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Company Registration in India from the UK

Planning company registration in India from the UK? This guide covers what the new UK–India trade agreement means in practice, how UK document authentication works for Indian filings, the entry structures open to you, and the steps involved in incorporation.

What CETA means for company registration in India from the UK

The UK–India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) entered into force on 15 July 2026. Under it, around 99% of Indian goods entering the UK and roughly 90% of UK goods entering India are duty-free or carry reduced tariffs, with both governments targeting USD 100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030. It is a trade agreement, not a change to Indian company law, but it is a real signal for UK businesses weighing a direct India presence: lower landed costs for goods crossing between the two markets make local manufacturing, sourcing or distribution set-ups more commercially attractive than they were a year ago.

Documents for company registration in India from the UK: apostille, not embassy legalisation

The UK has been a Hague Apostille Convention member for decades, and India has applied the Convention since 2005. In practice, this means documents executed in the UK for Indian company registration — identity documents, board resolutions, powers of attorney — are apostilled by the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) legalisation office, rather than going through the slower embassy-legalisation route required for non-member countries.

Entry structures for company registration in India from the UK

Most UK companies set up a wholly owned subsidiary — a separate Indian private limited company that lets you trade, hire and invoice directly. Full UK shareholding may be permitted where the relevant sector allows it, subject to the applicable FDI cap, entry route and conditions. A Branch Office extends your existing UK company into India for permitted activities such as consultancy, export/import or professional services, without a new legal entity. A Liaison Office suits UK businesses that only need a representative presence — market research or coordinating with Indian partners — without conducting commercial activity.

One point that surprises many UK boards: under Section 149(3) of the Companies Act, 2013, every Indian company — including a UK-owned subsidiary — needs at least one director resident in India for 182 days or more in the financial year, regardless of where the rest of the board sits. Where your UK directors will only visit periodically, this is usually resolved with a professional resident director alongside your existing 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 UK 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.

Double taxation and repatriation

India and the UK have a double taxation avoidance agreement, as amended by protocol. The treaty may provide rates or relief for certain dividends, interest and royalties, but the applicable article, beneficial ownership, recipient eligibility, documentation and rules in force at payment must be checked before relying on a reduced rate. Dividends may generally be remitted through the applicable banking and foreign-exchange process, subject to corporate approvals, tax withholding and supporting documents.

Company registration process in India from the UK, step by step

For a subsidiary, incorporation typically follows this sequence:

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

For the full walkthrough, see our step-by-step incorporation guide.

FAQs: company registration in India from the UK

Does the UK–India CETA change how I register a company in India? No — company registration in India from the UK still follows the same Companies Act, 2013 process; CETA is a tariff and market-access agreement for trade in goods and services, not a change to incorporation law. It does make it a more attractive time for UK businesses to set up an Indian entity, since it lowers duties on goods moving between the two countries.

Do UK documents need embassy legalisation for Indian company registration? No. Company registration in India from the UK uses the apostille route: the UK has been a Hague Apostille Convention member for decades, so UK-issued documents (identity proofs, board resolutions, powers of attorney) generally only need an apostille from the UK’s FCDO legalisation office, not full Indian embassy legalisation.

Can a UK company be the 100% shareholder of an Indian subsidiary? A UK investor may be able to own 100% of an Indian subsidiary where the relevant sector permits it. The applicable FDI cap, entry route, sector-specific conditions and investor-level restrictions must be checked for the proposed activity before confirming the ownership structure.

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 the UK can start with any authorised capital amount your business plan calls for.

How long does company registration in India from the UK 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 the UK 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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