FCRA Registration & Prior Permission: High-Risk Compliance Preparation Guide
Organise foreign-contribution readiness and current form requirements.
Quick answer: FCRA registration (FC-3A) costs ₹10,000 in government fees, plus ₹300 for each extra State/UT and ₹300 for each extra purpose. Prior permission (FC-3B) and renewal (FC-3C) cost ₹5,000 each. You need three years of existence and ₹15 lakh spent on core activities. See the 2026 section.
Our fee
FCRA new registration: ₹14,999 + GST professional fee
FCRA prior permission: ₹9,999 + GST professional fee
Government fees are extra and separate from our professional fee, paid at actual cost to the authority or portal.
Who it suits: associations that need FCRA registration (Form FC-3A, with at least three years of existence and the portal’s spending condition) or prior permission for a specific purpose and source.
What we deliver: route check (registration or prior permission); review of the entity record, Darpan readiness, key functionaries and FCRA Account status; an evidence index for the three-year registration file or the prior-permission donor/project file; escalation of high-risk questions; your approval before any authorised submission; and a handover recording the acknowledgement or outcome and later duties such as renewal, FC-4 and FC-6.
What you supply: your Darpan ID, the designated FCRA Account at SBI, New Delhi Main Branch, three years of audited accounts and activity reports, and key functionary details. Portal login and identity details are entered only on the official portal.
Expected working time: timeline confirmed after document review. The authority decides the application and its timing; we do not guarantee approval.
Next step: describe your organisation and the FCRA route you need on WhatsApp (no documents in the first message).
What is included: our professional fee for document preparation and filing support for this service.
What is extra: FCRA government fee extra – government fee as notified by MHA, paid on the official FCRA portal. Government fees, stamp duty and DSC are always extra at actual cost.
This is document and filing support, not legal or tax advice. Registration/approval is decided by the government authority; we do not guarantee approval.
Important: NGOGrant.in does not award or guarantee grants. Our guides and the official portal links are open to read at no charge. Our professional fees (listed under ‘Our fee’ above) are separate from government fees and are only for preparation and filing help, never for “sanctioning” a grant or approval. Beware anyone who takes money to guarantee funding.
By Vekho P. Ringa, Editor.
FCRA: the practical answers
- Who qualifies for registration
- An association that has existed for three years and spent at least ₹15 lakh on its core activities for the benefit of society during the last three financial years (Rule 9(1)(f), FCRA Rules, 2011). The Central Government may waive this in exceptional cases or for bodies controlled by a government.
- Who should use prior permission instead
- A newer or smaller association with a specific foreign donor. Prior permission covers a specific amount from a specific donor for specific activities, and needs the donor’s commitment letter stating the amount and purpose.
- Who should wait
- If you have not completed three years and have no foreign donor lined up, neither route is open yet.
- What to prepare
- The FCRA Account at the SBI New Delhi Main Branch (an applicant must have it before applying), your Darpan ID, and the documents listed in the steps below.
- What happens next
- If you open more accounts to use the foreign contribution after it arrives, you must tell the Ministry of Home Affairs within 45 days of opening each account (Rule 9, as amended in 2022).
Real examples from official sources
- The 3-year, ₹15 lakh test. The MHA’s Foreign Contribution (Regulation) (Amendment) Rules, 2020, G.S.R. 695(E) dated 10 November 2020, inserted Rule 9(1)(f) with the three-year existence and ₹15 lakh spending conditions. Source: Gazette of India, CG-DL-E-11112020-223040 (PDF).
- 15 days became 45 days. G.S.R. 506(E) dated 1 July 2022 changed the time for intimating a new utilisation account from fifteen days to forty-five days (Rule 9). In Rule 6, it also raised the limit for gifts from relatives abroad that need intimation from one lakh to ten lakh rupees, with three months to report. Source: Gazette of India, CG-DL-E-01072022-236981, G.S.R. 506(E) (PDF).
Sources checked 22 October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice; check the current official text before you file.
What to prepare before you apply for FCRA registration
Most FCRA applications that stall do so because something basic was not ready – the bank account, three years of audited accounts, or an activity report that nobody wrote at the time. Go through this list first. If anything is missing, fix it before you open the form.
