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FCRA Registration
Authorisation to receive foreign contributions/donations legally.
What is FCRA Registration?
FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010) Registration authorises an NGO or association to legally receive donations or funding from foreign sources, administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs, with strict reporting and utilisation compliance obligations once granted.
FCRA registration is one of the more scrutiny-heavy compliance approvals an NGO can pursue โ the Ministry of Home Affairs reviews the organisation's governance, financial track record, and the credibility of its office bearers before granting either regular registration or, for newer organisations with a specific identified foreign donor, 'prior permission' for a defined project and amount.
Once granted, FCRA registration carries significant ongoing obligations that go well beyond the one-time approval: all foreign contributions must route through a single designated FCRA account at the SBI's specified branch, utilisation must be reported annually via Form FC-4, and โ since the FCRA Amendment Act, 2020 tightened the earlier 50% ceiling โ administrative expenses funded from foreign contributions are now capped at 20% of the foreign contribution received in that financial year, obligations that continue for as long as the registration remains active.
Who Needs It
Types & Categories
Regular FCRA Registration
For organisations with at least a few years of established, verifiable activity; once granted, it is broadly valid for receiving foreign contributions from any source, subject to annual reporting.
Prior Permission
For newer organisations without the operating history for regular registration, but with a specific foreign donor and project already identified โ approval is limited to that donor and purpose/amount.
Key Benefits
Documents Required
- Three years of activity reports and audited financial statements
- Trust deed/Section 8 incorporation certificate, plus 12A/80G registration
- NGO Darpan ID and governing body details
- Details of key office bearers and their identity/address proof
- Certified copy of registration under 12A/80G and NGO Darpan Unique ID
Our Process
Eligibility Assessment
We assess whether your organisation meets the minimum operational history and compliance eligibility for FCRA.
Document Compilation
We compile three years of audited financials, activity reports, and governance documentation required to support the application.
Application Filing
The application is filed with the Ministry of Home Affairs along with supporting financial and activity records.
Ministry Review & Query Resolution
The Ministry of Home Affairs conducts its review, which can include field verification; we respond to any clarification requests raised during scrutiny.
Registration & FCRA Account Setup
On approval, we help set up the mandatory FCRA bank account and ongoing reporting compliance.
Ongoing Utilisation Reporting Support
We help you file the mandatory annual FC-4 return and stay within the administrative expense cap tied to foreign funds received.
Validity & Renewal
FCRA registration is valid for five years and must be renewed within six months before expiry to avoid a lapse in eligibility to receive foreign contributions.
Penalty for Non-Compliance
Receiving foreign contributions without valid FCRA registration, or misutilising funds, can lead to registration cancellation, freezing of the FCRA bank account, and prosecution under the Act.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a minimum operating history required?
Yes โ organisations generally need at least three years of documented, verifiable activity before applying for regular FCRA registration (a separate prior-permission route exists for newer organisations with a specific foreign donor already identified).
What's the difference between regular registration and prior permission?
Regular registration is broadly valid for receiving foreign funds from any source once granted, while prior permission is limited to a specific identified donor and project/amount, and suits newer organisations without the three-year track record regular registration requires.
What is the FCRA bank account requirement?
All foreign contributions must be received into a single designated FCRA account at the SBI's specified New Delhi branch before being transferred to utilisation accounts โ this centralised routing requirement is one of the Act's core compliance mechanisms.
How often must FCRA-registered organisations report?
Annually, via Form FC-4, detailing foreign contributions received and utilised during the financial year, along with the audited statement of foreign contribution accounts.
Can FCRA registration be renewed?
Yes โ registration is valid for five years and must be renewed within the prescribed window before expiry (generally six months prior), failing which the registration can lapse and eligibility to receive foreign funds is suspended.
Are there restrictions on how foreign funds can be spent?
Yes โ since the 2020 amendment, administrative expenses funded from foreign contributions are capped at 20% of the foreign contribution received in that financial year (down from a previous 50% ceiling), and funds must be applied toward the objects for which the organisation is registered.
What's the government fee for applying?
โน10,000 for a fresh regular registration application and โน5,000 for a prior permission application, paid directly to the Ministry of Home Affairs through the FCRA portal โ separate from any professional fees for documentation support.
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