) Audited financial statements for the last 3 years (apostilled) Board Resolution for opening a Liaison Office in India Memorandum & Articles of Association (MoA & AoA) Banker’s Certificate from the home country bank Power of Attorney in favour of the authorized representative Net worth certificate from a statutory auditor Letter of comfort from the parent company RBI Form FNC (application form) Proposed office address proof in India KYC of the authorized representative in India Activity plan/scope of liaison activities Undertaking to carry out only permitted activities PAN application (Form 49A) GST registration (if applicable) Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) How to Register a Liaison Office in India? Here are the steps that will help you know how to register a Liaison office in India: Obtain Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) Secure a DSC for the authorized representative in India, as it is required for online filings. Name Reservation (if required) Reserve a suitable name for the Liaison Office on the MCA portal, if applicable. Prepare & Apostille Documents Compile and apostille all necessary foreign entity documents, including the certificate of incorporation, financial statements, and board resolution. File Application with RBI Submit the application to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) through an AD Category-I Bank using Form FNC along with all supporting documents. RBI Review Process RBI examines the application and may request additional information or clarifications, if needed. RBI Approval (UIN Issuance) Upon approval, RBI issues an Approval Letter along with a Unique Identification Number (UIN), allowing the Liaison Office to operate in India. ROC Registration Register the Liaison Office with the Registrar of Companies (ROC) within 30 days of receiving RBI approval. Obtain PAN & TAN Apply for a Permanent Account Number (PAN) and Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number (TAN) from the Income Tax Department. Open Bank Account Open a bank account in India. Note that only inward remittances from the head office are permitted. Obtain Additional Registrations Secure GST registration, Professional Tax, and any other applicable state-level registrations based on operational requirements. Start your Liaison Office Registration in India Today Our RBI and FEMA experts will assist you with Liaison office registration in India. 100% Error-free Filings Transparency in the Process Book a 1:1 Virtual Meeting What is the Timeline for Liaison Office Registration in India? Typically, the time taken for Liaison office registration in India is 3 to 4 months from the date of application. DSC & Initial Setup: 2 to 3 Days Obtain a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) and complete the initial requirements, such as name reservation (if applicable). Document Preparation & Apostille: 1 to 2 Weeks Compile, notarize, and apostille all required foreign entity documents. Application Filing (Form FNC): 3 to 5 Days Submit the application to RBI through the AD Category-I Bank along with supporting documents. RBI Review & Approval (UIN Issuance): 4 to 8 Weeks RBI reviews the application and issues approval along with the UIN. ROC Registration: 1 Week Register the Liaison Office with the Registrar of Companies (ROC) within 30 days of RBI approval. PAN & TAN Application: 1 to 2 Weeks Apply for PAN and TAN with the Income Tax Department. Bank Account Opening: 1 to 2 Weeks Open a bank account in India for inward remittances. Additional Registrations: 1 to 2 Weeks Obtain GST, Professional Tax, and other applicable registrations. Eligibility Criteria for RBI Approval for Liaison Office in India To obtain RBI approval for Liaison office in India, the foreign entity must meet the following conditions: The entity should have a profit-making track record for the last 3 financial years It must have a minimum net worth of USD 50,000 (or equivalent) in its home country The entity should be registered/incorporated for at least 3 years in its home country The applicant must not be listed under any caution list or adverse regulatory action by RBI The home country should not be listed under the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) non-cooperative jurisdictions or the United Nations sanctions list The principal business activities of the entity must fall within the permitted liaison office activities in India List of Activities under Representative Office in India The list of activities under representative office in India are as follows: Permitted Activities Promote export/import between India and the parent company Facilitate technical/financial collaborations Represent the parent company in India Act as a communication channel Not Allowed No business income in India No trading or manufacturing No signing of contracts on behalf of the parent company Schedule Meeting Annual Compliance for Liaison Office Registration in India The list of annual compliance for Liaison office registration in India are as follows: Annual returns need to be filed within 60 days from the date on which the financial year ends or before the 31st of May every financial year. Annual Activity certificate issued from the practicing CA needs to be filed with the concerned AD Category-I Bank on or before the 30th of September every financial year. A CA audited annual financial statement will have to be filed within 6 months from the date of closing of the Financial Year. Liaison Office Registration in India with Enterslice’s Consultants Establish a Representative Office in India with ease and secure RBI approval for liaison office in India with our expert support. Worldwide Presence 50+ Countries Served Book a 30-Min Strategy Call Why Trust Enterslice for Liaison Office Registration in India? Enterslice brings deep