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Inbound Investment under FEMA

Get end-to-end assistance in matters related to Inbound Investment at TAP GLOBAL.

Package inclusions:
  • Advisory on regulatory requirements for inbound investment under FEMA and other applicable laws
  • Advisory on applicable laws when a foreign investor invests in India
  • Advice on Permitted Sectors and Prohibited Sectors for inbound investment under FEMA
  • Assistance on any other areas related to foreign direct investment.
  • End to end support in filing of forms and preparation of documents
Income Tax Notice


Overview of Inbound Investments under FEMA

The introduction Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999 (FEMA) was made to regulate of foreign exchange transactions in India. This act increased the number of foreign exchange reserves in India. This act was helpful in increasing the foreign exacting reserves in the country whilst providing a regulated and secured environment for exchange of foreign currency.

Inbound investment refers to the foreign investment made by other countries in India. This is a form of foreign direct investment in India (FDI). The FDI is crucial for the economy's development as it directly affects the country's Gross Domestic Product. Therefore, it is essential to attract more inbound investment under FEMA. 

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is the primary regulatory authority for both these investments. Through this central bank, different investors can carry out activities and transactions involving inbound and outbound investments.

Permitted Routes for Inbound Investments 

Automatic Route- 

This route enables 100 % investment. There is no need for permission from RBI under this route. 

Approval/ Government Route- 

In the Approval Route, there is a requirement of permission from the RBI. Due to 

the need for consent from RBI, there are specific compliances that must be followed

There are four categories in which the investment is permitted which are - 

Category 1- Sectors in which FDI is permitted up to 100% under the automatic route.

Category 2- Sectors in which FDI is permitted up to 100% under Government/Approval Route.

Category 3- Sectors where FDI is permitted beyond a specific limit with Government.

Category 4- Sectors wherein FDI is permitted up to a certain limit under both Government/Approval and Automatic routes subject to applicable laws.

Sectors which require Approval for Inbound Investment under FEMA

Approval from RBI is required when it comes to inbound investment under FEMA. The below sectors require prior approval from RBI:

Mining, Defense/cases relating to FDI in small arms

  • Broadcasting
  • Print media
  • Civil Aviation
  • Satellites
  • Telecom
  • Private Security Agencies
  • Trading(Single, Multi brand and Food Products)
  • Financial services not regulated or regulated by more than one regulator/ Banking Public and Private (as per FDI Policy)

Need for Inbound Investment under FEMA

Inbound investment under FEMA is needed due to the following reasons

  • Development of the Indian Economy
  • Improvement of the GDP of the country
  • Improvement of Technology
  • Promotion of  employment opportunities

Regulatory Authorities under Inbound Investment

The following authorities regulate inbound Investment under FEMA. 

  • DIPP- Department of Industry Policy and Promotion
  • Reserve Bank of India
  • Ministry of External Affairs
  • Ministry of Revenue

Eligibility criteria for Inbound Investment under FEMA

The eligibility criteria for Inbound Investment are provided below.

  • The investment must be made by a foreign investor, a venture capitalist or any other form of investor.
  • The investment must be in the capital instruments of a domestic company established in India. Hence the investment must be on the purchase or acquisition of capital instruments in the Indian company. A foreign company can invest in the shares, securities and other debentures of the Indian company.
  • The mode of investment must be through a RBI nominated authorized dealer and investments must be through the authorized dealer or an authorized bank regulated under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999.
  • The investment must be through the automatic route or the approval route. Such investment would be structured per the country's requirements related to inbound investment structuring.
  • There are different sectors in which foreign investment is allowed. The investment must only be for specifically permitted sectors in India. If foreign investment is for any prohibited industry, the same would not be allowed or permitted.

Documents for Inbound Investment Structuring

The list of documents for Inbound Investment is provided below.

