Sirius Global Solutions Limited is a UK-incorporated consultancy based in Stanmore, Greater London, providing end-to-end company registration services in India for UK businesses — from Wholly Owned Subsidiary formation and FEMA compliance to ongoing India statutory filings.
Sirius Global Solutions Limited guides UK businesses through every step of registering a company in India — choosing the right structure, handling FEMA and RBI obligations, filing on MCA21, and managing ongoing India statutory compliance — all coordinated from our Stanmore office.
India's regulatory framework provides multiple legal structures for UK businesses. The right choice depends on your sector, commercial objectives, FDI eligibility, and appetite for ongoing compliance. Sirius Global Solutions assesses your position and recommends the optimal route before you commit a single pound.
A Private Limited Company under India's Companies Act 2013 — 100% owned by your UK parent. Separate legal entity with full liability protection. Eligible for FDI under the automatic route in most sectors.
An extension of your UK parent in India — not a separate legal entity. Permitted for specified activities: export/import, professional services, research, and IT. Requires prior RBI approval via Form FNC.
A communication and representation channel only — no revenue generation or commercial contracts permitted. Ideal for UK businesses exploring the Indian market before committing to full incorporation. Requires RBI approval.
A Limited Liability Partnership with Indian national(s) or companies. Suitable where a local partner brings sector expertise, regulatory approvals, or distribution advantage. Foreign investment in LLPs subject to FEMA.
A structured comparison of the four India entry routes across the criteria that matter most to UK businesses.
| Criteria | WOS (Pvt Ltd) | Branch Office | Liaison Office | LLP / JV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Separate Legal Entity | ✓ Yes | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Commercial Revenue Permitted | ✓ Full | Limited | ✗ None | ✓ Full |
| RBI Prior Approval Required | ✗ Not required (Auto Route) | ✓ Required | ✓ Required | ✗ Auto Route (most sectors) |
| 100% UK Ownership | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes (parent owned) | ✓ Yes (parent owned) | Partial (JV) |
| Can Employ Indian Staff Directly | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | Limited | ✓ Yes |
| Profit Repatriation to UK | ✓ Via Dividend | ✓ Direct to parent | ✗ Not Applicable | ✓ Partner's share |
| India Corporate Tax Applicable | ✓ 22–25% | ✓ 40% (foreign co.) | ✗ Expenses only | ✓ 30% (LLP rate) |
| Avg. Incorporation Timeline | 4–7 weeks | 8–14 weeks (incl. RBI) | 8–14 weeks (incl. RBI) | 4–8 weeks |
| Best Suited For | Full commercial operations, tech, manufacturing, services | Export/import, IT services, consultancy | Market exploration, research, partnerships | Regulated sectors, local distribution, gov't contracts |
From initial consultation to a fully operational, FEMA-compliant Indian entity — here is our complete seven-step process for UK businesses registering in India.
Obtain Class 3 Digital Signature Certificates (DSC) for all proposed directors and apply for Director Identification Numbers (DIN) via the MCA21 portal. We coordinate all documentation from the UK including apostilled passport copies and address proofs.
3–5 Working DaysFile SPICe+ Part A on MCA21 to reserve your proposed Indian company name. We conduct a prior trademark and MCA name availability check, draft two preferred name options, and prepare the name reservation application compliant with MCA naming guidelines.
1–3 Working DaysDraft bespoke Memorandum of Association (MOA) and Articles of Association (AOA). File SPICe+ Part B with all director and shareholder details, registered office address, and company objects. Certificate of Incorporation (CIN) issued by MCA upon approval.
5–10 Working DaysApply for the company's Permanent Account Number (PAN) and Tax Deduction Account Number (TAN) with the Income Tax Department. Register for GST on the GST portal where applicable (mandatory for inter-state supply or turnover above threshold). Register with EPFO for payroll compliance.
7–14 Working DaysAfter the UK parent remits the initial share capital to the Indian WOS's bank account, file Form FC-GPR with the RBI through an AD Category-I Bank within the mandatory 30-day window. We prepare the complete FC-GPR filing package including the CS Certificate, Valuation Report, and FIRC details.
Within 30 Days of AllotmentFacilitate the opening of a current account with an RBI-scheduled commercial bank in India. We assist with all bank documentation, KYC requirements, and liaise with the assigned relationship manager to expedite account activation. The FIRC from this account is essential for FC-GPR.
2–4 WeeksAfter incorporation, we manage all annual India compliance obligations including ROC filings (MGT-7, AOC-4), Board/AGM resolutions, GST returns, TDS/TCS compliance, transfer pricing documentation (Form 3CEB), advance tax payments, and the annual FEMA FLA return with RBI.
Ongoing Annual ServiceThe Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) governs all capital flows between the UK and India. Non-compliance carries civil penalties of up to three times the amount involved. Sirius Global Solutions ensures your India investment is fully FEMA-compliant from day one.
FEMA Penalty Warning
Missing the 30-day FC-GPR filing window after share allotment, or failing to submit the annual Form FLA by 15 July, are among the most common — and most penalised — FEMA violations by UK companies in India. We handle both as a standard part of our India compliance service.