expertise in Liaison Office Registration in India, backed by extensive experience in RBI approvals, FEMA compliance, and multi-regulatory filings. Having assisted 10,000+ global businesses, we ensure a seamless setup process with a 100% first-time approval rate. Successfully handled 3145+ Liaison Office, Branch Office, and Project Office registrations Expertise in RBI approval process and FEMA compliance framework End-to-end support from document apostille to RBI filing, ROC registration, PAN/TAN, and bank account opening Global apostille network across 100+ countries for faster document legalization FEMA-certified professionals ensuring complete regulatory compliance from day one Dedicated compliance dashboard for tracking filings, deadlines, and annual returns Strong coordination with AD Category-I Banks for faster processing and RBI query resolution Multi-regulator expertise, including SEBI, IRDAI, RBI, and other sectoral approvals Transparent, fixed-fee structure covering registration and first-year compliance support FAQs on RBI Approval for Liaison Office in India What is a Liaison Office and what can it do in India? A Liaison Office (LO) is a representative office of a foreign company in India that can promote business and act as a communication channel, but cannot carry out any commercial or income-generating activities. Who approves a Liaison Office in India? A Liaison Office in India is approved by the RBI, and the application is submitted through an Authorized Dealer (AD) Category-I Bank, with additional approvals required for certain regulated sectors. What are the basic eligibility requirements for liaison office registration in India? The foreign entity must have a profit-making track record for the last 3 years, a minimum net worth of USD 50,000, at least 3 years of incorporation, and must not be on any RBI or FATF restriction list. These are the basic eligibility requirements for liaison office registration in India. How long does the liaison office registration process take? The entire Liaison office RBI approval process in India typically takes 3–6 months, including document preparation, RBI approval, and post-approval registrations. Can a Liaison Office earn money in India? No, a Liaison Office cannot earn revenue, issue invoices, or undertake any commercial activities in India, and all expenses must be funded by the foreign head office. What is the Annual Activity Certificate (AAC)? The Annual Activity Certificate (AAC) is a mandatory yearly certificate issued by a Chartered Accountant confirming that only permitted activities were conducted. Does a Liaison Office pay tax in India? A Liaison Office generally does not pay income tax as it earns no income, but it must file a nil return and comply with TDS and other applicable regulations. Can the Liaison office in India be converted into another business entity? Yes, a Liaison Office in India can be converted into a Branch Office or a wholly-owned subsidiary after completing proper closure procedures. What if RBI approval for liaison office registration is not renewed? If RBI approval for liaison office registration is not renewed on time, the Liaison Office may face penalties and be required to shut down for operating without valid permission. Can Enterslice help with closure and conversion? Yes, Enterslice provides end-to-end assistance for Liaison Office closure, compliance, and conversion into other business entities.
If you are a foreign company that wants to establish a business operation in India then you must obtain a Liaison office registration in India. It acts as the communication channel between Indian and foreign companies. A Liaison Office (LO), also known as a representative office in India, is a setup that a foreign company can establish under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 with prior RBI approval for liaison office in India. It acts as a communication bridge between the foreign head office and Indian entities.
An LO cannot undertake any commercial, trading, or industrial activities or earn income in India. Its role is limited to representing the parent company, promoting imports and exports, facilitating collaborations, and maintaining communication. At Enterslice, we have dedicated experts on the ground assisting in document apostille, local regulatory coordination, and in-market support for clients expanding globally, ensuring 100% success rate for liaison office registration in India, best in the market.
GDP Nominal- USD 4.27 Trillion, 3rd by PPP
USD 71B+- Top global FDI destination
Foreign LOs in India- 9,200+ Liaison / Branch / Project Offices
Top Source Countries- USA, UK, Japan, UAE, Singapore, etc.
Key LO Hubs in India- Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, etc.
AD Banking Network (HDFC, SBI, Axis, ICICI, etc.)
Get fast RBI approval for liaison office in India. Requires 3 years track record & USD 50K net worth. Expert compliance support.
The benefits of Liaison office registration in India are as follows:
The liaison office will have the same name as the foreign parent company, such that it is not permitted to carry out any business activity or earn any income in India. It can only work as a channel of communication between the parent company and business entities.
All the expenditure of the liaison office is covered by the Head Office through inward remittances received in Convertible Foreign Exchange.
In order to receive remittances from the head office outside India, a Liaison office will have to open a current account with a designated Ad Category I bank in India.
In order to close the Liaison office, you must submit a closure request to your designated AD Category-I bank along with the required documents. Accordingly, the bank will process the request and allow the remittance of remaining funds to the foreign head office.
