What time limits are fixed by rule?
Only a handful of periods are set by rule. Everything else is experience, not law. The table shows the ones you can plan around.
| Item | Period |
|---|---|
| Reserved company name valid | 20 days from approval |
| Payment against a name reservation request | Within 7 days, or the SRN is cancelled |
| First board meeting | Within 30 days of incorporation |
| First auditor appointed by the board | Within 30 days of registration |
| Shares allotted after money is received (fresh allotment; not the subscriber shares issued at incorporation) | Within 60 days, or refund |
| Form FC-GPR | Within 30 days of allotment |
| Valuation certificate | Not more than 90 days old at the date of investment |
| INC-20A commencement declaration | Within 180 days of incorporation |
| Annual FLA return | 15 July each year |
| DIR-3 KYC | 30 June, every three financial years from 31 March 2026 |
There is no official standard for how long MCA takes to approve a name or incorporate a company, and none for bank account opening or FC-GPR acknowledgement. That is why the rest of this page uses ranges and labels them as such.
What are typical durations for each stage?
These are general ranges based on ProLead’s own experience and industry-standard timelines. Treat them as ranges, not commitments.
| Stage | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Name approval | 1 to 3 working days |
| Simple incorporation after name approval | 2 to 3 days |
| Overall incorporation for a simple case | 7 to 15 working days |
| Apostille for foreign directors | Adds 7 to 15 days |
| Bank account, documents apostilled | 3 to 6 weeks after incorporation |
| Bank account, documents not apostilled | 8 to 10 weeks |
| Foreign-parent structure, end to end | 7 to 10 weeks at best, 12 to 16 weeks with delays |
For FC-GPR there is no reliable processing-time data. The 30-day filing deadline is the only firm number.
How long does ProLead’s own process take?
ProLead’s usual process runs up to about 30 days from the start of document preparation to a Certificate of Incorporation, with most of that time spent on parent-company documents and apostille.
On a fast track, in one real, anonymised engagement, ProLead set up an overseas group’s Indian subsidiary in under three weeks, including opening the bank account, against an industry-standard 8 to 12 weeks.
That result depended on clean documents, directors who were ready to act and an early decision on the registered office. It is not a guarantee for your case, and a longer path is normal when documents, approvals or bank onboarding arrive late. Ask any adviser what their own quoted timeline starts and stops at: incorporation only, or incorporation plus bank account and first capital remittance. Read the case study for how the engagement ran.
What usually causes delay?
- Foreign document authentication. Notarisation and then apostille (or consular attestation for non-Convention countries such as the UAE and Malaysia) must happen in your home country. Errors in names or dates on documents restart the process.
- Foreign-director KYC. Digital signature certificates, DINs and, where required, business-visa evidence or apostilled physical documents can hold up the eMoA and eAoA filings.
- Name objections. A name that includes a foreign country name needs proof of a business relationship, and names that resemble existing ones are rejected. A trademark certificate (an internationally valid mark, as recorded with WIPO) and a no objection letter from the trademark owner make approval easier.
- Registered-office proof. The Registrar verifies the address through proof of address, so an office without paperwork stalls the filing.
- Bank account opening. Opening in the SPICe+ flow is often not usable for a foreign-owned company, because of foreign-director KYC. See opening a bank account and remitting capital.
- Valuation certificate timing. If it is older than 90 days when the money is invested, you need a fresh one.
How can you shorten the path?
Run the slow tasks together. Start apostille, DSC and name checks in the first week, and settle the office and authorised capital at the same time. Prepare the FC-GPR documents before the money leaves your parent. Our documents checklist lists what to gather, and the incorporation process page shows the order.
Set your own internal deadlines around the rule-based dates, not around the anecdotal ranges. If your parent needs the subsidiary live for a hire date or a customer contract, work backwards from that date and add a buffer for authentication and banking.
For costs alongside timing, see the cost and timeline page or book a free consultation.
Note: Rules and forms change often. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Check the current position with a practising Chartered Accountant or Company Secretary before you act.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest an Indian subsidiary can be set up?
Does MCA publish a processing time for incorporation?
How long is a reserved company name valid?
What delays an Indian subsidiary most?
Can we run the steps in parallel?
Sources
General information only, not legal or tax advice. Rules and forms change, so confirm the current position with a practising Chartered Accountant or Company Secretary before you act. See our disclaimer.