FCRA Registration – Foreign Contribution Registration Under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010

Q: Who can apply for FCRA registration in India?

Cultural, economic, educational, religious, or social organisations registered for 3+ years, with Rs 15 lakh in core activity spend over 3 years, a valid Darpan ID, and not a prohibited person under Section 3.

Q: What is the difference between FCRA registration and FCRA prior permission?

Registration (Section 11(1)) is a 5-year standing authorisation for ongoing foreign contributions. Prior Permission (Section 11(2)) is a one-time grant for a specific amount from a specific donor for a specific purpose.

Q: Can a Section 8 company receive foreign contributions under FCRA?

Yes, if it meets all eligibility criteria — 3 years of registration, genuine activities, Rs 15 lakh core spend, and Darpan ID. FCRA applies equally to societies, trusts, and Section 8 companies.

Q: What is the FCRA Amendment 2020 and how does it affect existing registrations?

Key changes: contributions must be received only at SBI New Delhi; sub-granting to non-FCRA entities prohibited; administrative expense capped at 20%; and expanded prohibited categories.

Q: How long does FCRA registration take?

MHA must process within 90 days (60 days for prior permission). Additional document requests reset the timeline. Complete applications with Darpan ID, audited accounts, and SBI details are processed more efficiently.

FCRA Registration and Prior Permission for NGOs, Trusts, and Societies to Receive Foreign Contributions in India

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 (FCRA) regulates the acceptance and utilisation of foreign contributions and foreign hospitality by persons and associations in India. Under Section 11 of the FCRA, every person or organisation wishing to receive foreign contributions — donations, grants, or gifts from foreign sources — must either obtain FCRA Registration (for recurring foreign funding) or FCRA Prior Permission (for a specific, one-time foreign donation). FCRA applications are filed with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) through the online FCRA portal. FCRA registration is valid for 5 years and must be renewed. Foreign contributions can only be received in the designated FCRA account held with the State Bank of India, New Delhi Main Branch.

A valid Darpan ID from the NGO-DARPAN portal is a mandatory prerequisite for all FCRA registration and prior permission applications. Our FCRA registration service manages the complete application process — eligibility assessment, Darpan ID verification, application preparation, Ministry of Home Affairs liaison, and FCRA portal compliance setup. This service connects with our FCRA Annual Return Services for post-registration compliance.

Our FCRA Registration Services

FCRA Registration Application (Section 11)

End-to-end FCRA registration application — eligibility assessment, Darpan ID verification, documentation preparation, and submission on the FCRA online portal (fcraonline.nic.in).

FCRA Prior Permission Application

Application for FCRA Prior Permission for organisations seeking to receive a specific one-time foreign contribution — before obtaining regular FCRA registration or as an interim measure.

Eligibility Assessment

Pre-application assessment of the organisation's eligibility for FCRA registration — checking minimum 3-year existence requirement, activity record, Darpan compliance, and review of past prosecutions or adverse orders.

FCRA Account Setup (SBI New Delhi)

Advisory on opening and configuring the mandatory FCRA designated account with the State Bank of India, New Delhi Main Branch — the only bank branch at which FCRA contributions can be received.

FCRA Utilisation Account Setup

Advisory on opening the FCRA utilisation account (for spending received foreign contributions) and ensuring it is linked to the FCRA portal in compliance with the 2020 FCRA Amendment requirements.

MHA Query and Objection Response

Preparation of responses to Ministry of Home Affairs queries, objections, and deficiency notices raised during the FCRA registration or prior permission application process.

Key Compliance Points for FCRA Registration

FCRA registration is mandatory — receiving foreign contributions without FCRA registration or prior permission is a criminal offence under Section 11 of the FCRA, 2010
Restricts eligible organisations — only associations that are cultural, economic, educational, religious, or social in nature and registered for at least 3 years can apply for regular FCRA registration
Designated SBI account mandatory — all foreign contributions must be received only in the FCRA-designated account at SBI New Delhi Main Branch (post-2020 FCRA Amendment)
FCRA registration is valid for 5 years — renewal must be applied for 6 months before the expiry date to avoid a gap in authorisation to receive foreign funds
All foreign contribution receipts and utilisation are visible to the MHA — quarterly statements and annual returns are mandatory under the Act
Prohibited categories — political parties, media organisations, judges, government servants, and members of legislature are expressly prohibited from receiving foreign contributions under FCRA

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply for FCRA registration in India?

Under Section 11 of the FCRA 2010, an association can apply for FCRA registration if it: is a cultural, economic, educational, religious, or social organisation; has been registered for at least 3 years prior to the application; has undertaken genuine and reasonable activities in its chosen field during the 3-year period; has spent at least Rs 15 lakh on its core activities (excluding administrative expenses) over the preceding 3 financial years; has a valid Darpan ID; and is not a prohibited person or organisation under Section 3 of the Act.

What is the difference between FCRA registration and FCRA prior permission?

FCRA Registration (Section 11(1)) is a standing authorisation for an organisation to receive foreign contributions on an ongoing basis — valid for 5 years and renewable. FCRA Prior Permission (Section 11(2)) is a one-time permission granted to a specific organisation to receive a specific amount from a specific foreign donor for a specific purpose. Prior permission is typically sought by new organisations (less than 3 years old) or organisations yet to obtain regular registration that have received a specific foreign grant offer.

Can a Section 8 company receive foreign contributions under FCRA?

Yes. A Section 8 company (non-profit company under the Companies Act 2013) can apply for FCRA registration or prior permission if it meets all eligibility criteria — 3 years of registration, genuine activities, minimum spend of Rs 15 lakh on core activities, and Darpan registration. The FCRA does not restrict the legal form of the entity — it applies equally to societies, trusts, and Section 8 companies. Religious institutions associated with a Section 8 company should separately review their eligibility given the FCRA's specific provisions on religious foreign contributions.

What is the FCRA Amendment 2020 and how does it affect existing registrations?

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2020 introduced significant changes: (a) all foreign contributions must be received only in the designated FCRA account at SBI New Delhi Main Branch; (b) sub-granting of foreign contributions to other FCRA-registered organisations is now prohibited unless the recipient is also FCRA-registered; (c) administrative expense from foreign contributions is capped at 20% (reduced from 50%); and (d) the list of prohibited categories was expanded and the renewal requirements tightened. All FCRA-registered organisations must comply with the 2020 Amendment requirements.

How long does FCRA registration take?

The Ministry of Home Affairs is required to process FCRA registration applications within 90 days of receipt (or 60 days for prior permission applications). In practice, processing times vary — the MHA may request additional information or documents, which resets the timeline. Complete, accurate applications with all supporting documents — including Darpan ID, 3 years of audited accounts, activity reports, and SBI account details — tend to be processed more efficiently. Our team tracks applications and responds to MHA queries promptly.

Get Your FCRA Registration to Receive Foreign Grants

Expert FCRA application, eligibility assessment, and Ministry of Home Affairs liaison for NGOs and trusts.