Branch liaison and project offices

Before you begin

An office of a foreign entity is not the same as an Indian subsidiary. Review the current foreign-exchange framework, permitted activity, authorisation route and bank requirements before committing to premises or contracts.

Write an activity brief that describes what the Indian office will actually do, who will contract with customers, whether it expects receipts in India and how its costs will be funded. A proposed office label should follow that assessment rather than substitute for it.

What the engagement covers

The engagement covers the office-type assessment, applicant record pack, application coordination and an ongoing obligations handover. Any approval conditions are recorded so the team can operate within them.

The working pack should connect the chosen route to the parent records, bank requirements and proposed office activities. Keep application correspondence and any permission conditions together. The operating handover assigns responsibility for tracking conditions, reporting, changes and eventual closure requirements.

Records to prepare

• Parent business and financial records
• proposed activities
• project contract where relevant
• ownership and country information
• funding source
• authorised bank and signatories.

For a project-linked presence, organise the contract, scope of work, parties, funding arrangements and planned duration. Identify changes or side agreements that alter the original description so the application does not rely on an incomplete project record.

A decision worth resolving early

An office intended only to liaise should not be assumed free to invoice customers. The actual business activity must be checked against the permission obtained. Current operative directions and later amendments are confirmed for the application.

For example, a parent initially seeking market contacts may later want the Indian team to sign local service contracts. Record that change for assessment before implementing it; the original activity brief and permission should remain available for comparison.

Scope and fees

The proposal specifies the office types assessed, application coordination and conditions register included. Tax analysis, project-contract advice, premises permissions and later changes are separate unless expressly included. Use the India-entry journey to coordinate the office decision with the wider commercial setup.