FCRA Registration

• Society / Charitable Trust / Section 8 Company: Eligible for full FCRA Registration (FC-3A)
• New Organisation (less than 3 years old): Eligible for FCRA Prior Permission (FC-3B) only, not full registration
• Government bodies and political parties: NOT eligible for FCRA registration

• The organisation must be registered as a society, trust, or Section 8 company
• Must have been in existence for at least 3 years before applying
• Must have spent a minimum of Rs.15 lakhs on core charitable activities during the last 3 years
• Must have a valid NGO Darpan registration ID from NITI Aayog
• Must have a valid 12A registration certificate from Income Tax Department
• Key office bearers must not have been convicted of any offence or penalised under financial laws
• Organisation must not have been barred under any foreign exchange or foreign contribution law

• Registration certificate of the organisation — Trust Deed / Society Certificate / Certificate of Incorporation
• Memorandum of Association and Rules / Trust Deed (self-certified)
• Audited financial statements for the last 3 years showing core activity expenditure
• Activity reports demonstrating charitable work done over the last 3 years
• PAN card of the organisation
• Aadhaar and PAN of all key office bearers (Secretary, President, Treasurer)
• Details of the FCRA designated bank account at SBI New Delhi Main Branch
• Board / Governing body resolution authorising the FCRA application
• NGO Darpan registration ID
• Valid 12A registration certificate

1. Verify eligibility — confirm 3 years of operation, Rs.15L core activity spend, Darpan ID, 12A status
2. Open designated FCRA bank account at SBI, New Delhi Main Branch (IFSC: SBIN0000691)
3. Register on MHA Seva portal (foreigncontribution.nic.in)
4. Fill Form FC-3A with complete organisation, activity, and financial details
5. Upload all mandatory documents in prescribed format (PDF, max 2MB each)
6. Pay FCRA registration fee of Rs.10,000 online through the portal
7. Submit the application and note the reference number for tracking
8. MHA scrutinises the application — field inspection may be conducted
9. Receive FCRA Registration Certificate (processing time: approximately 90 days)

• Government Fee — FCRA Registration (FC-3A): Rs.10,000
• Government Fee — FCRA Prior Permission (FC-3B): Rs.5,000
• Government Fee — FCRA Renewal (FC-3C): Rs.5,000
• Processing Time: Approximately 90 days for registration; 30–60 days for renewal
• MFiling Professional Charges: Starting from Rs.49,899 (inclusive of all preparation, filing, and follow-up)

• File annual return Form FC-4 by 31st December each year — detailing receipts and utilisation
• All foreign contributions must be received only in the designated SBI account (IFSC: SBIN0000691)
• Transfer to utilisation accounts must be from the designated account only
• Report every foreign contribution received within 48 hours on the MHA portal
• Publish quarterly details of foreign contributions received on organisation's website
• Maintain separate books of accounts for FCRA funds — cannot be mixed with local funds
• Sub-granting is restricted under FCRA Amendment 2020 — only to other FCRA-registered entities
• Utilise foreign funds only for the purpose stated in the FCRA registration certificate
• Administrative expenses capped at 20% of total FCRA receipts

• FCRA Registration (FC-3A): For organisations 3+ years old, spent Rs.15L+ on core activities — grants 5-year permission for all foreign contributions from any source
• FCRA Prior Permission (FC-3B): For organisations less than 3 years old or not meeting spending criteria — project-specific, named donor, specific amount, one-time permission

Q: Can FCRA registration be cancelled?
Yes. MHA can cancel FCRA registration for: violation of FCRA provisions, using foreign funds for non-stated purposes, failure to file FC-4 annual returns, sub-granting to non-FCRA entities, or office bearers being found guilty of offences. Cancellation is preceded by a show cause notice and opportunity to respond.

Q: Can a foreign national be the authorised signatory for FCRA purposes?
No. The key functionaries and office bearers for FCRA-related filings, bank account operations, and FC-4 annual returns must be Indian nationals. Foreign nationals serving as trustees or directors may be allowed in governance roles but cannot be designated as the FCRA responsible person.

Q: How do I verify an organisation's FCRA registration status?
FCRA registration status can be verified on the MHA portal at mha.gov.in by searching the organisation name or FCRA registration number. The public database shows registration number, validity, and status for all FCRA-registered organisations in India.

MFiling brings deep expertise in FCRA registrations — verifying eligibility, opening SBI designated accounts, preparing comprehensive FC-3A applications, and following up with MHA through the entire process. Our Rs.49,899 service includes documentation preparation, portal filing, government fee payment, and post-registration compliance guidance.