Form FC-1: Complete Guide to Information to be Filed by Foreign Company
Form FC-1 is the web form filed with the Registrar of Companies to submit the particulars of a foreign company’s principal place of business in India. It is governed by Section 380(1)(h) of the Companies Act, 2013 read with Rule 3(3) of the Companies (Registration of Foreign Companies) Rules, 2014.
FC-1 is filed at the Delhi RoC, regardless of where the actual place of business is located; a copy is automatically routed by the system to the RoC of the concerned state, which retains access to the documents filed with Delhi.
Who Should File FC-1 / When is it Filed
Every foreign company establishing a place of business in India must file FC-1, along with the required supporting documents, within 30 days of establishing that place of business.
Important Checkpoints Before Filing
- Applicant must be registered on the MCA portal before filing
- The foreign company must have a valid email address
- The business user must be associated with, or authorised by, the company to e-file on its behalf
- The DSC of authorised signatories must be registered on the MCA portal against the DIN/PAN/Membership number provided
- The signing authority must hold a valid, non-expired, non-revoked DSC and an approved DIN or valid PAN/Membership number
- The DIN/PAN/Membership number entered must be associated with the FCRN under the selected designation
- The certifying professional’s membership/certificate of practice number must be valid, and the professional must not be debarred (not applicable to advocates)
- No other FCRN should be active against the foreign company’s name with the same ISO country code entered
- Dates entered must be on or after the date of establishment of the principal place of business in India (except date of birth)
- The signing director’s DIN must not be flagged for disqualification
- For resubmission: original application (with linked forms, if any) must be in Application History and T+15 days (T = date marked ‘Resubmission Required’) must not have elapsed
Step-by-Step Filing Process
- Login to MCA portal → MCA Services → E-Filing → Company Forms Download
- Navigate to “Filing by Foreign companies”
- Access “Information to be filed by foreign company (FC-1)”
- Fill up the application
- Optionally save as draft
- Submit the webform and note the SRN
- Affix DSC
- Upload the DSC-affixed PDF on MCA portal
- Pay Fees
- Receive acknowledgement
Signing Requirements
- Digitally signed by an authorised signatory with an approved DIN or valid PAN/Membership number
Fee Structure
A flat fee of ₹6,000 applies to FC-1, as per the Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014.
Additional (Delay) Fee
Event date: date of establishment of the registered/principal place of business in India; time limit: 30 days.
| Period of Delay | Additional Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to 30 days | 2× normal fee |
| More than 30 up to 60 days | 4× normal fee |
| More than 60 up to 90 days | 6× normal fee |
| More than 90 up to 180 days | 10× normal fee |
| More than 180 days | 12× normal fee |
Processing Mode
Form FC-1 is processed in Non-STP mode — every filing is reviewed manually.
Useful Links
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Where is FC-1 filed, regardless of the actual location of the foreign company’s office? At the Delhi RoC, with a copy automatically routed to the RoC of the concerned state.
Q2. What is the filing deadline for FC-1? Within 30 days of establishing the principal place of business in India.
Q3. What is the filing fee for FC-1? A flat ₹6,000, with an escalating delay fee schedule if filed late.
Q4. Can a foreign company have two active FCRNs for the same country code? No — no other FCRN should be active against the company’s name with the same ISO country code.
Q5. Is FC-1 processed automatically? No, it is always processed in Non-STP mode with manual review.
Disclaimer
This article is based on the official Instruction Kit for Form FC-1 published by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Government of India. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the content is intended for general guidance purposes only. MCA forms, rules, and fee structures are subject to change through amendments to the Companies Act, 2013 or notifications issued thereunder.
In case of any inconsistency or doubt, readers are advised to refer to the official MCA forms download page and resources available on the MCA website.