FCRA registration lets an NGO receive foreign contribution under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, and is granted by the Ministry of Home Affairs on an online Form FC-3A application. It is open to associations that have existed for at least three years and spent at least ₹15 lakh on their objects in the last three financial years; newer NGOs apply for prior permission in Form FC-3B for a specific donor, amount and project. CorporateWalla's CA team prepares the application, the CA certificate and the 2026 purpose and State declarations, and supports you through MHA queries.
FCRA registration from ₹12,999 · FC-3A or FC-3B on fcraonline.nic.in · CA certificate by our CA team
| At a glance (October 2026) | Position |
|---|---|
| Law | Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 and FCRA Rules, 2011, as amended on 22 June 2026 |
| Authority | Ministry of Home Affairs (FCRA wing), online at fcraonline.nic.in |
| Registration (FC-3A) | At least three years' existence; spending on objects shown for three financial years (₹15 lakh reference in the rules) |
| Prior permission (FC-3B) | Specific donor, amount and project; donor commitment letter |
| Bank account | FCRA account at SBI, New Delhi Main Branch |
| Validity | Five years; renewal in FC-3C |
| Administrative expenses | Up to 20% of foreign contribution in a year |
| Annual return | FC-4 by 31 December |
| Situation | Route | Key conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Registered for 3+ years with an activity record | Registration, Form FC-3A | Three years of audited accounts and activity reports; expenditure on objects (₹15 lakh reference; capital assets count only with an affidavit) |
| New or small NGO with a committed foreign donor | Prior permission, Form FC-3B | Donor commitment letter, project report, declaration that administration stays within 20% |
| Registered association nearing expiry | Renewal, Form FC-3C | File six months before expiry; ₹10 lakh foreign contribution used in the last two financial years (2026 rules) |
| Already registered before 22 June 2026 | Form FC-6F | Declare the purposes and States/UTs to retain within one year |
Persons listed in Section 3 of the Act, such as candidates for election and political parties, cannot accept foreign contribution. Under the 2026 rules, an association whose key functionaries include foreign nationals (other than persons of Indian origin) is ordinarily not eligible for registration.
| Form | Purpose |
|---|---|
| FC-3A | Registration |
| FC-3B | Prior permission for a specific donor and project |
| FC-3BB | Release of a later instalment under prior permission (2026 rules) |
| FC-3C | Renewal of registration |
| FC-4 | Annual return |
| FC-6A to FC-6E | Changes in name or address, objects, FCRA account, utilisation accounts and key members |
| FC-6F | Change or declaration of purposes and States/UTs (2026 rules) |
Under the 2026 rules, a later instalment under prior permission is released only after 75% of the previous instalment has been used and verified.
| Item | Amount | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| CorporateWalla professional fee (one application) | From ₹12,999 | Filing in 7–10 business days after documents |
| MHA application fee | As prescribed in the FCRA Rules, paid online at actuals | At filing |
| Additional purpose or State/UT (from 22 June 2026) | ₹300 each | At filing |
| MHA inquiry and decision | — | Varies; field inquiries are common |
We confirm the fee shown on the portal before payment. No timeline for the MHA's decision can be promised.
A Kolkata education society was registered in 2021 and spent ₹6 lakh, ₹7 lakh and ₹8 lakh on its programmes in FY 2023-24 to FY 2025-26, ₹21 lakh in total. It has existed for more than three years and its spending on objects is above ₹15 lakh, so it can apply for registration in FC-3A, choosing Education as its purpose and West Bengal as its State. A second society registered in 2024 with a committed foreign donor would instead apply for prior permission in FC-3B for that one project.
Illustrative. The MHA decides eligibility after its own inquiry.
Pick the speed and depth that matches your need. Same quality, same CA team — only the timeline changes.
Timeline: Filing in 7–10 business days after documents
Timeline: Quoted on scope
Timeline: Quoted on scope
Government fee — paid by you at actuals
Application fee prescribed under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Rules, 2011, paid online on fcraonline.nic.in at actuals. Under the amendment rules notified on 22 June 2026, ₹300 is payable for each additional purpose and each additional State or Union Territory of work beyond those covered by the base fee.
Every price above is a professional fee, excluding GST and government charges. 50% upfront, 50% on delivery.
Professional fee, excluding GST. The MHA application fee is paid online at actuals. Prior permission, renewal (FC-3C), FC-6 change intimations, FC-6F declarations and annual FC-4 compliance are quoted separately unless included in the selected package. Payment: 50% upfront, 50% on delivery. The MHA decides every application after its own inquiry; we cannot guarantee approval or a decision date.
We check years of existence, spending on objects over the last three financial years, the key functionaries (including any foreign nationals) and whether registration or prior permission is the right route.
From 22 June 2026, applicants select their purposes from the Schedule to the rules and the States or Union Territories where they will work. We map your actual programmes to the Schedule.
Foreign contribution must first be received in the FCRA account at State Bank of India, New Delhi Main Branch. We guide you through opening it and recording its details for the application.
Audited statements and activity reports for three years, the CA certificate on expenditure, Proforma AA affidavits of key functionaries and, for prior permission, the donor commitment letter and project report.
We complete Form FC-3A (registration) or FC-3B (prior permission), upload the documents and pay the fee online.
The MHA may make a field inquiry or seek documents. We draft replies in the selected package. On approval, the certificate or permission is issued online.
Tell us your requirement, a CA will call you in 30 minutes.
The activity-wise expenditure certificate and three-year financial review are done by our own CA team, so figures match the audit reports.
Purposes and States are mapped to the Schedule introduced on 22 June 2026, and key functionary details follow the widened definition.
If you do not yet meet the three-year and ₹15 lakh tests, we prepare a prior permission application for a specific donor instead of a registration that would be refused.
Separate foreign contribution books, the 20% cap on administrative expenses, FC-4 returns and renewals are handled by the same team.
Professional fee from ₹12,999. The MHA fee is paid online at actuals.
