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Company Compliance · Ongole · AP

Foreign Company MCA Filing in Ongole

End-to-end MCA and ROC compliance for a foreign company with a place of business in India — Form FC-1 on establishing the office, FC-2 for any alteration, and the annual FC-3 (accounts) and FC-4 (annual return). Documents apostilled/attested, forms filed on MCA21, and FEMA/RBI reporting aligned. 100% online, at a fixed fee quoted upfront.

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Foreign Company MCA Filing in Ongole

Registrar (RoC)

RoC Vijayawada — Door No. 29-14-46, 2nd Floor, Sri Venkateswara Complex, Governorpet, Vijayawada – 520002

Jurisdictional HC

Andhra Pradesh High Court

GSTIN prefix

37 (Andhra Pradesh)

Professional Tax

Andhra Pradesh levies Professional Tax (max ₹2,500/year). Applicable to companies employing salaried staff.

Business hubs

Granite (galaxy) Belt, Aquaculture, Ongole Cattle

Ongole (Prakasam) is a coastal AP granite, aquaculture, and cattle-breed trade hub.

Also in: Guntur Nellore
A foreign company that establishes a place of business in India — a branch, liaison or project office — is regulated under Sections 380 and 381 of the Companies Act, 2013 and must file a set of MCA forms with the Registrar of Companies (ROC), New Delhi. It files Form FC-1 within 30 days of establishing the place of business, Form FC-2 for any alteration in its charter documents, registered office or details, Form FC-3 for annual accounts and the list of places of business, and Form FC-4 as the annual return within 60 days of the close of the financial year. Filings are done online on the MCA21 portal with a Digital Signature Certificate.
30 days
To file FC-1Form FC-1 must be filed within 30 days of establishing a place of business in India, with documents apostilled or attested in the home country.
Understand It

What Is Foreign Company MCA Filing?

A quick, plain-language explanation before the details.

In simple terms

Foreign Company MCA Filing is the ongoing set of MCA/ROC filings a foreign company must make once it has a place of business in India — Forms FC-1, FC-2, FC-3 and FC-4.

Legally

Under Sections 379 to 381 of the Companies Act, 2013 and the Companies (Registration of Foreign Companies) Rules, 2014, a foreign company with a place of business in India must register the details of its establishment (FC-1), report alterations (FC-2), and file annual accounts (FC-3) and an annual return (FC-4) with the Registrar of Companies.

Governing authority

Administered by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) through the Registrar of Companies (ROC), New Delhi, via the MCA21 portal. Related inflows/outflows are reported to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under FEMA.

Validity

These are recurring obligations — FC-1 and FC-2 are event-based, while FC-3 and FC-4 recur every financial year for as long as the foreign company maintains a place of business in India.

Service Intelligence

Quick Facts

Professional Fee
Custom quote
Governing Law
Companies Act 2013
Key Sections
380–381
Forms
FC-1 to FC-4
Mode
100% Online
Authority
ROC, New Delhi / MCA
Applies To
Branch / liaison / project office
FC-4 Due
60 days of FY close
Before You Start

Is This Service Right for You?

Ideal for

  • Foreign companies opening a branch, liaison or project office in India
  • Overseas parents that have just established a place of business here
  • Foreign companies that have changed their charter documents or office
  • Branch/liaison offices due for annual FC-3 accounts and FC-4 return
  • Foreign entities behind on their FC filings and needing to regularise
  • Overseas businesses wanting RBI/FEMA reporting kept aligned with MCA

You may need this if

  • You have established (or are establishing) a place of business in India
  • You need Form FC-1 filed within 30 days of setting up the office
  • Your charter, registered office or officer details have changed (FC-2)
  • Your foreign company’s annual accounts are due for filing (FC-3)
  • Your annual return (FC-4) is due within 60 days of financial-year close
  • You want one team handling MCA, ROC and FEMA/RBI reporting together

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Why It Matters

Why Do Foreign Companies File These MCA Forms?

A foreign company operating in India through a place of business carries statutory MCA and ROC obligations. Here is why these filings matter.

  1. 01

    Statutory Obligation

    Sections 380 and 381 of the Companies Act, 2013 require a foreign company with a place of business in India to file FC-1, FC-3 and FC-4, and to report alterations through FC-2.

  2. 02

    Meet Strict Deadlines

    FC-1 is due within 30 days of establishing the place of business and FC-4 within 60 days of financial-year close. Timely filing avoids additional fees and default exposure.

  3. 03

    Maintain Good Standing

    Clean, up-to-date MCA records protect the branch/liaison/project office’s standing and support its dealings with banks, regulators and counterparties.

  4. 04

    Stay FEMA-Aligned

    Branch, liaison and project offices operate under RBI/FEMA approval conditions. Keeping MCA filings aligned with FEMA reporting reduces regulatory friction.

