An Irish company can incorporate an Indian subsidiary under the automatic FDI route in most sectors. The parent's CRO certificate of incorporation, constitution and board resolution are notarised and apostilled by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Directors obtain digital signatures online, and the company is registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. At least one director must have stayed in India for 182 days or more in the previous year, and the investment is reported to the RBI.
- Document route
- Irish notary public, then apostille from the Department of Foreign Affairs
- Time difference
- IST is 4h30 (Irish summer time) to 5h30 (winter) ahead
- Law
- Companies Act 2013, FEMA 1999, NDI Rules 2019
- Minimum
- 2 directors, 2 shareholders
Company Setup for Foreigners from Ireland: how it works
We advise on structure: a wholly owned subsidiary, a joint venture, or a branch or liaison office. For a corporate shareholder from Ireland, we need a recent CRO certificate, constitution and board resolution authorising the investment and nominating signatories, all apostilled. Irish-resident directors provide passports and proof of address, also apostilled, and complete video verification for digital signature certificates at a convenient Irish time.
After name reservation and incorporation, which also issues PAN and TAN, we open the bank account. Share capital must arrive through banking channels from the Irish parent, followed by the FC-GPR filing with the RBI. We then set up compliance: GST if needed, payroll, transfer pricing documentation for services to the Irish parent, and annual filings. The India-Ireland tax treaty governs withholding on dividends and royalties paid back to Ireland.
What clients in Ireland should know
- An Irish parent is not affected by Press Note 3, but any beneficial owner from a country sharing a land border with India triggers government approval.
- Transfer pricing applies from the first year to intra-group services between the Indian subsidiary and the Irish parent.
- CRO documents should be recent; Indian authorities often prefer certificates issued within the last few months.
Step by step from Ireland
Video consultation
A call at a time that suits Ireland, after we have read your documents.
Documents signed in Ireland
Irish notary public, then apostille from the Department of Foreign Affairs
Work in India
Our team files, appears and follows up in India, and shares scans of everything filed.
Result and handover
Certified copies and originals are couriered to you in Ireland where needed.
The full guide
This page covers what changes when you are in Ireland. For the law, the documents and the step-by-step procedure, read our main page on Company Setup for Foreigners, or see all services for clients in Ireland and the Doing Business in India practice area.
Questions from clients in Ireland
Can an Irish individual be the sole shareholder?
A private limited company needs at least two shareholders; a nominee can hold one share for the parent.
Do we need a resident director in India?
Yes, at least one director who stayed in India for 182 days or more in the previous calendar year.
How long does it take?
Usually two to four weeks after apostilled documents arrive, then bank and RBI steps.