  • Certificate of Incorporation of the Investee & Investor Companies/Entities
  • Memorandum of Association (MOA) of the Investee & Investor Companies/Entities 
  • Board Resolution of the Investee & Investor Companies/Entities
  • Audited Financial Statement of Last Financial Year of the Investee &Investor Companies/Entities
  • Article of Association of the Investee & Investor Companies/Entities
  • List of Names and addresses of all foreign collaborators along with Passport Copy/ Identification Proof of the Investor Company/Entity.
  • Diagrammatic representation of the flow and funds from the original investor to the Investee Company and Pre and Post-shareholding pattern of the Investee Company.
  • An affidavit stating that all information provided in hard copy and online is the same and correct.
  • A signed copy of the JV agreement/shareholders agreement/ technology transfer/trademark/brand assignment agreement (as applicable) in case of existing ventures.
  • Board resolution of any joint venture company.
  • Certificates of Incorporation and charter documents of any joint venture/company party to the proposed transaction.
  • Copy of Downstream Intimation.
  • Copy of relevant past RBI approvals connected with the current Proposal (in case of amendment proposal).
  • Foreign Inward Remittance Certificate (FIRC) in case investment has already come in and in case of post-facto approval.
  • In the cases of investments by entities that are pooled investment funds, the details such as names and addresses of promoters, investment managers as Standard Operating Procedure for Processing FDI Proposals and all the contributors to the investment fund.
  • List of the downstream companies of the Indian company and the details of the equity held by the Indian Company, along with the details of the activities of the companies.
  • High Court order in case of a scheme of arrangement.
  • Valuation certificate as approved by a Chartered Accountant.
  • Non-compete clause certificate of the investor and investee company in case of investment in the pharmaceutical sector.
  • Certificate of statutory auditors as mandated in the FDI policy, as applicable.
  • Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) form.

Procedure for Carrying out Inbound Investment Structuring

There is no specific procedure for carrying out the process related to inbound investment. Any foreign company or entity wishing to carry out foreign investment in India must comply with the country's foreign investment requirements. The following procedure must be considered for inbound investment. 

Ascertaining the Form of Investment

The investor must ascertain the form of foreign investment for inbound investment structuring.

Foreign Direct Investment 

Then the investment must be carried out in an unlisted company in India, or the amount of investment must be more than 10% of the company or entity's paid-up capital.

 Foreign Portfolio Investment

If the investment is classified or categorized as a foreign portfolio investment. In that case, such investment must be less than 10% of the paid-up capital of the company, or the investment must be less than 10% of the paid-up value of each set of capital instruments of a listed Indian company.

Filing an Application

Based on the above method, the applicant is required to apply for investment in India. There are different methods for the same. Therefore, the applicant needs to select the category for investing in the automatic route.

Submission of Application and Documents to RBI

 When the applicant shall file an application with RBI, it will send the application to the DPIIT to carry out checks and other formalities related to the application. The concerned ministry would carry out these checks. If there are no issues related to the application, the same will be approved.

Verification of Application and Documents 

The concerned department would verify all the documents for seeking approval. Usually, the process related to approval would take about 15 working days. Once the application is approved, the approval letter is sent to the applicant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Foreign Investment means any investment made by a person resident outside India on a repatriable basis in capital instruments of an Indian company or to the capital of an LLP. Direct Investment (FDI) is the investment through capital instruments by a person resident outside India:

  • In an unlisted Indian company; or
  • In 10 per cent or more of the post-issue paid-up equity capital on a fully diluted basis of a listed Indian company

Foreign Portfolio Investment is any investment made by a person resident outside India in capital instruments where such investment is:

  • Less than 10 per cent of the post-issue paid-up equity capital on a fully diluted basis of a listed Indian company or
  • Less than 10 per cent of the paid-up value of each series of capital instruments of a listed Indian company.

A repatriable basis is the ability to move financial assets from a foreign country to the investor’s country of origin. Non-repatriable basis means the investor cannot move the finance assets from the foreign country.

The routes under which foreign investment can be made are as under:

  • Automatic Route: Foreign Investment is allowed under the automatic route without prior approval of the Government or the Reserve Bank of India in all activities/ sectors as specified in Regulation 16 of FEMA 20 (R).
  • Approval Route/ Government Route: Foreign investment in activities not covered under the automatic route requires prior approval from the Government.

As long as the foreign shareholding in the entity remains the same and there is no corporate action pursuant to the sector being brought under the approval route, approval is not required.

As per the current regulations, foreigners are not allowed to establish partnership/ proprietorship concerns in India. Only NRIs are permitted to establish partnership/ proprietorship concerns.

Sectors in which FDI is prohibited:

  • FDI is prohibited in the following sectors:
  • Lottery business, including government/private lottery, online lotteries, etc.
  • Gambling and betting, including casinos etc
  • Chit funds; Nidhi company (the companies doing business of borrowing from members and lending to members only)
  • Trading in transferable development rights (TDRs).
  • Real estate business or construction of farmhouses
  • Manufacturing of cigars, cheroots, cigarillos and cigarettes of tobacco or tobacco substitutes
  • Activities/sectors not open to private sector investment.

Yes, FDI can be invested in all sectors. This includes even the start-up sector and the SME sector.

On receipt of the foreign direct investment (FDI), the Indian company receiving the investment for issuing shares/ debentures should report the details to the Regional Office concerned of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) within 30 days from the date of receipt in the Advance Reporting Form. Steps for reporting investment vary for shares, depository receipts and other instruments.
 
     
   
 

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