FCRA registration process at a glance
- Confirm you need it. An organisation with a definite cultural, economic, educational, religious or social programme cannot accept foreign contribution unless it obtains a certificate of registration (s.11(1)) or, if not registered, prior permission for a specific purpose and source (s.11(2)).
- Check the portal’s conditions. At least three years of existence, a definite programme, at least Rs. 15 lakh spent on its core activities in the last three financial years (Rule 9(1)(f)(i)) and a Darpan ID – see step 1 below.
- Open the designated FCRA Account at SBI, New Delhi Main Branch – see step 2 below.
- Collect the documents in the table below, as PDFs within the portal’s size limits.
- File Form FC-3A on the FCRA portal: sign up or log in, select the 3A service, fill in the form, upload documents, make the payment, complete e-sign and submit.
- Wait for the decision. The Act says the Government may grant registration ordinarily within ninety days of receiving the application, and that if it does not grant it within those ninety days, it must tell the applicant the reasons (s.12(3)). This is the law’s wording, not a promise of timing.
- Diary the renewal. The certificate is valid for five years (s.12(6)); renewal is due within six months before expiry (s.16(1)).
1. Check that your NGO meets the basic conditions
The FCRA portal lists these for a new registration:
- The organisation has existed for at least three years.
- It has a definite cultural, economic, educational, religious or social programme.
- It has spent Rs. 15 lakh in its chosen field (the portal’s wording; ask your CA how this is counted for your accounts).
- It has a Darpan ID from NITI Aayog – if you don’t, start with our Darpan registration page.
- It has opened a designated FCRA Account in SBI, New Delhi Main Branch.
- It meets the other statutory and documentary compliances under the Act and Rules.
Associations, NGOs, trusts, societies and Section 8 companies are the types the portal lists as eligible. For foreign and Indian grant routes, see grants for NGOs in India.
2. Open the FCRA Account at SBI, New Delhi Main Branch
The portal says the association “shall have to open the FCRA Account in the SBI, New Delhi Main Branch (NDMB)” – the branch at 11, Sansad Marg, New Delhi. The application form pre-fills its IFSC, SBIN0000691. Because the portal lists this account as an eligibility condition, plan for it before the application, not after.
3. Collect these documents
| Document | Needed | Upload size limit on the portal |
|---|---|---|
| Registration certificate of the association | Always | 1 MB |
| Memorandum of Association / Trust Deed | Always | 5 MB |
| Year-wise activity report for the last 3 years | Always | 3 MB |
| Financial statements and audit reports of the last three financial years | Always | 5 MB |
| Chartered Accountant’s certificate | If applicable | – |
| Undertaking from the Chief Functionary | If applicable | – |
| “Not a Newspaper” certificate from the Registrar of the Newspaper | If applicable | – |
| Affidavit on receipt and use of foreign contribution after expiry | If applicable (earlier FCRA) | – |
| Bank-certified statements of the FCRA designated and utilisation accounts | If applicable | – |
| Affidavit on inclusion of capital investments | If applicable | – |
| Affidavit of each key functionary | If applicable | – |
You will also need images of the signature and the seal (140 × 60 pixels; the portal sets 50 KB and 100 KB limits). Older checklists often miss the audit reports, the CA certificate and the key-functionary affidavits, so do not rely on a list you downloaded a few years ago.
4. Know which form you are filing
On the FCRA portal, FC-3A is for FCRA registration, FC-3B for prior permission, FC-3C for renewal and FC-4 for the annual return. The registration route runs: sign up or log in → select the 3A service → fill the form → upload documents → make payment → complete e-sign → submit.
Preparing on your own? The FCRA Readiness Checklist & Document Pack includes an eligibility self-check, a registration-or-prior-permission decision sheet and document checklists for FC-3A, FC-3B and FC-3C.
Applying to a foreign-government small grant? The Australian Consulate-General in Kolkata asks for current FCRA registration and two years of audited accounts; see our Kolkata Direct Aid Program 2026-27 guide and the New Delhi round guide.
FCRA registration in 2026: fees, eligibility, documents and deadlines
Last verified: 28 October 2026 (2026 section); rest of the guide as dated in its sections. This section is based on the FCRA Rules, 2011 as amended up to S.O. 3272(E) dated 22 June 2026; the amendments were read in the Gazette of India (accessed 28 October 2026) and Rule 17(1) is from a saved copy of the 2011 Rules (23 October 2026). References to sections of the Act are to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, India Code (copy accessed 23 October 2026). Rule numbers are given so that you or your CA can check each line.
