India rules · all investors
Documents: India rules for foreign companies
CA Utsav Dogra, Chartered Accountant, ICAI M. No. 542375
Indian authorities and banks read foreign documents literally. The company name, registered address and the names of directors must match exactly across the registry extract, the constitution, the resolution and passports. A missing middle name or an abbreviated company name is enough for a query.
Getting documents right the first time
Indian authorities and banks read foreign documents literally. The company name, registered address and the names of directors must match exactly across the registry extract, the constitution, the resolution and passports. A missing middle name or an abbreviated company name is enough for a query.
Registry extracts and good-standing certificates should be recent when filed; many reviewers expect them to be under three months old. Resolutions should name the Indian company, the amount to be invested, the number of shares and the person authorised to sign on the parent's behalf.
Where documents are in a language other than English, a certified translation must accompany the legalised original. The translation should be bound with, or clearly linked to, the document it translates.
The document set
| Document | Watch for |
|---|---|
| Registry extract or certificate of incorporation | Recent issue date; exact legal name |
| Constitution | Latest version including amendments |
| Board or shareholder resolution | Names the Indian company, amount and authorised signatory |
| Director passports and address proof | Same spelling everywhere |
Checklist
- Fresh registry extract or good-standing certificate
- Certified copy of the current constitution
- Board resolution with amount, shares and signatory
- Passports and address proof for each director
- Translations bound with originals
- Indian review before legalisation
Common mistakes
- Legalising documents before Indian review
- Old registry extracts
- Different spellings of names across documents
- Resolutions that do not name the authorised signatory
How this applies to your country
- USA to India en-US
- UK to India en-GB
- Japan to India en-JP
- Germany to India en-DE
- Singapore to India en-SG
- Australia to India en-AU
- China to India en-CN
- Hong Kong to India en-HK
- Russia to India en-RU
- Spain to India en-ES
- France to India en-FR
- UAE to India en-AE
Our service: Indian subsidiary incorporation
Questions
Can scanned copies be used?
Scans are filed with the MCA, but the legalised originals should be kept and are often requested by banks.
Do individual directors' documents need legalisation?
Identity and address proofs of foreign directors are usually notarised and legalised in the same way as company documents.
Do foreign documents need consular attestation?
Generally no; an apostille is accepted. Confirm for each document type.
Queries
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