FCRA Certification & Documentation

FC-3A — Fresh FCRA Registration:

• 3-year operational history with audited accounts
• Active NGO Darpan ID (mandatory)
• Valid 12A and 80G registration
• Board resolution authorising FCRA application
• Detailed project history with beneficiary data
• Annual reports and activity statements for 3 years
• ITR-7 acknowledgements for 3 years
• Audited accounts for 3 years
• Details of all governing body members with PAN and Aadhaar
• SBI Main Branch New Delhi account details

FC-3B — Prior Permission (fresh organisations):

• Invitation / offer letter from the foreign donor specifying amount and purpose
• Details of proposed project with implementation plan
• Organisation's registration and 12A/80G certificates
• Darpan ID (mandatory)

FC-3C — FCRA Renewal:

• Current FCRA registration certificate (valid/about to expire)
• FC-4 annual returns for the entire 5-year validity period
• Audited accounts for all 5 years
• ITR-7 acknowledgements for 5 years
• Detailed activity report for the 5-year period
• Updated Darpan profile

MHA processes thousands of FCRA applications annually. Applications with incomplete, inconsistent, or low-quality documentation are placed in a deficiency queue — which can delay processing by 6–12 months. Applications with factual inconsistencies (e.g., Darpan profile data doesn't match ITR-7 data) are rejected outright.

• All financial data across ITR-7, audited accounts, Darpan profile, and FC-4 returns must be perfectly consistent
• Governing body member details on the FCRA application must exactly match Darpan profile and RoS/MCA records
• Activity descriptions must demonstrate genuine field-level charitable work — not merely administrative activities
• Bank account details must be verified and match SBI FCRA account records exactly
• All documents must be properly certified, signed, and in the prescribed format

• Pre-application eligibility assessment — checking all 7 FCRA eligibility criteria
• Document gap analysis — identifying missing certificates, unfiled returns, or outdated records
• Financial data cross-verification — ensuring ITR-7, accounts, and Darpan data are consistent
• Activity narrative preparation — professional write-up of charitable work for the relevant period
• Board resolution drafting — authorising FCRA application and naming key functionaries
• FC-3A/3B/3C form preparation and online submission on FCRA Seva portal
• Query management — responding to MHA deficiency letters and verification queries
• Liaison with MHA FCRA cell for status updates

Q: How long does FCRA registration take after application?
FCRA applications typically take 6–18 months from submission to approval. The timeline depends on MHA's workload, whether queries are raised, and whether police verification (which MHA conducts independently) produces any adverse findings. There is no fixed statutory timeline for MHA to process FCRA applications.

Q: Can an NGO receive foreign donations while the FCRA application is pending?
No. An NGO can receive foreign donations only after FCRA registration is granted or prior permission is obtained. Receiving foreign funds without FCRA registration is a criminal offence under Section 11 of FCRA 2010, punishable with imprisonment and fine. However, an NGO can apply for Prior Permission (FC-3B) to receive a specific foreign donation while the regular FCRA application is pending.