FCRA government fees
| Application | Form | Government fee | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration | FC-3A | ₹10,000 (new registration, one State/UT, one purpose; +₹300 for each extra State/UT and ₹300 for each extra purpose) | Rule 9(4)(b) (G.S.R. 695(E), 10 Nov 2020, para 6(v)(B)); 2026 proviso (S.O. 3272(E), 22 Jun 2026, para 4(d)) |
| Prior permission | FC-3B | ₹5,000 | Rule 9(4)(a) (G.S.R. 695(E), para 6(v)(A)) |
| Renewal | FC-3C | ₹5,000 | Rule 12(4) (G.S.R. 695(E), para 9(iii)) |
These are government fees; our professional fee shown above is separate. The ₹300 additions apply to new registration applications only; the renewal fee is ₹5,000.
What changed in June 2026
- An association registered before the 2026 amendment must, within one year of its commencement, file Form FC-6F naming the purposes and States or Union territories for which it wants to keep its registration (Rule 9(1B); notified 22 June 2026).
- For renewal and cancellation, an association is treated as having undertaken reasonable activity if it has at least ₹10 lakh of foreign contribution used in the last two financial years (Rule 14A; S.O. 3272(E), para 7).
Eligibility checklist mapped to Rule 9
| Check | What the rule says | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Age | In existence for three years | Rule 9(1)(f)(i) (G.S.R. 695(E), para 6(i)(D)) |
| Spending | At least ₹15 lakh spent on core activities for the benefit of society during the last three financial years | Rule 9(1)(f)(i) |
| Waiver | The Central Government may waive these conditions in exceptional cases or where the applicant is controlled by the Central or a State Government | Proviso to Rule 9(1)(f)(i) |
| Bank account | The applicant must have an FCRA Account at the State Bank of India, New Delhi Main Branch | Rule 9(1)(d); section 17(1) (India Code, copy accessed 23 October 2026); FC-6C Note (G.S.R. 342(E), 26 May 2025) |
| Darpan ID | Darpan ID is a field on the FCRA forms | Form FC-3A (G.S.R. 695(E)); Form FC-3BB (S.O. 3272(E)) |
| Section 12(4) conditions | Not fictitious or benami, no relevant convictions or diversion of funds, and the other conditions listed under “Why applications are refused” below | FCRA Act, section 12(4) (India Code, copy accessed 23 October 2026) |
If the age or spending check fails, registration is not open yet; prior permission for a specific donor and project may be.
The FCRA Readiness Checklist & Document Pack turns these checks into a working file.
Registration, prior permission or renewal: which form?
| Your situation | Route and form | Key condition | Government fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three years old, ₹15 lakh spent on core activities, no FCRA yet | Registration, FC-3A | Rule 9(1)(f) | ₹10,000 (+₹300 for each extra State/UT and ₹300 for each extra purpose) |
| Newer or smaller, one foreign donor and one project | Prior permission, FC-3B | A specific donor and project | ₹5,000 |
| Already registered, certificate ending within six months | Renewal, FC-3C | Apply within six months before expiry (section 16(1) (India Code, copy accessed 23 October 2026); Rule 12(2) as corrected by G.S.R. 17(E), 11 Jan 2021) | ₹5,000 |
Post-registration compliance calendar
The dates in the last column are our own calculation from the rule shown, assuming a financial year ending 31 March. Check your certificate and the portal for your case.
