How can foreign investors set up a company in India?
Our team of specialists in company formation in India can offer in-depth assistance on the registration of a legal entity and can offer advice on the regulations applicable in this country.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Types of companies | – sole trader, – one-person company, – private limited liability company, – public company |
Minimum capital for a private company | No minimum capital is imposed |
Minimum number of shareholders for a limited company | At least 2 |
| Time frame for the incorporation | Approx. 15 business days |
| Corporate tax rate | – 26% standard rate (surcharge included) for a turnover below 4 billion INR, – 30% for other domestic businesses |
| Dividend tax rate | 10%/20%, depending on the nationality of the shareholder and the value of the dividends |
| VAT rates | – 18% standard rate, – 5%, 12%, 28% other rates |
| Registration steps | – obtaining Digital Signatures for directors, – trading name approval, – document drafting and filing, – Certificate of Registration issuance, – company PAN card issuance, – tax and GST registration, – bank account opening |
| Required documents | – ID/passport of shareholders and directors, – proof of residency of shareholders and directors, – legal address in India, – Memorandum and Articles of Association, – Declarations from the shareholders and directors |
| Do you supply a registered address/virtual office? | Yes |
| Local director required | Yes |
| Are shelf companies available? | Yes |
| Any tax incentives (if applicable) | 5% + 10% surcharge and 4% CESS tax rate available for new manufacturing companies |
| Foreign ownership allowed | Yes |
| Remote registration possibility | Yes, through our company formation specialists |
What are the services provided by your company?
Our specialists can assist in:
- guidance in choosing the most appropriate business form for your company;
- due diligence checks for the shareholders and directors;
- support in filing for the DSC and DIN for the directors;
- documents drafting solutions for each type of company;
- documents filing with the Commercial Register;
- Registration Certificate collection;
- bank account opening support;
- tax and GST registration;
- licensing assistance.
The following video offers a short presentation on the registration of an Indian company in 2026:
What are the main types of companies available for registration in India?
Local and foreign investors can choose between:
- the sole proprietorships;
- the partnership, which can be general or limited;
- the private limited liability company;
- the public limited company;
- the one-person company.
Are there specific business forms available for foreign companies seeking to enter India?
Yes, foreign companies can also benefit from dedicated legal forms, such as:
- the subsidiary: it is treated as a domestic company;
- the branch office: it is an extension of the parent company in India;
- the representative or liaison office: more information about this special entity is available in our dedicated article.
Here is also an infographic:
What are the steps for registering an Indian company?
In order to open a company in India, the investors will need to follow specific incorporation steps, once they have chosen a business form suitable for their investment plans in this country, such as:
- select a trading name for the company, which has to be unique at the level of the entire Indian territory;
- prepare the application for registration of the business name, which should include a minimum of four proposed trading names and a maximum of six;
- once the company’s statutory documents are prepared, they need to be filed with the RoC;
- register for social security, once the company concludes the first employment contract.
What are the documents required to open a company in India?
Here are papers to prepare and file for the incorporation of an Indian company:
- proof of identity for the shareholders and directors: the documents vary based on the nationality of the members, and can consist of national ID or voter cards in the case of nationals, and valid passports in the case of foreign people;
- proof of address of both shareholders and directors (the document must not be older than 2 months);
- recent photographs of the members;
- proof of registered address in India;
- Memorandum and Articles of Association;
- declaration of consent from the directors (Form DIR 2);
- declaration of the shareholder (Form INC 9).
Please note that in the case of foreign-issued papers, authenticated translations are required.
Are there specific requirements to comply with for company directors in India?
For a private limited liability company, the minimum number of directors is 2. As a compliance requirement, they all need to obtain Digital Signature Certificates – DSC – (electronic signatures) and Director Identification Numbers (DIN).
What are the DSC and DIN requirements?
It is necessary to obtain a Director Identification Number (DIN), regardless of the nationality of the future director. The proposed directors will also need a Digital Signature Certificate (DSG), which represents the director’s signature necessary for various company documents that are registered and filed with the Registrar of Companies. More specifically, all the directors will need a Class II Digital Signature Certificate, which can be provided by one of the licensed vendors of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
How long does it take to register a company in India in 2026?
The total time incorporation period for a company in India is about 15 working days, and it includes the trading name approval, document filing and verification, and Registration Certificate issuance.
Our experts can offer more information on how to open a company in India. Please contact our team of consultants in company formation in India for further advice on how to register a business form suitable for the investors’ business plans.