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AU Corporate helps Singapore-based companies establish and scale their Indian operations, with expertise in India-Singapore DTAA planning, FEMA compliance, and GCC setup.
Singapore has been India's single largest source of FDI for seven consecutive years, with cumulative investment since 2000 approaching $195 billion — ahead of every other country, including the US. Many Singapore-headquartered companies, including regional holding structures for global groups, use it as the base for their India entry, in large part because of the country's role as a global financial hub and gateway for private equity and venture capital into India. Our team helps you navigate entity selection, the India-Singapore DTAA, and the FEMA compliance obligations that follow incorporation.
Our regulatory compliance practice handles the FEMA and RBI filings foreign-owned subsidiaries need — including the documentation Singapore entities require to access DTAA benefits.
Most Singapore companies enter via a wholly-owned Private Limited subsidiary, giving full commercial flexibility under the automatic FDI route for most sectors.
10% withholding on dividends where the recipient holds at least 25% of the paying company's shares (15% otherwise), 10% on interest from banks/financial institutions (15% otherwise), and a flat 10% on royalties and fees for technical services.
Gains on Indian shares acquired after 1 April 2017 are taxable in India under the treaty; shares acquired before that date remain grandfathered under the older capital-gains exemption. Acquisition timing matters for any Singapore holding structure.
Treaty benefits are denied to entities without genuine economic substance. Your Singapore entity needs to satisfy at least one test: listed on a recognised exchange, under 50% of gross income paid to non-residents with at least 50% beneficial ownership held in India or Singapore, or an active trade or business beyond investment holding — the same substance question at the center of the Tiger Global mailbox-company ruling.
Form FC-GPR on share allotment, Form FC-TRS on any transfer, and the annual FLA return — the same core filings that apply to any foreign-owned Indian subsidiary.
Singapore is a common staging base for companies setting up a Global Capability Center in India — we support the entity, tax, and operational setup end to end. See our complete GCC setup guide.
Incorporation follows the standard Companies Act, 2013 process: Digital Signature Certificate and Director Identification Number for the proposed directors, name reservation, the integrated SPICe+ filing (which covers PAN, TAN, GSTIN, and EPFO/ESIC in one pass), and the Certificate of Incorporation. Since Singapore is a Hague Apostille Convention member, the Singapore parent's certificate of incorporation and board resolution need apostille certification rather than consular legalisation — generally faster than the legalisation route non-Hague-Convention jurisdictions face, though it's still the step most likely to pace the overall timeline rather than the Indian filing itself.
Automatic Route investments typically clear in 4-6 weeks; Government Route investments run 8-12 weeks. For the full step-by-step process, documents checklist, and reconciled cost/timeline breakdown, see our complete company registration guide.
Select what your India operation is primarily there to do, and we'll point you to the right structure.
Years Collective Experience
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India Entry & Compliance Support
Based, Serving Global Clients
Contact AU Corporate today for a personalized consultation tailored to your business needs.