Plan: budgeting from Australia

Cost of Setting Up a Subsidiary in India from Australia: Fees, DFAT Apostille and AUD Funding

By Abhishek Jaiin, Chartered Accountant (All India Rank 44; ICAI membership no. 544646), AU Corporate · Last updated 3 November 2026

Short answer

Incorporating an Indian subsidiary through AU Corporate costs an Australian company USD 750 to 1,000 all-inclusive for INR 10 lakh share capital, covering Indian government fees and our professional fees up to the FC-GPR filing. Australian-side costs are an ASIC company extract, a notary public, a DFAT apostille for each document and international courier. Capital is usually sent in Australian dollars and converted into rupees. Because the Australian parent closes its year on 30 June and the Indian subsidiary on 31 March, budget for two year-ends in the running costs, which we quote as a fixed package.

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Key facts

AU Corporate setup feeUSD 750 to 1,000 all-inclusive, for INR 10 lakh share capital
Company recordCurrent ASIC company extract
ApostilleDepartment of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), one process for the whole country
CourierOriginals sent from Australia to India by express courier
FundingAUD or USD remitted and converted into rupees
Year endsAustralian parent usually 30 June; Indian subsidiary 31 March
Australian GST on Indian servicesReverse charge only where the recipient cannot claim full input tax credits
Running costsQuoted separately as a fixed monthly or annual package

The fixed fee

USD 750 to 1,000 all-inclusive for INR 10 lakh share capital, confirmed in writing before we start, covering Indian government fees and our work: the FDI check, digital signatures and DINs, name approval, SPICe+ incorporation with PAN and TAN, bank account support, the share issue and FC-GPR. Higher capital or a state with higher stamp duty increases the government component, and we show the effect first.

Australian-side costs

StepProviderCost note
Current company extractASICA small fee per extract
Board resolution and constitutionCompany secretary or our draftInternal time
Notarisation of the resolution, extract and directors' documentsAn Australian notary publicCharged per document or per appointment
ApostilleDFATA fee per document; DFAT must be able to verify the notary's signature
Courier to IndiaCourier companyInternational express delivery, typically several days

DFAT issues apostilles for the whole country, so the process is the same whether the parent is in Sydney, Melbourne or Perth. Use a notary whose signature DFAT holds, otherwise the document comes back. See documents and apostille through DFAT.

Sending Australian dollars

  • Capital is remitted in AUD or USD from the Australian parent's bank and converted into rupees in India.
  • On larger amounts, the exchange margin costs more than the transfer fee, so compare the bank's rate or use a foreign exchange provider the bank accepts.
  • Instruct the bank that all charges are paid by the sender, so the full capital arrives and the share issue matches the money received.
  • Shares must be allotted within 60 days of the money arriving, and FC-GPR filed within 30 days after that.

What makes the quote go up

FactorWhy
Share capital above INR 10 lakhMCA fees and state stamp duty rise with capital
Registered office stateStamp duty differs between states
No director resident in IndiaA professional resident director service is quoted separately
No Indian office yetA registered office service is quoted separately
Several foreign directorsMore digital signatures, and more Australian notarisation and apostilles

Running costs across two year-ends

The Indian subsidiary prepares statutory accounts to 31 March, files its tax return and Form 48 for dealings with the parent, and holds its annual general meeting within six months of the year end. The Australian group usually reports to 30 June, so the Indian team also prepares a June reporting pack for consolidation. Monthly bookkeeping, GST and TDS returns, payroll and provident fund once it hires, the FLA return and ROC filings complete the list. We quote the whole calendar as one fixed package. See the compliance calendar.

Costs for the Australian parent

  • GST: services the Indian subsidiary supplies to the parent are generally only subject to Australian reverse-charge GST where the parent cannot claim full input tax credits, such as a bank or insurer.
  • Transfer pricing: the same intercompany prices must be supported under Australian rules and in the Indian Form 48 report.
  • Dividends: dividends from the Indian subsidiary to an Australian company holding at least 10% are generally non-assessable non-exempt income under section 768-5.
  • Audit: the Australian auditor may need to review the Indian statutory audit for the group audit.

See Australian parent obligations.

Savings that work

  1. Notarise and apostille all documents in one batch, with spare certified copies for the Indian bank.
  2. Keep the first board small.
  3. Send enough capital at the start for the first year's costs.
  4. Choose the registered office state with stamp duty in mind where the business allows.
  5. Agree the intercompany services agreement before the first invoice.

How AU Corporate handles this

AU Corporate quotes a fixed all-inclusive price for the Indian incorporation, provides the Australian document checklist, and can run the subsidiary's accounting, tax, payroll and ROC compliance afterwards, including the June reporting pack for the Australian group.

Related services: India subsidiary registration and accounting, reporting and audit support.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an Australian company pay to set up an Indian subsidiary?

With AU Corporate, USD 750 to 1,000 all-inclusive for INR 10 lakh share capital, plus Australian notary, DFAT apostille and courier costs.

Who issues apostilles in Australia?

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, for the whole country.

Is there a minimum capital?

No minimum in Indian law, but the capital should cover the first months of running costs.

Why budget for two year-ends?

The Indian subsidiary reports to 31 March, while most Australian groups report to 30 June, so the Indian team prepares both.

Does the Australian parent pay GST on services from India?

Only under the reverse charge where it cannot claim full input tax credits, such as a bank or insurer.

Are running costs included in the setup fee?

No. They are quoted separately as a fixed package.

See all Australian FAQs →Answers on incorporation, FEMA, tax, hiring and exit for Australian parents.

Sources

← Back to the complete guide

Last updated 3 November 2026. General information only, not legal or tax advice. Indian rules change often; confirm current requirements before acting.

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