RBI Approval (Application & Liaison)
Application preparation and liaison for the required RBI approval.
CORPORATE & COMMERCIAL ADVISORY · ENTITY FORMATION
Liaison Office of Foreign Company
Your Gateway to the Indian Market
OUR SERVICES FOR LIAISON OFFICE
Coordinated support from planning to setup
Bring the formation steps and connected requirements into one considered plan.
Documentation & Drafting
Prepare the application, company documents and supporting authorisations.
Regulatory Compliance Support
Plan compliance obligations for the Liaison Office.
Bank Account Opening Assistance
Coordinate documentation and practical account-opening steps.
Change in Activities or Extension
Support requests to change permitted activities or extend the approval.
Annual Filings & Reporting
Coordinate applicable annual reporting and filing requirements.
Closure / Exit Advisory
Plan closure, exit and associated regulatory steps.
KEY BENEFITS
Why choose Liaison Office of Foreign Company?
A Liaison Office can support a foreign company's market research and communication with Indian businesses, subject to restrictions on commercial activities and applicable approvals. The intended scope should be clearly documented before setup.
Considered for your next chapter.
Official presence in one of the world's fastest growing markets
Build an approved representative presence while studying the Indian market.
Understand the Indian market and business environment
Develop market intelligence and understand local commercial conditions.
Build long-term business relationships
Create connections with potential partners, vendors and other stakeholders.
No income generation or direct tax liability
A Liaison Office is restricted from commercial activity and generating income in India.
Cost-effective market entry option
Assess a representative-office route before committing to a broader operating structure.
Support for future expansion
Use market learning to evaluate a future Branch, subsidiary or Project Office.
Access to vendors, partners and talent
Build awareness of relevant Indian business networks.
Enhanced brand visibility and credibility
Represent the foreign business in line with applicable Liaison Office permissions.
BUSINESS STRUCTURE & TAXATION ASPECTS
Represent your business and understand the market
A Liaison Office can support a foreign company's market research and communication with Indian businesses, subject to restrictions on commercial activities and applicable approvals. The intended scope should be clearly documented before setup.
- Representative office
A Liaison Office represents the foreign company in India and is not a separate legal entity.
- No commercial activity
It cannot undertake commercial, trading or industrial activity in India.
- Market research and relationships
Permitted liaison work can support market understanding and business relationships.
- Approval-linked duration
The validity and any extension depend on the applicable approval and requirements.
Clarity for what comes next.
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
Which Structure is Right for Your Foreign Business?
Compare foreign-company structures by purpose, permitted activity, duration and ongoing requirements.
| Features | Branch Office (of Foreign Company) | Project Office (of Foreign Company) | Wholly Owned Subsidiary Company | Joint Venture | Liaison Office (of Foreign Company) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | General business activities | Execution of specific project | Full business operations | Business collaboration | Market research & liaison |
| Legal Status | Extension of foreign company | Temporary presence | Separate Indian company | Separate company / partnership | Representative office |
| Ownership | 100% by foreign company | 100% by foreign company | 100% by foreign company | Shared ownership | 100% by foreign company |
| Permitted Activities | Wider business activities (as per RBI) | Project-specific activities only | Full business operations | As per JV agreement | Only liaison activities (no commercial activity) |
| RBI Approval | Required | Required | Required (FDI route) | Required (if FDI) | Required |
| Taxation | Taxed in India (on actual income) | Taxed in India (on project income) | Indian corporate tax rates | Indian corporate tax rates | No direct taxation (only representative expenses) |
| Duration | No fixed period | Linked to project period | Perpetual | As per agreement | Generally 3 years (renewable) |
| Repatriation of Profits | Allowed (as per law) | Allowed (after project completion) | Allowed (dividends) | As per JV agreement | Not applicable |
| Suitable For | Long-term market presence | Specific project execution | Scalable and independent business | Strategic partnerships | Initial market study and business promotion |
Use this overview as a starting point for advice on the proposed structure and circumstances.
INCORPORATION PROCESS
Simple, Transparent and Timely
A clear sequence from market-entry planning and RBI application to approval and commencement of liaison activities.
Initial Consultation & Strategy
Review India market-entry objectives and permitted representative activities.
Preparation of Application & Documents
Compile company, financial, representative and office documentation.
Filing with RBI
Submit the application for review; filing and processing commonly takes 2–4 weeks.
RBI Review & Clarifications
Respond to regulatory queries; review may take a further 2–6 weeks.
Approval & Establishment
Complete the approval-linked establishment steps, typically in 1–2 weeks.
Bank Account Opening
Coordinate banking documentation and account opening.
Commencement of Liaison Activities
Begin only the representative activities permitted by the approval.
DOCUMENTS & REQUIREMENTS
Key Documents (Illustrative List)
The exact checklist depends on the proposed entity, participants and activities. We will confirm requirements for your circumstances.
- Board Resolution of the foreign company
- Certificate of incorporation (notarised & apostilled)
- Memorandum & Articles of Association
- Latest financial statements (last 3 years)
- Power of Attorney / Authorisation
- Business plan and activities in India
- Details of proposed office address (rent agreement / NOC)
- KYC documents of authorised representative
- Undertaking regarding no commercial activity
- Other sector-specific documents (if applicable)
OUR PROFESSIONAL FEES
Transparent and value-driven
Choose a formation package based on the level of support you need. The scope can be confirmed against your requirements before proceeding.
Basic Package
₹34,999/-- RBI application drafting
- Document review & compilation
- Liaison with RBI
- Basic compliance guidance
Comprehensive Package
₹59,999/-- Complete application process
- RBI liaison and follow-up
- Bank account opening support
- Office setup advisory
- Initial compliance advisory (3 months)
Customised Solutions
Sector-specific advisory, ongoing compliance, change in activities or extension, closure and repatriation support, and support for conversion to a Branch, subsidiary or Project Office.
Get a QuoteGovernment charges, applicable taxes and third-party costs are confirmed separately as part of the proposed scope.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Browse all FAQs A few useful answers
Common questions about Liaison Office formation and planning.
What is a Liaison Office of a foreign company?
Can a Liaison Office generate income in India?
What is the validity of a Liaison Office approval?
Is RBI approval mandatory for a Liaison Office?
Can a Liaison Office be converted to a Branch or Subsidiary?
What are the compliance requirements after establishment?
TESTIMONIALS
Clear advice. Practical direction.
Perspectives shared with permission by clients of our advisory teams.
Astronis Global brought clarity and commercial focus to a complex restructuring exercise. Their advice was practical, timely and easy for our leadership team to act on.
The team understood our regulatory requirements quickly and helped us move forward with confidence. We valued their responsiveness and disciplined follow-through.
Astronis Global provided dependable support across multiple registrations and approvals. Their communication was clear, structured and consistently professional.
INSIGHTS & EVENTS
View all insights Latest Articles, Updates and Events
KNOWLEDGE CENTRE
Guides, checklists and templates
Explore resources to help organise your formation planning.
YOUR NEXT CHAPTER STARTS HERE
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