  5. 05

    Reflect Changes Correctly

    Any change in the charter documents, registered/principal office, or authorised representatives must be reported through FC-2 so the public record stays accurate.

  6. 06

    Transparent Public Record

    FC-3 discloses the annual accounts and the list of places of business, keeping the foreign company’s Indian operations on the MCA public record.

Transparent

Simple, Transparent Pricing

Custom quote for your case

Fees depend on your business type and scope. Get a clear, itemised quote upfront — no hidden professional charges, government fee billed at actuals.

Eligibility

Who Can Apply?

Branch offices of a foreign company
Liaison / representative offices
Project offices set up for a contract
Foreign companies with any place of business in India
Companies incorporated outside India (Sec 2(42))
Foreign entities with FDI / business interests in India

Eligibility checklist

  • The company is incorporated outside India and has a place of business in India
  • A place of business — branch, liaison or project office — has been established here
  • Charter documents (charter/statutes/MOA & AOA) available, translated into English if needed
  • Documents apostilled or attested and notarised in the home country
  • A Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) of the authorised representative in India
  • An authorised person in India to accept service of notices and documents
End-to-End

Everything You Need. One Professional Team.

01

Consultation

Understand your structure — branch, liaison or project office — and map the applicable FC filings.

02

FC-1 on Set-Up

Prepare and file Form FC-1 within 30 days of establishing the place of business, with charter documents and RBI approval.

03

Document Legalisation

Guide apostille/attestation, notarisation and English translation of foreign documents.

04

FC-2 for Changes

File Form FC-2 for any alteration in charter, registered office, directors or authorised representatives.

05

FC-3 Annual Accounts

Compile and file annual accounts and the list of places of business in India through Form FC-3.

06

FC-4 Annual Return

Prepare and file the annual return in Form FC-4 within 60 days of the close of the financial year.

07

FEMA / RBI Alignment

Coordinate MCA filings with RBI/FEMA reporting for the branch/liaison/project office.

08

Follow-up

Track the SRN and respond to any MCA/ROC resubmission or query on your behalf.

No Ambiguity

What You’ll Receive

Form FC-1 filed with charter documents & RBI approval
Form FC-2 for alterations, where applicable
Form FC-3 — annual accounts & list of places of business
Form FC-4 — annual return of the foreign company
Apostille / attestation & translation guidance
SRN acknowledgements for every filing
Updated MCA record for your India establishment
Compliance calendar for recurring FC-3 & FC-4
Checklist

What Documents Are Required for Foreign Company MCA Filing?

Requirements are grouped by the foreign parent, the India establishment, and the recurring annual filings. Foreign documents must be apostilled or attested and translated into English where needed — everything is collected securely online.

Choose a document group

Foreign Company (Parent)

From the home country — legalised
5 documents
  • Certified copy of the charter / statutes / MOA & AOA
  • Certificate of incorporation of the foreign company
  • Details of directors and secretary of the company
  • Documents apostilled or attested & notarised abroad
  • English translation where the originals are in another language

Apostille or attestation is mandatory

Charter documents and certificates issued abroad must be apostilled (Hague-convention countries) or attested by the Indian embassy/consulate, and notarised, before they can be filed with the ROC.

English translation required

If the charter, statutes or certificates are in a language other than English, a certified English translation must accompany them.

FC-1 within 30 days

File Form FC-1 within 30 days of establishing the place of business in India. It must be accompanied by the RBI approval for the branch/liaison/project office.

FC-4 within 60 days

The annual return in Form FC-4 is due within 60 days of the close of the financial year; FC-3 accounts are filed with their prescribed attachments.

DSC of the authorised person

All FC forms are filed on MCA21 and signed with the Digital Signature Certificate of the authorised representative in India.

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Transparent Pricing

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Step by Step

How Foreign Company MCA Filing Works (Step by Step)

The entire filing happens online through the MCA21 portal with the ROC, New Delhi.

01

Consultation & scoping

Identify your establishment type — branch, liaison or project office — and the FC forms due (FC-1, FC-2, FC-3, FC-4).

02

Document collection & legalisation

Gather charter documents and certificates, arrange apostille/attestation, notarisation and English translation.

03

Form preparation

Prepare the applicable FC form with all attachments — charter, RBI approval, list of places of business, accounts.

04

Authorised-person review & DSC

The authorised representative in India reviews the forms and signs them with a Digital Signature Certificate.

05

Filing on MCA21

File the FC form with the ROC, New Delhi on the MCA portal and pay the prescribed fee. An SRN is generated.

06

Acknowledgement & follow-up

Track the SRN, respond to any ROC query or resubmission, and hand over the filed forms and acknowledgements.

How Long It Takes

What Are the Key Deadlines for FC Filings?

