MCA Form Guide
FC-1 — Foreign Company — Registration
Quick answer: Registration of a foreign company establishing a place of business in India — including branch offices, project offices, or liaison offices. Filed within 30 days of establishing the place of business. Within 30 days of establishing a place of business in India. ₹100/day on the foreign company and every officer for late registration.
Quick answer
These filings sit at the intersection of MCA, FEMA, or foreign reporting. They usually require more care because the company is dealing with capital, beneficial ownership, or foreign exchange reporting. Foreign companies establishing any place of business in India under Section 380 of the Companies Act 2013. For most founders, the fastest way to stay compliant is to map the filing trigger, gather the documents once, and then submit with the correct digital sign-off.
Who must file
Foreign companies establishing any place of business in India under Section 380 of the Companies Act 2013.
When to file
Within 30 days of establishing a place of business in India.
Penalty note
₹100/day on the foreign company and every officer for late registration.
Filing portal
MCA portal at the official government filing system.
Evidence checklist
Investor documents, ownership declarations, and foreign remittance or asset records matter most.
How to file
- 1
Confirm whether FC-1 is the correct filing for the event you are handling and that it matches the cross-border filing trigger.
- 2
Collect the supporting records that match FC-1: Investor documents, ownership declarations, and foreign remittance or asset records matter most.
- 3
Prepare the form in the MCA portal, validate the entries against the company records, and make any final corrections before signing.
- 4
Upload the signed form, pay the applicable fee, and save the SRN and acknowledgement for audit tracking.
- 5
Store the filing evidence with your statutory records so the next cycle is faster and easier to review.
What this form is used for
Registration of a foreign company establishing a place of business in India — including branch offices, project offices, or liaison offices. Filed within 30 days of establishing the place of business. These filings sit at the intersection of MCA, FEMA, or foreign reporting. They usually require more care because the company is dealing with capital, beneficial ownership, or foreign exchange reporting. The purpose is usually either annual disclosure, a one-off event filing, or a statutory update tied to corporate records or regulatory reporting.
FAQ and compliance context
Who usually files FC-1?
Foreign companies establishing any place of business in India under Section 380 of the Companies Act 2013.
What is the deadline for FC-1?
Within 30 days of establishing a place of business in India.
What happens if FC-1 is filed late?
₹100/day on the foreign company and every officer for late registration.
Can the filing be tracked after submission?
Yes. Keep the SRN, acknowledgement, and final uploaded PDF in your records for audit and ROC follow-up.
Is FC-1 a one-time or recurring filing?
This is a one-time filing tied to a specific corporate event. Once the event has occurred and the form is filed, it does not need to be refiled each year.
Which law or rule requires FC-1?
Section 380, Companies Act 2013; Rule 3, Companies (Registration of Foreign Companies) Rules 2014
Why this one matters
Check the timing early, since the filing window can be shorter and the penalty profile is often steeper than domestic compliance work.
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