Liaison Office · India Setup

Open Your Liaison Office In India

A legal Indian presence — for research, communication, and relationship-building — without commercial activity.

A Văn phòng Liên lạc lets your foreign company maintain a presence in India under RBI approval via FEMA — fully legal, fully compliant. We handle everything from eligibility to go-live.

Nhận tư vấn miễn phí → Kiểm tra điều kiện của tôi
2K+
Công ty nước ngoài
60+
Các quốc gia được phục vụ
18+
Kinh nghiệm
Liaison Office India
Hiểu Cấu Trúc

Your Presence in India — Without the Commitment.

A Liaison Office (LO) is a representative office approved by the RBI under FEMA. It lets your foreign company communicate, explore, and build relationships in India — without any commercial operations. All expenses must be funded by inward remittance from your parent company abroad.

Điều gì làm cho nó khác biệt

A Liaison Office is the lowest-commitment, lowest-risk way for a foreign company to establish a legal presence in India. Unlike a Branch Office or Subsidiary, it cannot earn a single rupee — but it gives you a real, RBI-approved foothold to explore before you commit.

Think of it as your India listening post — legal, staffed, and operational — while your full market entry strategy takes shape.

Zero commercial risk · RBI approved · Renewable every 3 years
Liaison Office India
Dành cho ai
→Foreign companies wanting India presence before full commitment
→Companies exploring market entry strategies
→Businesses building Indian partnerships or supply chains
→Those not yet ready for Branch Office or Subsidiary
Duration & Renewal
→Initial approval valid for 3 years
→Renewable — apply at least 2 months before expiry
→Can convert to Branch Office or Subsidiary anytime
→Continuous compliance with RBI & FEMA required
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Not sure if a Liaison Office is right for you?

We compare it with Branch Office and Subsidiary — free, in 15 minutes.

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RBI Permitted Activities

What Your Liaison Office Can & Cannot Do

RBI specifies a defined list of permitted activities for a Liaison Office. Your office can only operate within these boundaries — we advise you on every activity before you proceed.

Các hoạt động được phép
✓Represent the parent company in India
✓Promote import & export of parent’s products/services
✓Conduct market research and feasibility studies
✓Facilitate technical or financial collaborations
✓Act as communication channel between parent & Indian entities
✓Provide liaison and coordination support to parent company
Not Permitted
✕Earn any revenue or income in India
✕Trade or conduct any commercial activity
✕Sign contracts in its own name
✕Charge fees for any service rendered
✕Manufacture or process goods in India
✕Legal consultancy (explicitly prohibited — RBI draft 2025)
Earning income — even inadvertently — is a FEMA violation with serious penalties.
We review every proposed activity before you begin. No grey areas go unadvised.
Get Free Advice →
Unsure if your activities are permitted?

Tell us what your India operations need to do — we’ll advise on the right structure in one business day.

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Điều kiện RBI

Bạn có Đủ điều kiện?

01 —
Profitable Track Record
The parent company must have a profit-making track record for the immediately preceding 3 financial years in the home country.
02 —
Minimum Net Worth
Net worth of not less than USD 50,000 (or equivalent) as per the latest audited balance sheet.
✦ 2025 Draft: Threshold proposed to be removed
03 —
Permitted Sector
Proposed activities must fall within the list of permitted liaison activities under FEMA — not from a restricted or approval-required FDI sector.
04 —
Letter of Comfort
If the applicant is a Công ty con and does not meet the criteria independently, a qualifying parent or group company can provide a Letter of Comfort to RBI.
← vuốt để xem cả 4 →
Được chi phối bởi FEMA Notification No. 22(R)/2016-RB · Processed via Authorised Dealer Category-I Bank
Kiểm tra tính đủ điều kiện của tôi →
Quy trình từng bước

Cách chúng tôi thiết lập Dành cho bạn

⏱ Average 6–8 Weeks
01
Ngày 1
Đánh giá điều kiện miễn phí
Company profile, financials & proposed activities reviewed before any applications are filed
02
Ngày 2–7
Document Preparation & Apostille
Personalised checklist · Collection · Notarisation · Apostille — nothing bounced back
03
Week 2–5
Nộp mẫu FNC cho Ngân hàng AD
RBI application submitted via Authorised Dealer Bank · All follow-ups managed by us
04
Week 4–6
RBI Approval — UIN Issued
Unique Identification Number issued · Initial approval valid for 3 years · Renewable
05
Week 6–7
ROC Registration — Form FC-1
Form FC-1 filed with Registrar of Companies via MCA portal within 30 days of RBI approval
06
Week 7–8
Bank Account + PAN + TAN
Indian bank account opened · PAN & TAN applied · Ready to receive inward remittances
07
Week 8+
Bàn giao & Tuân thủ liên tục
Liaison Office live · Annual filings · Renewal support · Closure or conversion managed
Most clients are live within 6–8 weeks.
We reduce delays by submitting complete, correctly prepared documents from day one.
Bắt đầu Ngay →
Next — what you need to provide

Documents Required

We send you a complete, personalised checklist after your first call. Here’s what’s typically required — we guide every step of collection and legalisation.

Certificate of Incorporation (apostilled / notarised)
Memorandum & Articles of Association
Board resolution authorising LO setup in India
Audited financial statements (last 3 years)
Banker’s report from home country bank
KYC of authorised representative / Principal Officer
Details of proposed activities in India
Letter of Comfort from parent (if subsidiary)
Proof of registered office address in India
Power of Attorney (if head of company not signing)
We Handle This
Country-specific checklist sent after first call
We guide notarisation & apostille for every document
Indian Embassy attestation where required
Review before submission — nothing bounced back
Certified English translation arranged if needed
Note: All documents must be in English or with certified translation. Apostille required for Hague Convention countries.
Get My Document Checklist →
Tuân thủ liên tục

We Keep You Compliant, Always.