StageExpected Time
Form FC-1 — on establishing a place of businessWithin 30 days of set-up
Form FC-2 — alteration in documents / detailsWithin 30 days of the change
Form FC-3 — annual accounts & list of places of businessWith prescribed attachments each year
Form FC-4 — annual returnWithin 60 days of financial-year close

FC-1 and FC-2 are event-based and generally due within 30 days of the establishment or alteration. FC-3 (accounts) and FC-4 (annual return, within 60 days of the financial-year close) recur every year. Document legalisation abroad can add lead time, so start early.

Compliance Calendar

Key Dates — At a Glance

FrequencyWhat Is Due
Annually — FC-3Annual accounts / financial statements of the company · List of all places of business in India · Related-party transactions & funds-transfer details
Annually — FC-4Annual return within 60 days of FY close · Details of directors, secretary & authorised persons · Shareholding / establishment particulars
Event-Based — FC-2Alteration in charter, statutes, MOA or AOA · Change in registered / principal office of the company · Change in directors, secretary or authorised representative
FEMA / RBIAnnual Activity Certificate for the office, where applicable · Reporting of remittances / repatriation under FEMA · Renewal of project / liaison office approval where required

Dates are indicative and may change with government notifications. Our team tracks every deadline so you never miss a filing.

Why Outsource

Doing It Yourself vs TaxClue

Doing It Yourself

  • Interpret Sections 379–381 and the Foreign Companies Rules yourself
  • Determine which FC forms apply to your establishment type
  • Arrange apostille/attestation and certified translations
  • Compile accounts and the list of places of business correctly
  • Reconcile MCA filings with RBI/FEMA reporting
  • Handle ROC resubmission queries on foreign documents
  • Risk additional fees and default for missed deadlines

With TaxClue

  • Expert maps the exact FC filings for your office type
  • Apostille/attestation & translation coordinated for you
  • FC-1 to FC-4 prepared with the correct attachments
  • Accounts and places-of-business list compiled accurately
  • MCA filings aligned with FEMA/RBI reporting
  • ROC queries answered by our CA/CS team
  • Deadlines tracked so filings are made on time

Skip the guesswork.

Let an expert handle it →
Avoid Delays

Common Mistakes That Delay Your Application

Missing the 30-day FC-1 deadline after setting up the office
Filing foreign documents without apostille/attestation or notarisation
No certified English translation of charter documents
Not filing FC-2 when charter, office or officers change
Missing the 60-day FC-4 annual-return deadline
Incomplete or outdated list of places of business in India
MCA filings not reconciled with RBI/FEMA reporting
Wrong or expired DSC of the authorised representative

TaxClue reviews your documents before filing to reduce avoidable errors.

Stay Compliant

What Recurs Every Year for a Foreign Company?

Annually — FC-3

  • Annual accounts / financial statements of the company
  • List of all places of business in India
  • Related-party transactions & funds-transfer details

Annually — FC-4

  • Annual return within 60 days of FY close
  • Details of directors, secretary & authorised persons
  • Shareholding / establishment particulars

Event-Based — FC-2

  • Alteration in charter, statutes, MOA or AOA
  • Change in registered / principal office of the company
  • Change in directors, secretary or authorised representative

FEMA / RBI

  • Annual Activity Certificate for the office, where applicable
  • Reporting of remittances / repatriation under FEMA
  • Renewal of project / liaison office approval where required
Risk Assessment

Penalties & Consequences

What is at stake if you do not comply

  • Missing the 30-day FC-1 deadline after set-up → default and fine under the Companies Act
  • Missing the 60-day FC-4 annual-return deadline → additional fees and penalty exposure
  • Not filing FC-2 when charter, office or officers change → inaccurate public record and default
  • Foreign documents without apostille/attestation or English translation → rejected filing
Latest Updates

Regulatory Updates 2025–26

  • 2025: All annual and event-based forms are now filed on the MCA V3 portal; the legacy V2 portal has been retired.
The Difference

Why Businesses Choose TaxClue

01

CA / CS Team

Qualified Chartered Accountants and Company Secretaries experienced in foreign-company compliance.

02

Cross-Border Handling

We coordinate apostille/attestation, translation and RBI/FEMA reporting alongside MCA filings.

03

End-to-End

From FC-1 set-up to annual FC-3 and FC-4 — fully managed with minimal effort from you.

04

Deadline Tracking

The 30-day and 60-day statutory clocks tracked so nothing is missed.

05

Transparent Fees

A fixed fee quoted upfront after a quick scope check — no hidden professional charges.

06

Single Point of Contact

One team for MCA, ROC and FEMA/RBI coordination, communicating online.

