A UK parent typically needs its certificate of incorporation, articles, a board resolution, and identity and address proof for each director and signatory. UK papers are notarised if needed and then legalised with an apostille issued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Indian authorities accept the apostille without further embassy legalisation. Start this first, because it is usually the slowest step.
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Key facts
| Core UK documents | Certificate of incorporation; articles of association; board resolution; Companies House company profile or certificate of good standing; identity and address proof for directors and signatories |
|---|---|
| Notary | A UK notary public for private documents and signatures; solicitors and commissioners for oaths are not enough for most uses |
| Apostille | Issued in the UK by the FCDO Legalisation Office under the Hague Apostille Convention; India accepts it |
| Format | Paper or e-apostille; confirm that the Indian filing will accept the electronic version before ordering |
| Translation | Not needed for English documents |
| Validity | Many Indian forms want identity and address proofs that are no more than a couple of months old |
The checklist for a UK company
| Document | Used for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of incorporation | Proof that the parent exists | Companies House copy; legalise a certified copy, not a screenshot |
| Articles of association | Authority and objects of the parent | Check that investing in a subsidiary is within the articles |
| Board resolution | Approves the investment, names the authorised signatory and the directors of the Indian company | Signed by a director and, if asked, the company secretary |
| Certificate of good standing or company profile | Shows the company is active and not struck off | Banks and the registrar sometimes ask for it |
| Directors' identity and address proof | Director appointments, KYC and the digital signature | Passport plus a recent address document, notarised and apostilled |
| Power of attorney | Lets a named person sign filings for the parent in India | Notarised and apostilled; scope should list incorporation and the RBI filings |
| Persons with significant control (PSC) details | Ultimate beneficial owner disclosures to the bank and the registrar | The UK PSC register is a useful starting point |
The exact list depends on the parent's entity type. A UK limited company, public company, limited liability partnership and limited partnership each produce different papers.
Notarisation and the UK apostille, step by step
- Gather the originals, or certified copies, and decide which are "public documents" (such as Companies House certificates) and which are private (such as resolutions and powers of attorney).
- Have private documents signed in front of a UK notary public, who notarises the signature and seal.
- Submit the notarised and public documents to the FCDO Legalisation Office for the apostille, by the online service for e-apostilles or by post for paper ones.
- Receive the apostilled set and scan a copy for the Indian team.
- Send the originals to India if the filing needs paper, or confirm that the scans are enough for the Registrar and the bank.
Allow for the notary's appointment, any Companies House copy time, the FCDO's turnaround and courier time if paper is used. These vary by week, so we advise starting the legalisation before choosing the company name, not after.
Companies House points to watch
- Directors must verify their identity under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 reforms, so make sure the person named in the UK register and the person signing in India are the same, with identical names.
- The registered office and director addresses on the register should match the documents provided. Differences are a common reason for queries from the Indian registrar and the bank.
- A company that is overdue with accounts or the confirmation statement may be flagged. Bring filings up to date before applying for a certificate of good standing.
What happens on the Indian side
The Indian director candidates need Digital Signature Certificates, and non-resident directors' identity and address documents are generally attested by a notary or apostilled. The parent's documents support the Memorandum and Articles, the subscription, and the bank's know-your-customer checks. The Registrar's review of the incorporation form can also ask for the parent's ultimate beneficial owner details. See the incorporation timeline.
Mistakes that cost weeks
- Legalising a document that is not signed in the way India expects, then having to redo it.
- Mismatched names, such as a middle name in the passport but not on the resolution.
- A power of attorney that does not mention the RBI filings or the bank account.
- Using stale address proofs.
- Ordering paper apostilles when the Indian authority would have accepted an electronic one, or the reverse.
Official sources
Check the rules at the primary sources: Income Tax Department (India), Reserve Bank of India, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, HMRC, Companies House and the UK legalisation service for apostilles.
Frequently asked questions
Which UK documents need an apostille for an Indian subsidiary, and who issues it?
An apostille is a Hague Convention certificate that makes a UK public document valid in India. The UK parent's certificate of incorporation, articles of association, board resolution, Companies House profile or good standing certificate, and the notarised passports and address proofs of its directors and authorised signatory all need one. The FCDO Legalisation Office issues apostilles, on paper or as an e-apostille, after a UK notary public has signed the private documents. No Indian High Commission legalisation is needed.
Do UK documents need Indian embassy legalisation as well?
No. India and the UK are both parties to the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille replaces embassy legalisation.
Does a UK solicitor or commissioner for oaths count as a notary?
Usually not. For documents going to India, a notary public is the safe choice. Check with your adviser before notarising each document type.
What documents does a UK parent need to provide?
Typically the certificate of incorporation, articles of association, a board resolution authorising the investment and the signatory, a Companies House profile or certificate of good standing, and notarised identity and address proof for directors and signatories.
Can UK documents be signed and apostilled electronically?
Some steps can be, because the UK offers an e-apostille service. The Indian filing must accept the electronic version, so confirm that first to avoid doing the process twice.
Which UK entities can own an Indian subsidiary?
Limited companies, public companies, limited liability partnerships and limited partnerships can all be shareholders. Trusts and partnerships hold through their trustees or partners, which adds documents and review.
Related guides
Incorporating an Indian Subsidiary from the UK: A Week-by-Week Plan
A week-by-week plan for a UK company to incorporate a wholly owned Indian subsidiary: documents, DSC and DIN, SPICe+, bank account, FC-GPR, first board meeting and the first 90 days.
Read the guide →Choosing an Indian Structure as a UK Company: Subsidiary, Branch, Liaison Office, LLP or Employer of Record
How a UK company should choose between an Indian subsidiary, branch, liaison office, LLP or Employer of Record, and whether to hold it directly or through an intermediate company.
Read the guide →Funding an Indian Subsidiary from the UK: Instruments, Pricing Floor, Valuation and RBI Reporting
How a UK parent puts money into an Indian subsidiary legally: equity, convertible preference shares and loans, the fair-value pricing floor, the 60-day allotment rule and Form FC-GPR.
Read the guide →13 Costly Mistakes UK Companies Make When Setting Up in India
The 13 most common and costly mistakes UK companies make setting up an Indian subsidiary, with the fix for each and a pre-filing checklist.
Read the guide →Sources
Last updated 19 October 2026. General information only, not legal or tax advice. Indian and UK rules change often; confirm current requirements before acting.