Indian Subsidiary Registration Process and Timeline: From Parent Resolution to FC-GPR

Last updated 26 September 2026

How long does Indian subsidiary registration take?

Indian subsidiary registration usually takes about 4 to 10 weeks from the first document to a filed FC-GPR, depending mostly on how quickly your parent's documents are apostilled and how fast a bank onboards a foreign-owned company. These are practitioner ranges as of September 2026, not a promise from Shunya or the government.

Say Lena runs a German design-tools company and wants a wholly owned subsidiary (WOS) in India. She assumes the MCA filing is the slow part. It is not. In one practitioner breakdown, the SPICe+ approval takes 3 to 7 days, while apostille takes 2 to 4 weeks and the bank account another 1 to 2 weeks. Another source says incorporation alone takes 1 to 2 weeks when documents are ready.

So the honest answer is: the filing is quick, but the documents and the money movement decide your total. Shunya's page also says timelines vary more than a domestic private limited incorporation because apostille and notarisation depend on the parent's country, which Shunya does not control. For the comparison with a domestic company, see how long company registration takes in India.

What are the steps to register an Indian subsidiary?

There are nine steps, and several can run in parallel. The list below follows how the process is described on Shunya's page and by practitioners.

1. Decide the structure and route. Confirm a private limited company fits, and check whether your sector is on the automatic or government route. If not sure, read subsidiary vs branch vs liaison office.
2. Share details with a CA. Parent company, shareholding structure, resident director and a document checklist.
3. Get parent documents attested. Certificate of incorporation and board resolution, notarised and apostilled or legalised. See documents and apostille.
4. Obtain DSC and DIN for directors. Director details are needed for the filing.
5. File SPICe+. Simplified Proforma for Incorporating Company Electronically Plus covers name, MOA, AOA, and applications for PAN and TAN.
6. Receive the Certificate of Incorporation. With PAN and TAN, after the Registrar approves.
7. Open the bank account. Needed to receive the parent's investment.
8. Receive the investment and allot shares. Funds arrive through an authorised dealer (AD) Category-I bank; shares must be allotted within 60 days of receipt of the consideration.
9. File FC-GPR. Within 30 days of allotment, on the RBI's FIRMS portal through the AD bank.

Steps 2 to 4 run together, and starting attestation early saves the most time.

What is the realistic timeline for each stage?

Each stage has a typical range, and the two longest are apostille and the bank. The table combines the practitioner ranges available as of September 2026. Treat them as planning ranges, not commitments.

One practitioner puts a best case at 7 to 10 weeks, another says 4 to 6 weeks, and another says 7 to 15 working days for incorporation alone with documents ready. The spread is the point: the number depends on your documents.

What slows an Indian subsidiary registration down?

The usual delays come from documents and cross-checks, not from the MCA portal. Knowing them lets you avoid most of them.

• Apostille or legalisation lead time: the longest single item for many parents.
• Bank onboarding: banks verify the parent's ownership chain before opening an account for a foreign-owned company.
• Mismatches: the FIRC, KYC report and valuation certificate must agree on names and amounts.
• ROC queries and resubmissions: SPICe+ can be sent back for corrections, which adds days.
• Sector approval: if your sector needs government approval, add the approval time. Under the land-border rules, practitioner reports have historically cited months in practice against a shorter official window; see FDI and FEMA reporting requirements.

Your CA can flag the ones that apply to you on the first call.

Which deadlines must you meet after the certificate arrives?

Once you have the Certificate of Incorporation, a few dated obligations start, and missing them costs more than the delays above. The main ones are below, with the rule sources being the Companies Act and FEMA rules as reported by practitioners.

These are as of September 2026, and your CA confirms the current dates. The full year-round view is in Indian subsidiary compliance after incorporation.

Which parts can you do yourself, and which are best left to a CA?

You can gather documents and open the bank account yourself, but the SPICe+ filing and FC-GPR are where a CA earns the fee. Shunya's page says a CA verifies your documents and prepares and files the FEMA-compliant SPICe+ filing. FC-GPR after share allotment is a separate service.

Practical split for a foreign parent:

• You: the parent's resolution, notarisation and apostille, and authorising your bank to remit and provide KYC.
• Your CA: checking the documents, the DIN application and DSC help, SPICe+ and the timing of the incorporation deadlines. FC-GPR is a separate service. A practising Chartered Accountant reviews every filing.

The DSC issuer's charge, government fees, stamp duty and other third-party costs are billed separately. For amounts, see Indian subsidiary registration cost and fees. If you are choosing between a subsidiary and a domestic company, the standard company registration process is a useful comparison.

How do you start the process?

Start by requesting a callback on the Indian subsidiary registration page, or pay Shunya's professional fee of ₹1,999 online with the Start now option. The callback is free and needs only your name and phone number; a CA calls within the hour.

You can also call or WhatsApp +91 80809 18797. On the first call, share your parent company, planned shareholding and sector, and ask which of your documents to attest first, since that decides your total time.

This article is for general information only. For your specific situation, consult a practicing CA.