| Duty | Rule | Time limit | Worked out (our calculation) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual return, FC-4 (FC-4 due date guide) | Rule 17(1) | Rule 17(1) of the FCRA Rules, 2011 sets the FC-4 deadline: within nine months of the close of the financial year. | By 31 December after the year ending 31 March |
| Change intimations in FC-6A to FC-6E | Rule 17A (G.S.R. 506(E), 1 Jul 2022, paras 3 and 5) | Within 45 days of the change | A change on 1 July: intimate by 15 August |
| New utilisation account (FCRA bank account guide) | Rule 9(1)(e), as amended in 2022 | Within 45 days of opening | Account opened 10 January: intimate by 24 February |
| Scope intimation for associations registered before June 2026, FC-6F | Rule 9(1B)(c) (S.O. 3272(E), para 4(b)) | Within one year of commencement of the 2026 amendment (notified 22 June 2026) | Count one year from commencement |
| Renewal, FC-3C (FCRA renewal guide) | Section 16(1) (India Code, copy accessed 23 October 2026); Rule 12 | Within six months before expiry; validity five years (section 12(6) (India Code, copy accessed 23 October 2026)); renewal is Form FC-3C, not FC-6 | Certificate ending 31 March 2031: apply from 1 October 2030 |
| Administrative expenses | Section 8(1)(b) (India Code, copy accessed 23 October 2026) | Not more than 20% of foreign contribution received in a financial year, unless approved | Every financial year |
What the FCRA Act says, in plain words
The checklist above is what the portal asks for. Behind it sits the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010. Most of the questions we get – “can our president take this donation?”, “how long is the certificate good for?”, “can we pass money to our partner NGO?” – are answered in the Act, not on the portal. Here is what it says, section by section. Rules and notifications sit on top of the Act and can change, so check the current position with a CA before you rely on any one line.
Who needs FCRA in the first place
If your organisation has “a definite cultural, economic, educational, religious or social programme”, it cannot accept foreign contribution unless it has a certificate of registration (section 11(1)). The only other way in is prior permission from the Central Government (section 11(2)). A foreign donor’s goodwill, a letter of support or a domestic 12A/80G approval does not stand in for either. (The Act has some limited exceptions, so check your case with a CA.)
Who cannot accept foreign contribution (section 3)
Some people and bodies are barred from accepting foreign contribution, however good the cause. Section 4 makes limited exceptions, for example salary, a gift from a relative, or a scholarship. Section 3(1) lists:
- a candidate for election;
- a correspondent, columnist, cartoonist, editor, owner, printer or publisher of a registered newspaper;
- a public servant, Judge, Government servant, or employee of a corporation or other body owned or controlled by the Government;
- a member of any Legislature;
- a political party or its office-bearers;
- an organisation of a political nature notified by the Central Government;
- an association or company producing or broadcasting audio or audio-visual news or current-affairs programmes, and its correspondents, columnists, cartoonists, editors and owners.
This matters more than people think for small NGOs. If your founder also runs a local newspaper, or a board member is contesting the next election, raise it before you start the application – not after.
Registration or prior permission: the real difference
| Registration | Prior permission | |
|---|---|---|
| What it covers | Foreign contribution for your programme generally, within the Act | Only “the specific purpose for which it is obtained and from the specific source” (s.11(2)) |
| What you must show | That you have “undertaken reasonable activity in its chosen field for the benefit of the society” (s.12(4)(b)) | That you have “prepared a reasonable project for the benefit of the society” (s.12(4)(c)) |
| How long it lasts | Five years (s.12(6)) | Valid “for the specific purpose or specific amount of foreign contribution proposed to be received” (s.12(6)) |
| Portal form | FC-3A | FC-3B (FC-3BB for second and later) |
A simple way to think about it: registration is for an organisation with a track record; prior permission is for one donor, one purpose, one amount. To illustrate with hypothetical cases: a society in Jaipur or Kochi that has run programmes for three years and has audited accounts might look at registration, while a newer trust in Pune with one foreign donor ready to fund one defined project might look at prior permission. These are made-up examples, not real organisations or outcomes. Your CA should confirm which fits your facts.
How long a decision takes
The Act says the Government shall decide “ordinarily within ninety days” of receiving the application, and if it does not grant the certificate or permission in that time, “it shall communicate the reasons therefor” (s.12(3)). “Ordinarily” is the Act’s word – it is not a promise, and we cannot promise a date either. An organisation whose certificate is suspended is not eligible for a fresh certificate or prior permission if the suspension is still continuing on the date it applies (s.12(3), second proviso).
Why applications are refused (section 12(4))
Before granting anything, the Government checks conditions set out in section 12(4). In plain terms, the applicant must not be:
- fictitious or benami;
- prosecuted or convicted for conversion “through inducement or force”, or for creating communal tension or disharmony;
- found guilty of “diversion or mis-utilisation of its funds”;
- engaged, or likely to engage, in propagating sedition or advocating violent methods;
- likely to use the money “for personal gains or divert it for undesirable purposes”;
- in breach of the Act, or already prohibited from accepting foreign contribution.
