Timeline to Incorporate a Foreign Subsidiary in India
“How long will it take?” is the question every foreign company asks before incorporating in India. The honest answer is that the Registrar’s part is fast — it is the preparation and document legalisation that determine the real timeline. This guide gives a realistic, stage-by-stage timeline to incorporate a foreign subsidiary in India.
The Short Answer
With documents ready and apostilled, incorporation typically completes in 10 to 20 working days. Including the time to gather and legalise foreign documents, foreign companies should plan for a total of three to five weeks.
Stage-by-Stage Timeline
Stage 1: Document Preparation and Apostille (1–2 weeks)
This is the biggest variable. Foreign parent and director documents must be notarised and apostilled (or consularised) in the home country. Depending on the country’s process, this can take a few days to two weeks. Starting early here saves the most time. See our document checklist.
Stage 2: Digital Signature Certificates (1–2 days)
Once identity documents are ready, DSCs for all directors can be issued within a day or two.
Stage 3: Name Reservation (1–3 days)
The name is reserved through SPICe+ Part A. If the first choice is rejected, resubmission adds a day or two, so propose distinctive names.
Stage 4: SPICe+ Part B Filing (2–3 days to prepare)
Drafting the e-MoA, e-AoA, and declarations and assembling attachments takes a couple of days. Filing is instant once ready.
Stage 5: ROC Processing and Incorporation (2–7 days)
The Registrar reviews and, if everything is in order, issues the Certificate of Incorporation with CIN, PAN, and TAN. Queries (resubmissions) can extend this.
Stage 6: Bank Account and FDI Reporting (after incorporation)
Opening a current account and remitting capital follows incorporation. FC-GPR must be filed within 30 days of share allotment.
Timeline Summary
| Stage | Indicative Time |
|---|---|
| Document prep & apostille | 1–2 weeks |
| DSC | 1–2 days |
| Name reservation | 1–3 days |
| SPICe+ preparation | 2–3 days |
| ROC incorporation | 2–7 days |
| Total | ~3–5 weeks |
What Causes Delays?
- Slow or incorrect apostille/consularisation abroad.
- Name rejections due to similarity with existing names or trademarks.
- Resubmission queries from the ROC for incomplete attachments.
- Missing or non-English documents without certified translation.
How to Speed It Up
Begin document legalisation before anything else, propose two distinctive names, and engage a professional to prepare error-free filings. A clean first submission avoids resubmission cycles. For the full process, read our foreign subsidiary setup guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a company be incorporated in under two weeks?
Yes, if apostilled documents are already in hand and the name is approved on the first attempt.
What takes the longest?
Document legalisation (apostille/consularisation) in the home country is usually the longest step.
Is the timeline different for a branch or liaison office?
Yes — those need RBI/AD bank approval and can take longer. Compare options in our entity comparison.
When must FDI be reported?
FC-GPR is due within 30 days of allotting shares to the foreign investor.
Incorporate Faster with Expert Help
S. Choudhary & Co. manages the entire timeline — from apostille guidance to incorporation and FDI reporting. Explore our incorporation services or call +91 90248 28295 · sushil@sushilchoudhary.com.
