Overview
A liaison office is the lightest form of presence a foreign company can hold in India. It may represent the parent, promote its products, gather market information and act as a communication channel — but it cannot carry on business, earn income, or issue invoices in India.
Because it earns nothing, the office is funded entirely by inward remittance from the parent, and the Reserve Bank of India expects the parent to have a track record before approving the application. Eligibility is worth confirming before any documentation begins.
We assess eligibility first, then manage the application through your authorised dealer bank, the registration that follows, and the annual reporting the office must maintain thereafter.
Who this is for
- Foreign companies testing the Indian market before committing to trade
- Manufacturers wanting local technical and customer liaison without a taxable presence
- Groups coordinating sourcing or quality inspection from India
- Parents with a suitable profit and net-worth track record
What the engagement includes
- Eligibility assessment against RBI profit and net-worth criteria
- Preparation of the application and supporting annexures
- Filing through your authorised dealer bank and liaison with the Reserve Bank of India
- Registration with the Registrar of Companies and PAN application
- Guidance on permitted and prohibited activities for the office
- Annual activity certificate and reporting support
Documents you will need
- Certificate of incorporation and charter documents of the parent, apostilled
- Audited financial statements for the preceding financial years
- Board resolution approving the liaison office and appointing the authorised representative
- Bankers’ report from the parent’s banker
- Passport and address proof of the proposed representative in India
- Proposed Indian office address proof and no-objection certificate
How it works
- Eligibility review — Parent profile, net worth and profit record checked against RBI criteria.
- Documentation — Application, annexures and attested parent documents assembled.
- AD bank filing — Application submitted through your authorised dealer bank to the RBI.
- Registration — On approval, ROC registration and PAN completed.
- Ongoing reporting — Annual activity certificate and statutory filings maintained.
Typical timeline. Commonly six to ten weeks in total, driven mainly by the AD bank and RBI review rather than by the documentation.
Questions about Liaison Office Setup
Can a liaison office raise invoices or sign contracts in India?
No. It may not carry on any commercial, trading or industrial activity, and it cannot earn income in India. Signing revenue contracts would put the office outside its permitted scope. If you need to trade, a branch office or subsidiary is the right structure.
How is a liaison office funded?
Entirely through inward remittance from the parent company. All expenses must be met from those funds, which is why the RBI examines the parent’s financial standing before approving the application.
Is there a minimum track record for the parent?
The Reserve Bank of India looks for a profit-making record over recent financial years and a minimum net worth, evidenced by audited accounts and a bankers’ report. We assess this before you spend on documentation.
How long does the approval remain valid?
Approvals are granted for a defined period and can generally be extended by the authorised dealer bank on application, provided the office has filed its annual activity certificates and remained within its permitted scope.
Professional fee
Starting From ₹1,49,999
Government fees and third-party charges billed separately, at actuals.
● Commonly six to ten weeks in total, driven mainly by the AD bank and RBI review rather than by the documentation.
● First consultation is free, with no obligation to proceed.
● Written scope and fee estimate before any work begins.
Related services
Often needed alongside this
Branch Office Registration
Starting From ₹1,99,999
Trade and earn revenue in India as part of your foreign parent — with the approvals and reporting that come with it handled properly.
Foreign Company Registration in India
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End-to-end assistance for registering a foreign company in India — from the first document checklist to your first compliant filing.
FEMA & RBI Advisory
Starting From ₹14,999 per consultation
A documented opinion your bank, auditor or board can rely on — not a verbal reassurance.
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