Two more conditions catch people out. If the applicant is an organisation, none of its directors or office bearers should have been convicted, or have a prosecution pending, under any law (s.12(4)(e)). And the Government must be satisfied that accepting the money is not likely to prejudice things like the sovereignty and integrity of India, the public interest, or harmony between communities (s.12(4)(f)).
Practical tip: before you file, ask every office bearer, in writing, whether any criminal case is pending against them. It is an awkward conversation, but far better than a refusal.
Five-year validity and renewal
A registration certificate is “valid for a period of five years” (s.12(6)). To keep it, you must have it renewed “within six months before the expiry” (s.16(1)). The Government ordinarily decides renewal “within ninety days” and grants a fresh certificate “for a period of five years” (s.16(3)). It may refuse renewal where the organisation “has violated any of the provisions of this Act or rules” (s.16(3)).
For example (illustrative dates only), if a certificate expires on 31 March 2028, the six-month renewal window starts around 1 October 2027. Put that date in your compliance calendar the day the certificate arrives. Renewal is filed on FC-3C on the portal; the “Check Validity” tool there shows your current dates.
The 20% limit on administrative expenses (section 8(1)(b))
An organisation cannot spend more than “twenty per cent. of such contribution, received in a financial year” on administrative expenses. Going above that needs “prior approval of the Central Government”. Plan staff salaries, office rent and similar costs in your foreign-funded budget with this in mind – a donor agreeing to fund 30% overheads does not change the Act.
No passing money on (section 7)
Section 7 is short and absolute: no person who is registered or has prior permission, and receives foreign contribution, “shall transfer such foreign contribution to any other person”. This rules out the old model of a larger NGO receiving a grant and sub-granting part of it to smaller partner NGOs. If your project plan depends on partners, discuss the structure with a CA before you sign with the donor.
Aadhaar of office bearers (section 12A)
The Government may ask for “the Aadhaar number of all its office bearers or Directors or other key functionaries”, or a copy of the passport or OCI card for a foreigner (s.12A). Keep these details ready and share them only through the official portal – never over WhatsApp or email to anyone, including us.
Why the account has to be in New Delhi (section 17)
The SBI New Delhi Main Branch requirement in the checklist comes from section 17(1): foreign contribution can be received “only in an account designated as ‘FCRA Account’… in such branch of the State Bank of India at New Delhi, as the Central Government may, by notification, specify”. Your organisation can be in Bhopal or Guwahati; the receiving account is still the one in New Delhi.
Penalties
- Accepting, or helping anyone accept, foreign contribution in breach of the Act or rules: imprisonment up to “five years, or with fine, or with both” (s.35).
- Failing to comply with any provision that has no separate penalty: imprisonment up to “one year, or with fine or with both” (s.37).
- A second conviction under s.35 or s.37 for accepting or using foreign contribution: no foreign contribution “for a period of five years from the date of the subsequent conviction” (s.38).
Opening the FCRA account, choosing who signs and authorising the application usually need a decision of your governing body on record. The NGO Governance Meeting and Resolution System helps you prepare meeting notices and agendas, record minutes and resolutions, and track follow-up actions.
None of this is meant to scare you off. Most NGOs that run into trouble do so through avoidable things – a sub-grant to a partner, overheads above 20%, a renewal filed late. Knowing the rules early is most of the work.
Not sure which route fits, or whether a board member’s role is a problem? Ask us on WhatsApp – the link opens WhatsApp with an editable message; nothing is sent until you tap Send.
Source: Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, India Code copy (as on 1 Jul 2026), checked 20 Oct 2026. This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. The Ministry of Home Affairs decides every application; we do not guarantee approval or a timeline.
Where we come in
Our FCRA registration service (₹14,999 + GST) and prior permission service (₹9,999 + GST) cover checking this list against your records, preparing the document set and supporting your authorised person through the form and e-sign. Government fees are extra and are paid on the portal. The Ministry of Home Affairs decides every application; we do not guarantee approval or a timeline.
Getting three years of accounts and activity reports in shape? The NGO Finance Controls and Audit Readiness Pack and the NGO Grant Reporting & Utilisation Pack help you organise them.
