For companies incorporated outside India that want to operate here directly, without setting up an entirely new Indian entity.
Book a ConsultationA foreign company branch is exactly what it sounds like: an extension of a company incorporated outside India, permitted to conduct specific business activities within India under RBI approval. It is not a separate Indian legal entity — the branch and its foreign parent are legally the same company, which has significant implications for liability and regulatory treatment.
This structure suits foreign companies that want a direct operational presence in India — for activities like export/import trade, consultancy, IT services, and research — without setting up a wholly new Indian subsidiary. It offers speed and direct control, at the cost of certain activity restrictions and full liability exposure back to the parent company.
Not every foreign company qualifies, and not every business activity is permitted through a branch structure. RBI approval is required before establishment, and the range of permitted activities is narrower than what a subsidiary company could undertake.
Because a branch and its foreign parent are legally the same entity, any liability arising from the branch's Indian operations extends directly back to the parent company — there is no separate legal wall the way a subsidiary would provide. That makes getting the initial RBI approval, permitted-activity scope, and ongoing compliance right considerably more consequential than it might first appear.
Understanding exactly what a branch structure does and doesn't protect you from is the first real decision in this process. Corporate, financial, and ownership information shared with us is handled with complete confidentiality throughout.
Understand your plans and whether this structure fits them.
A clear scope and quote, no hidden charges or jargon.
Required documents collected and verified securely.
Structure registered correctly, with ongoing compliance set up.
A subsidiary is a separate Indian legal entity with its own liability; a branch is legally the same entity as the foreign parent, meaning liability extends directly back to the parent company.
A defined, narrower set than a subsidiary — generally including export/import trade, professional/consultancy services, IT and software services, and research, subject to RBI approval of the specific activities proposed.
Yes, prior RBI approval is required, and the approved activities define what the branch is legally permitted to do in India.
Yes, unlike a liaison office (which cannot), a branch office can undertake commercial activities within its approved scope.
Often, yes, particularly if liability separation, broader permitted activities, or eventual local fundraising matter to you — we can help you weigh both against your specific plans.