FCRA Registration explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
A society is named in the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 itself: the definition of "association" in section 2(1)(a) includes "a society, whether registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, or not". A society with a definite cultural, economic, educational, religious or social programme needs a certificate of registration, or prior permission for a specific purpose and source, before it accepts foreign contribution. This article reads section 12 and rule 9 for a society: who counts as a key functionary, what the application and Form FC-3A ask, the tests, the fee and who signs.
It is written as per the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 read with the Amendment Act, 2020, and the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Rules, 2011 as amended by the notifications named in this article (latest consulted: S.O. 3272(E) dated 22 June 2026). Later amendments, notifications and Ministry of Home Affairs orders should be checked. The Rules say the application is made "in electronic form"; no screen steps are given. Society law is a separate law, linked at the end and not described here. If you want the groundwork for the application reviewed first, our NGO Darpan and NITI Aayog service covers it.
A society applies under section 11(1) in Form FC-3A, in electronic form, with a Proforma 'AA' affidavit from each key functionary (rule 9(1)(a)). For a society, key functionaries include an office bearer, member of the governing body, managing committee or other controlling authority (rule 2(1)(ca)(v)). It needs an FCRA Account (section 12(1A)), three years of existence with rupees fifteen lakh of core spending in the last three financial years unless waived (rule 9(1)(f)), and pays rupees ten thousand (rule 9(4)(b)). The chief functionary signs the Form with the seal.
How a society fits the Act
Section 11(1) says no person having a definite cultural, economic, educational, religious or social programme shall accept foreign contribution unless it obtains a certificate of registration, save as the Act otherwise provides. "Person" in section 2(1)(m)(iii) includes an association, and "association" in section 2(1)(a) means an association of individuals, whether incorporated or not, having an office in India, and includes a society, whether registered or not, and any other organisation, by whatever name called. A society therefore applies in its own name. See the definitions of person and association and section 11.
The definition covers an unregistered society, but Form FC-3A asks for the Act of registration (it names the Societies Registration Act, 1860 as one option), the number, date and place of registration, and a self-certified copy of the registration certificate. The Act and the Rules do not say what an unregistered society does about those entries; that is a point to take up on advice. For registration of a society itself, see the site's posts on the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and on formation, memorandum and registration.
The people the application is about
Rule 2(1)(ca), inserted on 22 June 2026, defines "key functionary" to include, for a person other than an individual, "an office bearer, member of the governing body, managing committee or other controlling authority of a society, trust, trade union or association of individuals", and "any other officer or person, by whatever name called, who has control over, or responsibility for the management or affairs of such person". For a society this reaches the president, secretary and treasurer and every governing body member. See rules 1 and 2 and, for the Societies Registration Act's own definition of the governing body, our post on sections 15 and 16.
Three consequences follow from the rules:
- Affidavits. Rule 9(1)(a) requires an affidavit by each key functionary in Proforma 'AA', which affirms that the section 12(4) conditions are met, and since 2025 also an oath on citizenship, convictions and pending prosecutions.
- Identification. Under section 12A the Central Government may require the Aadhaar number of all office bearers, Directors or other key functionaries, or a passport or Overseas Citizen of India Card copy for a foreigner. See section 12A.
- Eligibility. Section 12(4)(e) says that, for a person other than an individual, any of its directors or office bearers must have neither been convicted under any law nor have any prosecution pending. Explanation 1 to rule 9 says an association having foreign nationals, other than those of Indian origin, as key functionaries shall ordinarily not be considered eligible.
Our affidavit and declaration drafting service prepares the affidavits against the printed text of Proforma 'AA'.
What the society must meet
| Requirement | Provision | |
|---|---|---|
| Form and mode | Rule 9(1)(a) | Form FC-3A in electronic form, with the affidavit of each key functionary |
| FCRA Account | Section 12(1A), rule 9(1)(d) | The account is opened under section 17 and its details are mentioned in the application |
| Reasonable activity | Section 12(4)(b), rule 9(1)(f)(i) | In existence for three years, with a minimum of rupees fifteen lakh spent on core activities for the benefit of society during the last three financial years; waiver possible in exceptional cases or where controlled by a Government |
| Assets counted | Rule 9(1)(f)(ii) | The chief functionary undertakes that assets counted vest with the society for the certificate's validity and are used only for activities covered by the Act and Rules |
| Purposes and States | Rule 9(1B) | Purposes chosen only from the Schedule; the States or Union territories of activity |
| Fee | Rule 9(4)(b) | Rupees ten thousand only, with rupees three hundred for each additional State or Union territory and purpose |
| No repeat application | Rule 9(3) | None within six months of submitting an application |
The rule does not say from when the three years of a society run. Form FC-3A's 2025 Note lists enclosures including financial statements and audit reports of the last three financial years, year-wise activity reports and an affidavit in Proforma 'AA' for each person in the key functionaries table; see the Forms article. A society that is not ready for registration may seek prior permission for a specific purpose and source instead (section 11(2)); the Form for that is FC-3B.
Signing and the decision
The Form is signed by the chief functionary (Chairperson, President, Secretary, CEO or MD) in block letters with the seal. The Declaration and Undertaking states that the information is true and correct, that receipt and utilisation shall not violate the Act, Rules, notifications or orders, and that the key functionaries meet the section 12(4) criteria with the affidavits. Under section 12(2) an application not in the prescribed form or lacking the particulars shall be rejected by order; under section 12(3) the Central Government may, ordinarily within ninety days, grant the certificate, and communicates reasons if it does not. A certificate is valid for five years (section 12(6)); the refusal is by a reasoned order (section 12(5)). The Act and the Rules print no other processing time. See section 12 and rule 9.
Where the society's form shows later
Section 39 treats a society as a "company" for offences, and a member of its governing body as a "director"; section 22 sends a society's assets, if it ceases to exist, to the law under which it was registered. After the certificate, the duties are the same as for any holder; they are set out in our article on the registered society's compliance and in the guide to annual duties. Income-tax registrations of a society are a separate law; see the site's post on 12A and 80G for societies.
Need help preparing a society's application?
The governing body list, three years of accounts and the scope of purposes and States are the points that decide the application. Our NGO Darpan and NITI Aayog team can help with the groundwork, and our 12A, 80G and CSR registration service covers the income-tax registrations that sit beside it.
Key takeaways
- A society is named in the definition of association; governing body members and office bearers are key functionaries, each giving a Proforma 'AA' affidavit.
- The tests are an FCRA Account, three years with rupees fifteen lakh of core spending (unless waived), and the fee of rupees ten thousand.
Read next
- Section 12: conditions for registration and prior permission
- Rule 9: fees, second application and foreign nationals
- Schedule: purposes for registration
- Sections 39 and 40: offences by companies and sanction
Disclaimer: Based on the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 as enacted, read with the Amendment Act, 2020 and the other amendments named in this article, and on the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Rules, 2011 as amended by the notifications named (latest consulted: S.O. 3272(E) dated 22 June 2026), as consulted on 2 October 2026. No consolidated official text was available; some provisions rest on a third-party copy and are identified as such. Later amendments, notifications and Ministry of Home Affairs orders should be checked. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.