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, with 100% UK shareholding permitted under the automatic route in most sectors. 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.

Double taxation and repatriation

India and the UK have had a double taxation avoidance agreement in force since 1993 (updated by a 2013 protocol), which sets reduced withholding tax rates on dividends, interest and royalties flowing between the two countries. Once withholding tax is deducted, dividends from your Indian subsidiary are freely repatriable to the UK.

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

For a subsidiary, incorporation 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 UK 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.

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? Yes. For company registration in India from the UK, most sectors permit 100% FDI in an Indian private limited company under the automatic route, so a UK parent can hold the full shareholding without prior government approval, subject to standard sectoral conditions.

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? Typically around 10–15 working days once your UK director and shareholder documents are apostilled and ready, covering DSC and DIN issuance, name approval and SPICe+ processing — though name-approval or document queries can extend this.

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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