Company Registration in India from South Korea

Planning company registration in India from South Korea? This guide covers why the Korea–India relationship is actively deepening right now, what the Apostille arrangement means for your paperwork, the entry structures available to you, and the practical steps involved in incorporation.

Why now is a good time for company registration in India from South Korea

India and South Korea have agreed to fast-track an upgrade of their existing Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA 2.0), aimed at reducing non-tariff barriers and expanding bilateral trade toward a USD 50 billion target by 2030. Korean FDI into India has already reached roughly USD 10.29 billion cumulatively, led by household names like Samsung Electronics, Hyundai, LG Electronics and Kia — but the newer, more relevant development for smaller Korean businesses is the announced Korean Industrial Township, a dedicated zone intended specifically to ease market entry for Korean SMEs, alongside a new bilateral Industrial Cooperation Committee. India is actively building infrastructure to make this easier for mid-sized Korean companies, not only the conglomerates that have been present for decades.

Documents for company registration in India from South Korea: apostille, not embassy legalisation

South Korea has been a Hague Apostille Convention member for decades, and India has applied the Convention since 2005. In practice, this means documents executed in Korea for Indian company registration — director and shareholder documents, board resolutions, powers of attorney — generally only need an apostille rather than the slower embassy legalisation process required for non-member countries.

Entry structures for company registration in India from South Korea

Most Korean companies choose a wholly owned subsidiary — a separate Indian company with full operational control. A Korean investor may be able to hold 100% of the shares where the relevant sector permits it, subject to applicable FDI caps, entry routes, conditions and investor-specific restrictions. A Branch Office extends an existing Korean company into India for permitted activities such as consultancy, export/import or technical support, without a new legal entity. A Liaison Office suits Korean businesses that only need a representative presence for market research or partner coordination, without conducting commercial activity.

A requirement that surprises many Korean boards: under Section 149(3) of the Companies Act, 2013, every Indian company — including one wholly owned by a Korean parent — needs at least one director resident in India for 182 days or more in the financial year, even where the rest of the board is Korea-based. This is usually addressed with a professional resident director alongside your own board. See our complete guide to the resident director requirement for how it works and what it costs.

Once your subsidiary is running, two further annual filings apply on top of standard RoC compliance: the FLA Return to the RBI, and — if your Indian company transacts with its Korean parent, such as management fees or intercompany charges — Form 3CEB transfer pricing documentation. See our guide to FLA Return and transfer pricing compliance for the deadlines and what each actually requires.

For the full document checklist and how India's FDI automatic-vs-government-approval route split works by sector, see our step-by-step incorporation guide.

Company registration process in India from South Korea, step by step

Incorporating a subsidiary typically follows this sequence:

Obtain a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) and Director Identification Number (DIN) for your directors.
Reserve your company name with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
Prepare and apostille the required Korean director and shareholder documents.
File the SPICe+ incorporation form and supporting documents.
Complete post-incorporation steps — PAN, TAN, a bank account and GST registration where applicable.

See our step-by-step incorporation guide for the full walkthrough.

FAQs: company registration in India from South Korea

Do Korean documents need embassy legalisation for India? No. Company registration in India from South Korea uses the apostille route: South Korea has been a Hague Apostille Convention member for decades, so documents executed in Korea for Indian company registration generally only need an apostille, not full embassy legalisation.

What is the Korean Industrial Township initiative? For company registration in India from South Korea, it is a dedicated industrial zone announced to make it easier for Korean SMEs specifically — not just large conglomerates — to set up manufacturing operations in India, alongside a new Industrial Cooperation Committee between the two governments.

Is there a Korean-language version of this site? Yes — AU Corporate publishes a full Korean-language site at registercompanyinindia.com/ko for readers who prefer to work in Korean; this English guide covers company registration in India from South Korea for readers working with English-speaking advisors.

Is there a minimum capital requirement? No. India abolished the minimum paid-up capital requirement for private limited companies years ago, so company registration in India from South Korea can start with any authorised capital amount your business plan calls for.

How long does company registration in India from South Korea take? A straightforward case may take several weeks after complete, correctly authenticated documents are available. Timing depends on digital-signature and director-identification steps, name availability, filing review and any requests for correction. Banking and funding often continue after incorporation.

How much does company registration in India from South Korea cost? The MCA government filing fee for the SPICe+ incorporation form itself is nil for authorised capital up to ₹15 lakh — which covers most new subsidiaries outright — under Schedule I of the Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014. On top of that, state stamp duty applies and varies depending on which Indian state you register your office in, plus document authentication and professional fees. We quote a fixed total once we know your structure and registered office state.

Explore other markets

AU Corporate publishes dedicated guides for businesses entering India from other markets, and a full introduction to our team on the About AU Corporate page.

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