Within 30 days of the Indian WOS allotting shares to the UK parent, file Form FC-GPR (Foreign Currency — Gross Provisional Return) with the RBI through your AD Category-I Bank. Requires Company Secretary certificate, valuation report, and FIRC from the receiving bank.
Deadline: Within 30 days of allotmentEvery Indian company with foreign investment (including your WOS) must file the Annual Return on Foreign Liabilities and Assets (Form FLA) with the RBI on the FLAIR portal. This reports the outstanding FDI position, dividends paid, and earnings — even if there was no new investment in the year.
Deadline: 15 July every yearDividends remitted to the UK parent from an Indian WOS must be reported through the banking channel and are subject to Indian TDS. Transfer pricing documentation is required if the Indian WOS also pays royalties, management fees, or interest to the UK parent — ensuring all intercompany pricing is at arm's length.
Ongoing — Each RemittanceIf shares in the Indian WOS are ever transferred between the UK parent and an Indian resident (or vice versa), Form FC-TRS must be filed with the RBI. This applies even to internal group restructurings. Sirius advises on the implications before any transfer is executed.
Within 60 days of transferIndia is the world's fifth-largest economy and one of its fastest-growing. For UK businesses, the post-Brexit trade diversification push — combined with the UK-India Free Trade Agreement negotiations — makes now one of the strongest moments to establish an India presence.
India is already the world's fifth-largest economy by GDP and is forecast to become the third-largest by 2030, overtaking Germany and Japan.
Over 1.4 billion consumers — with a rapidly growing middle class of 300–400 million, creating demand across technology, retail, healthcare, financial services, and education.
100% foreign ownership permitted in most sectors through the automatic FDI route — no prior RBI or government approval needed for the Wholly Owned Subsidiary in tech, services, manufacturing, and more.
Over 55 sectors with active bilateral UK-India trade flows. UK exports to India have grown significantly since 2021 — and the ongoing UK-India Free Trade Agreement is expected to further reduce tariffs and barriers.
These are the sectors where UK companies are achieving the fastest market entry and strongest returns from India operations — all with 100% FDI automatic route eligibility.
India's USD 250 billion IT industry is globally integrated. UK tech companies establish India WOS for software development, product engineering, and BPO — accessing world-class talent at competitive cost.
India's digital payments ecosystem, growing wealth management market, and insurance penetration gap present massive opportunities for UK-licensed fintech and financial services firms entering via WOS.
UK accounting, legal, management consulting, and engineering firms establish India Branch Offices or WOS to deliver services to India-based multinational clients and expand the group's Asia-Pacific reach.
India's Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes across 14 sectors — including electronics, pharmaceuticals, food processing, and automotive — are drawing UK manufacturers to establish India WOS facilities.
All documents from the UK for India incorporation must be apostilled under the Hague Convention 1961 before submission to Indian authorities. Sirius coordinates the full apostille process from our Stanmore office.
Certificate of Incorporation, Memorandum and Articles of Association, latest audited accounts, and a certified Board Resolution authorising the India incorporation — all apostilled at the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Valid UK passport (main biometric page and last entry stamp), proof of UK residential address (utility bill or bank statement not older than 3 months), and two passport-sized photographs — all apostilled for each proposed director.
A valid Indian address for the registered office is required before incorporation — this can be a commercial lease, an owned premises letter of authority, or an address provided by our India partner's registered office service.
Latest UK audited accounts or management accounts. For Branch and Liaison Office applications, the UK parent must demonstrate a minimum net worth of USD 100,000 — certified by a UK Chartered Accountant and apostilled.
Our India incorporation specialists walk you through the entire process — from choosing WOS vs Branch Office vs Liaison Office, to handling FEMA obligations with RBI, to managing your India statutory compliance calendar after incorporation.
What our clients say about working with Sirius Global Solutions to register their companies in India.
We had no idea where to start with India. FEMA alone seemed impossibly complex — FC-GPR, FLA returns, transfer pricing documentation. Sirius handled everything from getting our UK documents apostilled to filing with the RBI. We were operational in eight weeks and have had zero compliance issues since.
The team at Sirius speaks both UK and Indian business languages fluently — they understood Companies House as well as MCA21, HMRC as well as the Income Tax department. That dual expertise meant nothing got lost in translation. Our Pune office was incorporated, GST-registered, and banked in under ten weeks.
We started with a Liaison Office to test the Indian market and then converted to a full WOS eighteen months later when our India revenues justified it. Sirius advised us on the right sequencing from day one and managed every step of the transition — from RBI reporting to reissuing our MOA as a Pvt Ltd company.
Answers to the specific, practical questions UK businesses ask us most frequently about company registration in India — covering structure, FEMA, timelines, capital, repatriation, and ongoing compliance.
Speak to an India Expert
Our UK-based India incorporation specialists offer a free first conversation — we speak both English and Hindi, and understand the nuances of both UK and India regulatory frameworks.
Call +44 74 8275 5633Tell us about your UK business and your India plans. Our India incorporation specialists will confirm the right structure, estimated timeline, and total cost — free of charge for your first conversation.
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