The list of Documents required for liaison office registration in India is as follows:
Certificate of Incorporation (apostilled)
Audited financial statements for the last 3 years (apostilled)
Board Resolution for opening a Liaison Office in India
Memorandum & Articles of Association (MoA & AoA)
Banker’s Certificate from the home country bank
Power of Attorney in favour of the authorized representative
Net worth certificate from a statutory auditor
Letter of comfort from the parent company
RBI Form FNC (application form)
Proposed office address proof in India
KYC of the authorized representative in India
Activity plan/scope of liaison activities
Undertaking to carry out only permitted activities
PAN application (Form 49A)
GST registration (if applicable)
Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)
Here are the steps that will help you know how to register a Liaison office in India:
Secure a DSC for the authorized representative in India, as it is required for online filings.
Reserve a suitable name for the Liaison Office on the MCA portal, if applicable.
Compile and apostille all necessary foreign entity documents, including the certificate of incorporation, financial statements, and board resolution.
Submit the application to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) through an AD Category-I Bank using Form FNC along with all supporting documents.
RBI examines the application and may request additional information or clarifications, if needed.
Upon approval, RBI issues an Approval Letter along with a Unique Identification Number (UIN), allowing the Liaison Office to operate in India.
Register the Liaison Office with the Registrar of Companies (ROC) within 30 days of receiving RBI approval.
Apply for a Permanent Account Number (PAN) and Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number (TAN) from the Income Tax Department.
Open a bank account in India. Note that only inward remittances from the head office are permitted.
Secure GST registration, Professional Tax, and any other applicable state-level registrations based on operational requirements.
Our RBI and FEMA experts will assist you with Liaison office registration in India.
Typically, the time taken for Liaison office registration in India is 3 to 4 months from the date of application.
Obtain a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) and complete the initial requirements, such as name reservation (if applicable).
Compile, notarize, and apostille all required foreign entity documents.
Submit the application to RBI through the AD Category-I Bank along with supporting documents.
RBI reviews the application and issues approval along with the UIN.
Register the Liaison Office with the Registrar of Companies (ROC) within 30 days of RBI approval.
Apply for PAN and TAN with the Income Tax Department.
Open a bank account in India for inward remittances.
Obtain GST, Professional Tax, and other applicable registrations.
To obtain RBI approval for Liaison office in India, the foreign entity must meet the following conditions:
The list of activities under representative office in India are as follows:
Permitted Activities
Not Allowed
The list of annual compliance for Liaison office registration in India are as follows:
Establish a Representative Office in India with ease and secure RBI approval for liaison office in India with our expert support.
Enterslice brings deep expertise in Liaison Office Registration in India, backed by extensive experience in RBI approvals, FEMA compliance, and multi-regulatory filings. Having assisted 10,000+ global businesses, we ensure a seamless setup process with a 100% first-time approval rate.
A Liaison Office (LO) is a representative office of a foreign company in India that can promote business and act as a communication channel, but cannot carry out any commercial or income-generating activities.
A Liaison Office in India is approved by the RBI, and the application is submitted through an Authorized Dealer (AD) Category-I Bank, with additional approvals required for certain regulated sectors.
The foreign entity must have a profit-making track record for the last 3 years, a minimum net worth of USD 50,000, at least 3 years of incorporation, and must not be on any RBI or FATF restriction list. These are the basic eligibility requirements for liaison office registration in India.
The entire Liaison office RBI approval process in India typically takes 3–6 months, including document preparation, RBI approval, and post-approval registrations.
No, a Liaison Office cannot earn revenue, issue invoices, or undertake any commercial activities in India, and all expenses must be funded by the foreign head office.
The Annual Activity Certificate (AAC) is a mandatory yearly certificate issued by a Chartered Accountant confirming that only permitted activities were conducted.
A Liaison Office generally does not pay income tax as it earns no income, but it must file a nil return and comply with TDS and other applicable regulations.
Yes, a Liaison Office in India can be converted into a Branch Office or a wholly-owned subsidiary after completing proper closure procedures.
If RBI approval for liaison office registration is not renewed on time, the Liaison Office may face penalties and be required to shut down for operating without valid permission.
Yes, Enterslice provides end-to-end assistance for Liaison Office closure, compliance, and conversion into other business entities.
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Researchers have found out that organization using new technologies in their accounting and tax have better productivity as compared to those using the traditional methods. Complying with the recent technological trends in the accounting industry, Enterslice was formed to focus on the emerging start up companies and bring innovation in their traditional Chartered Accountants & Legal profession services, disrupt traditional Chartered Accountants practice mechanism & Lawyers.
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