Business Setup · Panaji, Goa
Complete liaison office setup in India for foreign companies — RBI approval under FEMA via Form FNC through an authorised dealer bank — giving you a low-risk representative presence to explore the market, build relationships and promote your brand, managed from Goa.
Overview
A liaison office (also called a representative office) is a foreign company's non-commercial presence in India. It can represent the parent, promote the business, gather market intelligence and act as a communication channel — but it cannot carry on any commercial or income-earning activity and must be funded entirely by inward remittances from the parent.
Setting up needs RBI approval under FEMA, applied for in Form FNC through an authorised dealer bank, and the parent generally needs a profit track record and net worth of at least USD 50,000. The approval is typically valid for three years and renewable. As market entry deepens, a liaison office often converts to a branch office or an Indian subsidiary.
What's covered
Liaison office approval, setup and renewal.
Get a fixed-fee quote →Checking net worth and track record for a liaison office.
Filing the FNC application through the AD bank for approval.
Defining permitted liaison activities to stay compliant.
Obtaining PAN, the bank account and the RBI UIN.
Annual Activity Certificate and FLA filings.
Renewing the office or converting to a branch / subsidiary.
Our process
We verify the parent's net worth and track record.
We file Form FNC through the AD bank.
We obtain PAN, UIN and the bank account.
We manage compliance and renewals.
Frequently asked questions
A liaison office, or representative office, is a foreign company's non-commercial presence in India used to liaise between the parent and Indian parties, promote the business and gather market information. It cannot carry on any commercial activity or earn income in India.
A liaison office cannot undertake any trading, commercial or industrial activity, cannot earn income in India, and must meet all its expenses through inward remittances from the parent abroad. Breaching these limits risks the approval, so we scope activities carefully.
The foreign parent generally needs a profit-making track record over the preceding three financial years in its home country and a net worth of at least USD 50,000 or equivalent, certified by its auditor. We assess eligibility and prepare the certificate.
A liaison office approval is typically granted for three years and can be renewed, while certain entities such as NBFCs and those in construction have a shorter term. We track the validity and handle renewals before expiry.
A liaison office is funded entirely by remittances from the parent and, because it earns no income in India, it is generally not liable to income tax — though it must still file the prescribed annual certificates and returns. We manage these filings.
Choose a liaison office to explore the market at low risk without commercial activity, and a branch office when you want to carry on permitted income-earning activities. Many companies start with a liaison office and upgrade as their India plans firm up.
Book a free consultation and share your parent company financials and objectives. We confirm eligibility, obtain RBI approval and set up the office, on a transparent fee.
Related services
Book a free consultation with a qualified Chartered Accountant in Goa. We'll obtain RBI approval and set up your liaison office — no obligation.