Most UK companies have a registered Indian subsidiary with PAN, TAN and a bank account within 4 to 6 weeks of signing their documents, and complete the share issue and FC-GPR filing a few weeks later. The part that varies most is in the UK: getting certified copies from Companies House, booking a notary public and obtaining apostilles from the FCDO Legalisation Office. India is 4.5 hours ahead of the UK in summer and 5.5 hours in winter, so Indian filings can progress during the UK morning. Planning around Christmas, UK bank holidays and Diwali avoids losing a week.
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Key facts
| Incorporation | Typically 4 to 6 weeks from signed and apostilled documents to a registered company with PAN and TAN |
|---|---|
| Bank account and capital | Usually 1 to 2 weeks after incorporation |
| FC-GPR | Within 30 days of issuing shares to the UK parent |
| Slowest UK step | Notarisation and FCDO apostille of the parent's documents |
| Time difference | India is 5.5 hours ahead of GMT and 4.5 hours ahead of BST |
| Indian financial year | 1 April to 31 March |
| Holidays to plan around | Christmas and New Year in the UK; Diwali in October or November in India |
The schedule at a glance
| Week | UK side | India side |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Board approves the subsidiary; directors gather passports and address proofs; order Companies House certified copies | We confirm the FDI route, draft documents and check name availability |
| 1 to 2 | Notary appointment for the resolution, parent documents and director KYC | Digital signature applications for the directors start in parallel |
| 2 to 3 | FCDO apostilles on every notarised document; courier the originals to India | Name approval through SPICe+ Part A |
| 3 to 5 | Sign the incorporation forms digitally | SPICe+ filed; certificate of incorporation with PAN and TAN issued |
| 5 to 7 | UK parent remits the share capital in sterling | Bank account opened; capital received; shares allotted |
| Within 30 days of allotment | Share certificates sent to the UK parent | FC-GPR filed with the RBI |
These ranges assume documents are prepared correctly the first time. A rejected document usually costs a week, because it has to go back through the notary and the FCDO.
The UK document chain
- Companies House: order certified copies of the certificate of incorporation and the articles. Ordering several sets at once avoids a second request for the bank.
- Board resolution: approve the investment, the directors and an authorised signatory. Use the exact company name as registered at Companies House.
- Notary public: a UK notary certifies the resolution, the copies and each director's passport and address proof. Book early; many notaries need the documents in advance.
- FCDO apostille: the FCDO Legalisation Office attaches an apostille to each notarised document. It offers a standard service and a faster one at a higher fee; check which form of apostille the Indian bank and Registrar will accept before choosing.
- Courier: originals go to India by international courier, usually a few working days.
For the document detail, see documents, Companies House and apostille.
What happens in India meanwhile
We do not wait for the apostilled originals to start. While the UK steps run, we prepare the MoA and AoA, apply for the directors' digital signatures, reserve the name and line up the registered office documents and the bank. Once the originals arrive, SPICe+ is filed straight away. After incorporation, three clocks matter most: shares must be allotted within 60 days of receiving the capital, FC-GPR is due within 30 days of allotment, and the declaration of commencement of business is due within 180 days of incorporation.
Using the time difference
- India is 4.5 hours ahead during British Summer Time and 5.5 hours ahead in winter.
- Indian working hours overlap the UK morning, so a document signed in London by 11:00 can often be filed in India the same day.
- Video verification for digital signatures and bank KYC calls are easiest in the UK morning.
- UK clocks change in late March and late October while Indian time does not, so recurring meetings shift by an hour twice a year.
Holidays and year ends that move the dates
| Period | Effect |
|---|---|
| Late December to early January | UK notaries and the FCDO run reduced hours; plan UK steps before mid-December |
| UK bank holidays | No notary or FCDO processing on those days |
| Diwali (October or November) | Indian banks and offices close for several days in many states |
| Indian financial year end (31 March) | Banks and the MCA portal are busy; a company incorporated between January and March can choose a longer first financial year ending the following 31 March |
| UK parent's year end | If the parent closes on 31 December or 31 March, finishing the share issue before then keeps the investment in the right year's accounts |
How to finish faster
- Collect every director's KYC and the board resolution in week 1.
- Notarise and apostille everything in one batch, with spare certified copies.
- Appoint a resident director early, or use our professional resident director service, so the board is complete when SPICe+ is filed.
- Have the UK treasury team ready to remit the capital as soon as the bank account details arrive.
- Agree the share price and valuation before the money is sent.
How AU Corporate handles this
AU Corporate plans the timetable backwards from your launch date, prepares the Indian filings while the UK documents are authenticated, and handles incorporation, the bank account, share issue and FC-GPR. We work in UK hours where it matters.
Related services: India subsidiary registration and FEMA and RBI compliance.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take a UK company to set up an Indian subsidiary?
Typically 4 to 6 weeks from signed and apostilled documents to incorporation with PAN and TAN, then 1 to 2 weeks for the bank account and capital, and FC-GPR within 30 days of issuing shares.
What is the slowest step for a UK parent?
Usually the UK document chain: certified copies from Companies House, a notary public and FCDO apostilles.
Can the Indian work start before the documents arrive?
Yes. We prepare the forms, digital signatures and name approval in parallel and file as soon as the originals arrive.
What is the time difference between India and the UK?
India is 5.5 hours ahead of GMT and 4.5 hours ahead of British Summer Time.
Which holidays should we plan around?
Christmas and New Year in the UK, UK bank holidays, and Diwali in India in October or November.
Does incorporating near 31 March matter?
Yes. Indian banks and portals are busy, but a company incorporated between January and March can choose a first financial year ending on the following 31 March.
Related guides
Sources
Last updated 3 November 2026. General information only, not legal or tax advice. Indian rules change often; confirm current requirements before acting.