India is open for business. We make sure you enter it correctly.

India rewards businesses that enter with a strong legal and regulatory foundation in place. We have been getting it right for international businesses since 2000.

Talk to our India advisory team

More than a certificate of incorporation

We are not a company registration service. We are a strategic partner for businesses entering India, from your first structuring decision through your first year of operation. India rewards businesses that get this right, and rarely forgives the ones that do not.

“We don't just file the paperwork. We see it through.”

Who we work with

Nine sectors, one integrated team.

Consumer brands and retail
Manufacturing and industrial
Technology and software
Pharma and healthcare
Food, agri and nutraceuticals
Energy, infrastructure and real estate
Professional and financial services
E-commerce and D2C
Defence, aerospace and deep tech

We also build custom back-office and outsourcing legal teams in India for businesses that need one.

Why NRI Legal

Genuinely global
Offices in the UK, Canada and the US, with our own teams across India, mean you deal directly with us, not a subcontracted local firm.
We cut through red tape
India's approval processes are navigable once you know them. We know them, and we do not stop until your application clears.
Twenty-six years of India entry experience
We have been guiding international businesses through Indian market entry since 2000.
One team, every discipline
Legal structuring, tax, compliance and banking sit under one roof, so nothing falls between advisers.
Outcome-focused execution
We do not stop at advice. We file, follow up, and see each application through to approval.
Clear costs from the outset
You will know your fees before we begin work, with no hourly surprises.

Your India entry questions, answered clearly

Getting started

We are a foreign company. Can we own 100% of an Indian subsidiary?

In most sectors, yes. India permits 100% foreign ownership through the automatic FDI route for the majority of industries. Some sectors, including defence, retail and financial services, have specific conditions or caps. We review the FDI rules that apply to your sector before any filing begins.

How long does it take to set up a company in India?

Once all required documents are ready, a Certificate of Incorporation typically takes around three to four weeks, and preparing apostilled documents for foreign directors usually adds a further two to three weeks. Timelines vary with the authorities' own processing, and we start the preparation the day your engagement begins.

What ongoing compliance is required once we are set up?

Significant. Indian companies have overlapping filing obligations to the Registrar of Companies, the RBI, GST authorities and sector-specific regulators. For manufacturing clients, factory inspectors, pollution control boards and labour authorities add further layers. We manage the complete compliance calendar through our annual retainer service.

Do you work with companies from outside the UK and Canada?

Yes. Many of our clients are from the US, UAE, Singapore, Australia, Japan and Europe. Our UK, Canada and US offices are our western anchor points, and our India advisory serves international businesses from every jurisdiction.

Do we need a resident Indian director?

Most Indian companies require at least one director who is resident in India. We advise on the requirement for your entity type and can help you meet it as part of setup.

Manufacturing

We want to manufacture in India. Where do we start?

State selection is the first and most consequential decision. Different states offer different incentives: capital subsidies, power tariff concessions and single-window clearances. We begin with a state comparison calibrated to your sector and supply chain, then manage land acquisition, factory registration, environmental clearances and every operating licence through to first production.

What is the PLI scheme and could we benefit?

India's Production Linked Incentive scheme offers cash incentives, typically a percentage of incremental sales, to manufacturers who commit to production targets over a set period. Current rates vary by sector and change over time. We assess your eligibility as part of our pre-investment advisory and manage the application and annual claims if you qualify.

How long does factory setup typically take once we have chosen a site?

It varies by state and sector, but many clients move from land acquisition to first production in roughly six to fourteen months. Environmental and factory licensing usually set the pace, and we run these in parallel with construction wherever the state allows it.

Tax and treaties

What tax does India charge on profits sent back to our home country?

This depends on the tax treaty between India and your home country. India has Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements with the US, Canada, UK, UAE, Singapore and Australia, among others, which set reduced withholding tax rates on dividends, royalties and management fees. We confirm the current position for your case.

Can you help us structure our operations to reduce our overall tax burden in India?

Yes. We look at your entity structure, transfer pricing position and applicable treaty benefits together, rather than treating tax as an afterthought. Getting this right from the outset is usually worth more than any relief we could claim later.

Selling in India

Can a foreign-owned company sell directly to Indian consumers online?

Not through an inventory-based model. India's FDI policy restricts this for 100% foreign-owned entities. The compliant structure is a B2B wholesale model, where your Indian entity sells to an Indian-owned distributor. Direct-to-consumer capability is available through the Single Brand Retail Trading route, which has specific conditions we manage for you.

Do we need a separate registration to sell through marketplaces like Amazon India?

Marketplace selling has its own registration and compliance requirements, separate from setting up a direct e-commerce operation. We advise on the route that fits your business model, including where a marketplace-only approach may let you enter faster.