India entry for foreign companies and founders

Choosing the right structure

The single most important decision is which vehicle to use, because it shapes everything that follows — what you can do, what it costs to run, and how cleanly you can exit. The choice turns on a few simple questions, and we work through them with you before any filing begins.

Will you earn revenue in India?

If you will be selling, invoicing or delivering in India, you need a revenue-capable structure — a wholly-owned subsidiary or a branch office. If you only want to explore the market, represent the parent, or gather intelligence, a liaison office is the low-risk, low-cost option that cannot earn income but keeps your flag in India.

Do you want a separate company, or an extension of the parent?

A subsidiary or an LLP with FDI is a distinct Indian entity that contains your liability, can hire and grant equity, and can be sold cleanly. A branch, liaison or project office is an extension of your existing company — simpler in some ways, but more limited, and it keeps the parent more directly exposed.

Is your presence tied to one project?

If you have won a specific contract to execute in India, a project office is purpose-built for it — scoped to the project and wound up when it ends. For open-ended plans, a subsidiary is the durable choice.

The rules every foreign investor should know

100% ownership is usually allowed

In most sectors — technology, software, services, consulting and many others — a foreign company can own 100% of an Indian subsidiary through the automatic route, with no prior government approval needed before investing. Some sectors carry caps or conditions, and a few are off-limits to foreign investment. We run a sector check at the very start so you know exactly where you stand.

You need a resident director or partner

An Indian company needs at least one director who is an Indian resident, and an LLP needs one resident designated partner. This does not dilute your ownership — you can still hold 100% of the economic interest. Where you have no local candidate, a nominee resident director or partner can be arranged, with the terms set out clearly.

Your documents must be apostilled

Foreign-issued documents — your passport, address proof, and the parent company's incorporation certificate and board resolution — must be apostilled in your home country (for Hague Convention countries) or notarised and consularised (for others). We share a country-specific checklist so nothing is rejected for a missing stamp.

Reporting follows your investment

Once your investment comes in, it must be reported to the Reserve Bank of India — the FC-GPR filing within 30 days of share allotment — and an annual return follows each year. We handle this reporting, and offer an ongoing FEMA compliance retainer so your entity stays in good standing without you having to track the deadlines.

Common scenarios, by country

The structure is the same wherever you are based; only the document route differs by country, and we guide you through the one that applies to you. These are the situations we handle most often:

• Open an Indian subsidiary or LLP as a US company or NRI from the USA
• Register an Indian Pvt Ltd as a foreign national from the UK
• Set up an Indian entity from Dubai or the wider UAE
• Expand into India from Singapore with a WOS or branch office
• Incorporate in India as an NRI or company from Canada
• Establish an Indian subsidiary from Australia
• German companies entering India — WOS, branch or liaison office
• Dutch and EU companies setting up in India
• French businesses incorporating an Indian entity
• Japanese companies establishing an India presence
• GCC investors and NRIs entering the Indian market
• Any foreign company or NRI setting up in India

Who we help enter India

The clients who come to us span the full range of India-entry situations. Early-stage founders abroad who need an Indian company to hire a development team. Established companies opening their first revenue-earning presence here. Groups in Singapore or the UAE using India as their next growth market. NRIs bringing capital home into a business or an investment. And foreign companies that incorporated elsewhere and now simply need their Reserve Bank reporting and ongoing FEMA compliance handled properly.

What they have in common is a need for someone trustworthy on the ground in India — to recommend the right structure honestly, set it up correctly, and keep it compliant — without the cost and opacity of a large international firm. That is exactly what we provide: a named advocate and her team, flat fees, and a single point of contact from first enquiry through to ongoing compliance.

Timelines at a glance

The right structure for you also depends on how quickly you need to be operational. As a rough guide: a subsidiary or an LLP is typically set up in around two to three weeks, because neither requires a prior regulatory approval — the main variable is how fast your home-country documents are apostilled. A project office usually takes four to six weeks, and a branch or liaison office six to ten weeks, because each of those is established with the approval of the Reserve Bank of India, routed through your authorised dealer bank, and that approval is in the regulator's hands rather than ours.

In every case, the single fastest thing you can do to speed setup is start the document apostille immediately. We send the checklist on day one and do all the India-side preparation in parallel, so the moment your authenticated documents arrive, the matter moves without further waiting.

Frequently asked questions

Can a foreigner own 100% of an Indian company?

In most sectors, yes — through the automatic route, with no prior government approval needed before investing. Some sectors carry caps or conditions and a few are off-limits, so we run a sector check at the start to confirm your position.

Do I need to be in India to set up?

No. The entire process can be handled remotely. Your part is getting your home-country documents apostilled; we handle everything on the ground in India and act as your point of contact throughout.

Do I need an Indian partner or director?

You can own 100% of the economic interest, but an Indian company needs at least one resident director and an LLP needs one resident designated partner. Where you have no local candidate, a nominee can be arranged, with the terms made clear upfront.

What are the prices?

Each India-entry service has a flat all-inclusive USD fee, shown on its own page and confirmed in writing before any work begins. There is no hourly billing and no upselling.

Why foreign clients work with us

Entering a new jurisdiction is daunting precisely because you cannot see the rules from outside it. Our role is to be your eyes and hands on the ground: a single, named Indian advocate and her team who own your setup end to end, advise you honestly on the right structure rather than the most expensive one, and price the work as a flat USD fee agreed before anything begins. There is no upselling, and you always deal with the same people — in English — across time zones.

To start, tell us where you are based, what you want to do in India, and your rough timeline. We will recommend the right structure and lay out the steps, the cost and the documents — clearly, before you commit. Write to foreign@lawland.in or book a scoping call. There is no obligation in that first conversation — its only purpose is to make sure you choose the right structure for your plans before any money or time is committed.