FCRA Registration

Overview of FCRA Registration

FCRA is a law of the government of India which manages the receipt of foreign contributions or help from outside India. The FCRA applies to Charitable Trusts, Societies, and Section 8 Companies that receive foreign contributions or donations. The applicant must be registered under the list of FCRA Registered Associations, the Societies Registration Act, 1860. ·

A foreign contribution is regulated and governed by the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, which is an abbreviation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. The certificate for FCRA Registration is granted by the government authority, and it is a requirement to receive any foreign grants, contributions or funds from any registered trust, institution, society, association, and certified NGO.

The primary purpose of the FCRA registration process is to legitimize the receipt of any funds or contributions from foreign countries by domestic companies. This is to ensure the proper utilization of such contributions or funds for the prescribed objective.

Checklist for applying for FCRA Registration

The eligibility criteria for companies to get registered under FCRA Registration are:- 

• It should be registered as a trust under the Indian Trust Act
• Societies should be registered under the Indian Society Registration Act
• Section-8 companies must be regulated by the Companies Act
• The applicant must obtain the registered certificate as NPO set up having charitable aims and objectives for serving the society and the locality by promoting health, economic development, education, promotion of art, religion, culture, sports and so on in that society
• It must not be forbidden in any manner under the provision of the Foreign Contribution Act.
• Foreign Contributions received shall not threaten the life or safety of anyone and should not proceed to an illegal offence.

Following are the non-eligible entities for FCRA Registration.

• The applicant arouses suspicion of being a sham
• An applicant who has been prosecuted or sham for any communal issues made in any location of the specified district or any area of the country
• The applicant has been prosecuted for conducting any illegal activity
• The applicant is involved in any form of a violent act 
• Has applied foreign funds for personal use
• In case a company is restricted from receiving any foreign funds as per the law provisions.

The documents needed for the FCRA registration process

• Self-attested copy of incorporation certificate or COI of the entity, trust deed, or any other registered license or certificate owned by such entity
• NGO’s PAN Number
• Copy of MOA & AOA of the entity and associations 
• Chief Justice’s Signature
• A detailed record of activities of the past three years.
• Copy of financial statement audited by WEll-skilled and authorized CA, P&L account, details of Income-Expenditure, and statement on the cash flow of the company for the preceding three years.
• The resolution was passed by a governing body empowered by NGO
• Certificate received as per section 80G and 12A of Income Tax. According to the Income-tax Act, Section 80G and 12A gives tax exemption to all registered NGOs.

Stepwise Registration Process of FCRA License

The steps for the Registration Process for FCRA License are as follows:

• Apply online by visiting the FCRA official website and entering all the required details in Form FC-3.
• Click the tab “FCRA Online Forms” to start the registration process under FCRA.
• There are several options available for the applicant on the next page, including foreign receipt intimation, applying for permission from the central government, and applying for FCRA registration status.
• Click on the “Apply Online” option below the Application for FCRA Registration (FC-3)
• In case of a new user, the applicant needs to sign up.
• Then fill out the application form and complete all the mandatory information. 
• Once the application form has been completed and submitted, a “User ID” will be generated automatically for the applicant. The applicant has to log in with the credentials generated.
• Fill out the entire form, then scan and attach the needed documents in the prescribed Format, generally PDF format.
• Completion of the online FCRA registration will be completed after making online payment via online money transfer gateways.

Frequently Asked Questions