A Liaison Office has significant ongoing compliance obligations. We manage every filing so your LO stays active, RBI-compliant, and renewal-ready — throughout the full lifecycle.

01
Annual Activity Certificate
Filed by CA with AD Bank and DGIT (International Taxation) each year. Confirms only permitted activities were conducted.
02
Tờ khai thuế thu nhập
Mandatory even though the LO earns no income. Filed under Section 139(1) of the Income Tax Act annually.
03
ROC Annual Filings
Form FC-3 (financial statements) and Form FC-4 (annual return) filed with MCA within prescribed deadlines each year.
04
FLA Return
Foreign Liabilities and Assets return filed with RBI by July 15 each year, if any foreign assets or liabilities are outstanding.
05
Kiểm toán bắt buộc
Annual audit of books under Indian accounting standards by a practising CA — mandatory for all Liaison Offices in India.
06
Renewal Application
Renewal submitted at least 2 months before expiry. We prepare and submit all renewal documentation and manage the process.
← vuốt để xem tất cả 6 →
Yêu cầu
Tần số
Kiểu
Ngày đến hạn
Annual Activity Certificate
Filed with AD Bank + DGIT
Hằng năm
RBI
Within 6 months of FY end
Tờ khai thuế thu nhập
Even with zero income
Hằng năm
Thuế
By 30 November
ROC Filing — FC-3 & FC-4
Financial statements + Annual return
Hằng năm
ROC
Trong vòng 6 tháng
FLA Return
Foreign Liabilities & Assets
Hằng năm
RBI
By 15 July
LO Renewal Application
Every 3 years (current regulations)
Every 3 Yrs
Critical
2 months before expiry
Renewal & Closure — Fully Managed
We handle renewal submissions 2 months before expiry. Formal closure includes tax clearances, RBI & ROC filings. Conversion to Branch Office or Subsidiary also managed.
Discuss Renewal / Closure →
Already have a Liaison Office in India?

We take over your compliance from where you are — no disruption to operations.

Transfer Compliance →
Tại sao lại là Mercurius

We Are Not a
Document-Filing Service.

We are your India market entry partner from day one. 100+ foreign companies have trusted us with their Liaison Office — from eligibility to renewal and beyond.

One Expert, Start to Finish
No handoffs. No confusion. One dedicated consultant manages your entire setup and compliance — from eligibility check to renewal and beyond. You always know who to call.
Transparent, Fixed Pricing
You know the cost upfront. No hidden fees, no surprises when RBI approval takes longer, no upsells at any stage. One fixed fee agreed before we begin.
Faster RBI Approvals
We know exactly what AD banks and RBI look for. Our document checklist eliminates avoidable rejections and re-submissions — reducing delays from the very first submission.
Built for Foreign Companies
We work exclusively with clients from the US, UK, Europe, Middle East, and Southeast Asia entering India for the first time — we understand the unique challenges you face.
← vuốt để xem thêm →
100+
LOs Set Up
0%
Các trường hợp bị RBI từ chối
6–8w
Avg Setup Time
24hr
Response Time
Ready to start your India market exploration?

Free 30-minute consultation — eligibility, options, and a transparent quote. No obligation.

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Câu hỏi thường gặp

Got Questions?

Everything foreign companies ask about setting up a Liaison Office in India — answered by our professional team.

Vẫn còn câu hỏi nào khác không?
Our professional responds within 24 hours — no sales pitch, straight answers.
Ask our professional Directly →
Does a Liaison Office need RBI approval?+
Yes. Every Liaison Office requires prior approval from the RBI through an Authorised Dealer Category-I bank. Approval is currently granted for 3 years and is renewable. We manage the entire approval process from application to UIN issuance.
How long does the Liaison Office approval take?+
Typically 6–8 tuần from document submission. RBI review takes 4–6 weeks. We reduce delays by submitting complete, correctly prepared documents from day one — no avoidable re-submissions.
Can a Liaison Office earn any income in India?+
No. A Liaison Office cannot earn any income in India. All expenses must be funded by inward remittances from the parent company abroad. Earning income — even inadvertently — is a FEMA violation and can result in serious penalties.
Not sure if your activities count as income? We review every proposed activity before you begin.
Get Free Advice →
How long is the initial approval valid?+
Under current 2016 regulations, 3 years from the date of approval, renewable. The 2025 RBI draft proposes removing tenure limits entirely, allowing indefinite operation subject to ongoing compliance. We advise all clients on regulatory updates as they happen.
How do we renew a Liaison Office?+
Renewal applications must be submitted to your AD bank at least 2 months before expiry. We prepare and submit all renewal documentation and manage the process on your behalf — you don’t need to track deadlines.
What if we want to start doing business in India later?+
A Liaison Office can be converted into a Branch Office or Wholly Owned Subsidiary. We advise on timing, structure, and manage the conversion process — including all RBI and ROC filings. Many of our clients start with an LO and graduate to a full entity.
Can a Liaison Office hire Indian employees?+
Yes. A Liaison Office can hire local staff. You must comply with applicable labour laws including PF, ESIC, and the Shops & Establishments Act. We set up all employment compliance as part of our handover service.
Have a question we didn’t answer? Talk to our India entry team — free, no obligation.
Ask Us Directly →
Let’s Connect

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