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Foreign contribution compliance

FCRA Registration in India

Prepare for lawful foreign contribution with a facts-based review of FCRA registration or prior permission, Darpan ID, designated SBI banking, donor and project records, and post-approval compliance.

Discuss FCRA Route Call 9288494997
FC-3A registrationFC-3B prior permissionSBI New Delhi receipt accountFC-4 annual return
Advance Central Government authority

What Does FCRA Registration Permit?

FCRA regulates acceptance and utilisation of foreign contribution. An NGO or other eligible person must not receive or use foreign contribution merely because it holds entity registration, PAN, tax approval, Darpan or a foreign grant agreement.

Valid regular registration or prior permission must cover the contribution before receipt. The contributor must be legitimate, purpose must be lawful and banking and utilisation must follow the statutory framework.

High-risk compliance: unauthorised receipt, incorrect banking, misuse or reporting failures can lead to penalty, suspension, cancellation, prosecution or compounding.

Choose the correct authority

FCRA Registration vs Prior Permission

FC-3A

Regular Registration

A broader certificate route for an established eligible association with qualifying activities and governance and financial readiness.

  • Not tied to one project alone
  • Activity history and accounts matter
  • Subject to validity and renewal
FC-3B

Prior Permission

Authority for a defined foreign source, committed amount and specific project where the facts support this route.

  • Donor-specific
  • Amount-specific
  • Purpose and project-specific

Neither route is an automatic entitlement. MHA examines statutory eligibility, activities, source, purpose, governance and other relevant factors.

Application evidence

Documents Required for FCRA Application

Entity & Governance

  • Registration certificate and constitution
  • Darpan ID
  • Office-bearer or director details
  • Resolutions and activity records

Banking

  • SBI New Delhi FCRA account
  • Account opening evidence
  • Permitted utilisation-account plan
  • Domestic account separation

Donor & Project

  • Foreign-source identity
  • Commitment letter or agreement
  • Project report and budget
  • Purpose and geography

Financial & Activity

  • Audited accounts where applicable
  • Annual and activity reports
  • Receipt and programme records
  • Asset and utilisation information
Controlled application workflow

FCRA Registration Process

01

Entity and activity review

Verify legal registration, objects, activity track record, governance, accounts and FCRA eligibility.

02

Choose FC-3A or FC-3B

Select regular registration or donor-project-specific prior permission based on actual facts.

03

Darpan and key functionaries

Prepare Darpan ID, governing-body details, prescribed identity information and resolutions.

04

Open designated receipt account

Establish the exclusive FCRA Account at SBI New Delhi Main Branch before application.

05

Donor, project and document file

Complete source diligence, commitment, project report, budget, activities and financial records.

06

Submit and answer scrutiny

File online, pay current government fee, track status and respond consistently to MHA queries.

07

Operate only after approval

Receive funds only within valid authority and maintain banking, utilisation, FC-4 and change controls.

Section 17 banking architecture

FCRA Account and Utilisation Controls

Foreign contribution first enters the exclusive designated FCRA Account at SBI New Delhi Main Branch. Other permitted FCRA or utilisation accounts receive transfers within the statutory framework.

Receipt account

Exclusive SBI New Delhi Main Branch account for initial foreign receipts.

Another FCRA account

Optional permitted account for keeping foreign contribution after transfer.

Utilisation accounts

Permitted scheduled-bank accounts used for controlled project spending.

Domestic separation

No domestic funds should be deposited into FCRA banking accounts.

Approval begins recurring compliance

FC-4, NIL Return, Renewal and Changes

Official MHA guidance states that FC-4 is filed online annually, ordinarily by 31 December for the preceding financial year. NIL return can remain mandatory even without receipt or utilisation.

FC-4 annual return

File each applicable year with prescribed financial records.

NIL return

Do not skip filing merely because no transaction occurred.

Renewal

Track certificate validity and apply under current timelines.

Change intimations

Report prescribed bank, office, name or key-person changes.

FCRA knowledge centre

FCRA Registration Blog

Detailed reading on route selection, banking, donor diligence and annual compliance.

Compliance questions

FCRA Registration FAQs

Answers based on the official MHA and FCRA portal framework.

Official referencesFCRA Portal MHA FCRA FAQs

01What is FCRA registration?

It is Central Government authority under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act for an eligible person to accept and utilise foreign contribution, subject to the certificate and continuing conditions.

02What is the difference between registration and prior permission?

Regular registration is broader and uses Form FC-3A. Prior permission uses FC-3B and is tied to a specific donor, amount and project. Eligibility and scrutiny differ.

03Can a new NGO apply for FCRA registration?

Regular registration has statutory eligibility and activity-history considerations. A newer organisation with a definite foreign donor and project may assess prior permission, but approval is not automatic.

04Is Darpan ID required?

Official FCRA compliance guidance requires Darpan ID for registration, prior permission and renewal workflows. Current portal requirements should be checked before filing.

05Which bank account is required?

The exclusive FCRA receipt account must be opened at SBI New Delhi Main Branch. Permitted another FCRA and utilisation accounts can operate within the statutory transfer framework.

06Can domestic donations enter an FCRA account?

No. The FCRA banking framework does not permit funds other than foreign contribution to be deposited in designated or covered FCRA accounts.

07When is FC-4 filed?

Official FAQs state that FC-4 is filed online for each financial year within nine months from year end, ordinarily by 31 December, including NIL returns where applicable.

08Is FCRA approval guaranteed?

No. MHA approval is discretionary after statutory and security scrutiny. No consultant can guarantee approval or processing time.

Popular FCRA Searches

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