Establishment Of Branch Office/Liaison Office In India By Foreign Entities

With the objective of achieving greater transparency and procedural clarity, the Reserve Bank of India (“RBI”) issues the Master Circular on the Establishment of Branch/Liaison Offices in India by Foreign Entities every year on July 2 with a sunset clause of one year, laying down the eligibility criteria and procedural guidelines for setting up of branch offices (BOs) and liaison offices (LOs) in India by any body corporate incorporated outside India including a firm or other association of Individuals (“foreign entity”).  The procedure for annual filings to be done by a foreign entity, and procedure for closure of BOs and LOs are also been laid out in the Master Circular.
 
Eligibility criteria for establishment of BOs/Los
 
I.  Basic Criteria
 
Reserve Bank route: The principal business of the foreign entity falls under sectors where 100% FDI is permissible under the automatic route.
 
Government route: The principal business of the foreign entity falls under sectors where 100% FDI is not permissible under the automatic route.  These applications are considered by the RBI, in consultation with the Government of India, Ministry of Finance.
 
II.  Additional Criteria
 
BO – Profit making track record during the immediately preceding five financial years in the home country.
Net Worth: A minimum of US$100,000 or its equivalent.
 
LO – Profit making track record during the immediately preceding three financial years in the home country.
Net Worth: A minimum of US$50,000 or its equivalent.
 
Net worth has been defined as the total of paid-up capital and free reserves, less intangible assets, as per the latest audited balance sheet or account statement certified by a certified public accountant or any registered accounts practitioner.
Applicants who do not satisfy the above mentioned eligibility criteria and who are subsidiaries of other companies may submit a letter of comfort from their parent company as per the prescribed format, subject to the condition that the parent company satisfies the eligibility criteria mentioned above.
 
The RBI or the Government of India, as the case may be, has the right to reject an application for non-fulfillment of any other condition(s) or if the proposed business is seen to be opposed the public interest.
 
Branch Offices

Permissible activities for a branch office

Companies incorporated outside India and engaged in manufacturing or trading activities are allowed to set up branch offices in India with specific approval of the Reserve Bank.  Such branch offices are permitted to represent the parent/group companies and undertake the following activities in India:
 
 - Export/import of goods
 - Rendering professional or consultancy services
 - Carrying out research work, in areas in which the parent company is engaged
 - Promoting technical or financial collaborations between Indian companies and parent or overseas group companies
 - Representing the parent company in India and acting as buying/selling agent in India
 - Rendering services in information technology and devel¬opment of software in India
 - Rendering technical support to the products supplied by parent/group companies
 - Foreign airline/shipping companies
 
Normally, the branch office should be engaged in the activity in which the parent company is engaged.
Restrictions on activities by branch offices

The Reserve Bank has restricted branch offices from indulging in retail trading activities of any nature, manufacturing or processing activities in India, directly or indirectly.

Additional advantages for branch offices in SEZs.
 
The Reserve Bank has given general permission to foreign companies for establishing branches/units in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to undertake manufacturing and service activities.  The general permission is allotted to such units, provided they are working on a standalone basis and are functioning within the sectors in which 100 percent FDI is permitted, and complying with additional regulations under the Companies Act, 1956 (Sections 592 to 602).
 
Remittance of profits from India

Profits earned by the branch offices are freely remittable from India, subject to payment of applicable taxes.
 
Liaison Offices

Permissible activities for a liaison office

A liaison office (also known as a representative office) can undertake only liaison activities, i.e.  it can act as a channel of communication between a head office abroad and parties in India.  It is not allowed to undertake any business activity in India and cannot earn any income in India.  Expenses of such offices are to be met entirely through inward remittances of foreign exchange from the head office outside India.  The role of such offices is, therefore, limited to collecting information about possible market opportunities and providing information about the company and its products to prospective Indian customers.  Permission to set up such offices is initially granted for a period of three years and this may be extended from time to time by an AD Category I bank.
 
Liaison offices can undertake the following activities in India:
 
 - Representing in India the parent company/group companies
 - Promoting export/import from/to India
 - Promoting technical/financial collaborations between parent/group companies and companies in India
 - Acting as a communication channel between the parent company and Indian companies
 
Extension of validity of the approval of liaison offices

The designated AD Category I bank may extend the validity period of LOs for a period of three years from the date of expiry of the original approval/extension granted by the Reserve Bank, provided the LO has submitted the Annual Activity Certificates (see below) for the previous years and has operated as per the terms and conditions stipulated in the approval.
 
Additional Branch/Liaison Offices

Additional BOs/LOs can be opened by justifying to the RBI the need for additional offices, subject to a limitation of four i.e., one BO/LO in each zone viz.  East, West, North and South.  The applicant may identify one of its offices in India as the nodal office, which will coordinate the activities of all offices in India.
 
Annual Activity Certificates To Be Submitted By Branch/Liaison Offices

The branch offices/liaison offices have to file an Annual Activity Certificate (AAC) provided by a chartered accountant, at the end of March, along with an audited balance sheet on or before 30 September  of that year.
 
Closure Of Branch/Liaison Office

Closure of BOs/LOs has to be reported by the designated AD Category I bank to the Reserve Bank.


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