Data Care

Your Documents Deserve Professional Care

  • Documents handled by professionals under confidentiality
  • Access limited to the team working on your file
  • Communication over secure digital channels
  • Documents retained only as long as needed for compliance
Talk to a Specialist

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Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a foreign company under the Companies Act, 2013?
Under Section 2(42), a foreign company is a company or body corporate incorporated outside India which has a place of business in India — physically or through an electronic mode — and conducts any business activity here. Such companies are regulated under Chapter XXII (Sections 379–393).
Which MCA forms must a foreign company file?
The main forms are FC-1 (on establishing a place of business in India, within 30 days), FC-2 (for any alteration in charter documents, registered office or officer details), FC-3 (annual accounts and the list of places of business) and FC-4 (the annual return). All are filed with the ROC, New Delhi on the MCA21 portal.
What is Form FC-1 and when is it due?
Form FC-1 is filed by a foreign company within 30 days of establishing a place of business in India. It carries the charter/statutes/MOA & AOA of the company, details of directors and the authorised representative, and must be accompanied by the RBI approval for the branch, liaison or project office.
When do I need to file Form FC-2?
Form FC-2 is filed whenever there is an alteration in the charter, statutes, memorandum or articles of the foreign company, a change in its registered or principal office, or a change in its directors, secretary or authorised representative in India. It is generally filed within 30 days of the change.
What does Form FC-3 cover?
Form FC-3 is filed each financial year and contains the annual accounts / financial statements of the foreign company along with the list of all its places of business in India. It keeps the company’s Indian operations disclosed on the MCA public record.
What is the due date for Form FC-4?
Form FC-4 is the annual return of a foreign company and must be filed within 60 days of the close of the financial year. It captures particulars of the company, its directors and authorised persons, and its establishments in India.
Do foreign documents need to be apostilled or attested?
Yes. Charter documents and certificates issued abroad must be apostilled (for Hague-convention countries) or attested by the Indian embassy/consulate, and notarised, before filing with the ROC. Documents in a language other than English also need a certified English translation.
Is RBI or FEMA approval linked to these filings?
Branch, liaison and project offices of foreign companies operate under RBI approval and FEMA conditions. The RBI approval is filed with FC-1, and ongoing FEMA reporting (such as Annual Activity Certificates and remittance reporting) runs alongside the MCA filings. We coordinate both.
How is this different from the initial foreign-company (FC-1) registration?
The initial FC-1 registration covers the first filing when a foreign company establishes its place of business in India. This service is the broader, ongoing MCA compliance — it also handles FC-2 alterations and the recurring annual FC-3 and FC-4 filings that follow.
What happens if the FC filings are missed?
Late or missed FC filings attract additional government fees and can expose the foreign company and its officers to default under the Companies Act. Keeping FC-1, FC-2, FC-3 and FC-4 current preserves the establishment’s good standing with the ROC and RBI. We track the deadlines so filings are made on time.
Can everything be done online?
Yes. All FC forms are filed on the MCA21 portal using the Digital Signature Certificate of the authorised representative in India. Document collection, apostille/translation coordination and updates are handled over secure digital channels — no office visit is required.
Who signs the FC forms?
The FC forms are signed with the Digital Signature Certificate of the authorised representative in India who is empowered to accept service of notices and documents on behalf of the foreign company.
What annual MCA filings must a foreign company make in India?
Each financial year a foreign company must file Form FC-3 (its financial statements and the list of its places of business in India) and Form FC-4 (its annual return, due within 60 days of the close of the financial year). Any change in charter, office or officers is reported through Form FC-2. These recur for as long as the place of business exists.
What is the due date for filing Form FC-4?
Form FC-4, the annual return of a foreign company, must be filed with the ROC, New Delhi within 60 days of the close of the financial year. It reports particulars of the company, its directors and authorised persons, and its establishments in India.
When must Form FC-2 be filed?
Form FC-2 is filed whenever there is an alteration in the charter, statutes, memorandum or articles of the foreign company, a change in its registered or principal office, or a change in its directors, secretary or authorised representative in India. It is generally filed within 30 days of the change so the public record stays accurate.
Which ROC handles foreign company filings?
All FC forms of a foreign company are filed with the Registrar of Companies, New Delhi, through the MCA21 portal, regardless of where the place of business in India is located. The forms are signed with the Digital Signature Certificate of the authorised representative in India.
What are the penalties for missing FC-3 or FC-4 filings?
Late or missed FC filings attract additional government fees and can expose the foreign company and its officers to default and penalty under the Companies Act, 2013. Keeping FC-1, FC-2, FC-3 and FC-4 current preserves the establishment’s good standing with the ROC and RBI, so the statutory 30-day and 60-day clocks should be tracked closely.
Verify Everything

Official Sources & Legal References

Every regulatory detail on this page is drawn from primary law and official government sources. Verify them directly:

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Expert-managed FC-1, FC-2, FC-3 and FC-4 filings for your branch, liaison or project office — with apostille/attestation, translation and FEMA/RBI reporting aligned. Free consultation, fixed fee quoted upfront, zero hidden charges.

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