On this guide Browse sections
FCRA registration and prior permission are different routes. The public guide must separate general registration from donor/project-specific prior permission and should never imply that FCRA is a universal requirement for domestic CSR funding.
Already registered and waiting on a renewal? See how to check FCRA renewal status.
Filing the yearly return or setting up the SBI account? See the FCRA annual return (FC-4) due date and the FCRA bank account guide.
FCRA registration or prior permission: which one you need
Choose the FCRA route
Foreign contribution cannot be treated like an ordinary domestic grant. An association must first identify whether it is seeking registration or prior permission. The preparation tool keeps those routes separate rather than turning every foreign-funded proposal into a registration application.
Fresh registration is prepared through Form FC-3A. The FCRA portal lists the conditions, including “Have existence for at least three years”, “Have spent Rs. 15 lakh in its chosen field” and “Open a designated FCRA Account in SBI, New Delhi Main Branch”. Ask your CA how the spending is counted for your accounts.
The ₹15 lakh figure is a registration-eligibility spending rule, not a fee and not the same as other FCRA reporting thresholds. This page never asks the user to enter a rupee amount. It asks only whether the organisation appears to meet, not meet, use a capital-investment branch, or remain unsure about the published condition so the underlying records can be reviewed privately.
Current registration and prior-permission evidence
Prior permission is a different route, filed on Form FC-3B. Check the current FC-3B form on the portal for what it asks you to upload, and confirm with a CA whether it fits your case.
The portal’s current FC-3A upload list asks for financial statements and audit reports of the last three financial years and a year-wise activity report for the last 3 years. Where they apply, it also asks for a Chartered Accountant’s certificate, an affidavit of each key functionary and other declarations. Check the exact list on the live form before you submit.
Darpan ID is a field on the FCRA forms, and the form asks for Aadhaar details.
Darpan, key functionaries and FCRA Account
FCRA rules are updated from time to time; check the latest rule text before applying. Government fees are set in the FCRA Rules and are separate from NGOGrant’s professional fee; see FCRA government fees above.
The FCRA Account is also a separate prerequisite. The FCRA portal says the association “shall have to open the FCRA Account in the SBI, New Delhi Main Branch (NDMB)”.
The donor must also be reviewed as a foreign source and the recipient must be a legally eligible person. A donor’s willingness to fund a project does not establish FCRA eligibility, and this page does not decide whether a particular donor, intermediary, related party, foreign citizen, Indian-origin person or payment channel is a foreign source.
History, restrictions and receipt/use controls
Applicant objects and programme category matter. FCRA registration or prior permission is connected to definite cultural, economic, educational, religious or social programmes. Publication/news activity, political nature, prohibited categories and other section 3 questions can require specialist review rather than an ordinary application packet.
Historical FCRA status must be checked before a fresh application. Expired, cancelled, suspended, surrendered, refused or previously permitted cases can carry additional declarations, bank-history questions, restrictions or other consequences. A new form must not be used to erase an adverse or incomplete history.
Receipt and utilisation are controlled after approval too. The 2020 amendment prohibits a registered or prior-permission recipient from transferring foreign contribution to another person. Bank, utilisation, administrative-expense and recordkeeping rules remain separate compliance duties; an approved project budget is not permission to bypass them.
Renewal, annual reporting and changes
A registration certificate is valid for five years, and renewal must be applied for within six months before it expires (FCRA s.12(6), s.16(1); see “What the FCRA Act says” above). Your certificate shows its exact dates, and the portal’s “Check Validity” tool confirms them. Renewal is filed on FC-3C and is not included in a fresh-registration engagement unless the written scope says so.
Annual reporting is not part of a fresh registration certificate by itself. Associations with registration or prior permission have FC-4 reporting obligations. MHA’s charter describes yearly reporting, and a Nil FC year still has its own return treatment. Current annual-return certification and the 2024/2025 rule changes must be reviewed for the actual year. Rule 17(1) of the FCRA Rules, 2011 sets the FC-4 deadline: within nine months of the close of the financial year.
Changes after approval can trigger separate FC-6 filings for name, address, aims/objects, bank/utilisation accounts or key functionaries. Those filings are not silently bundled into this page’s fresh-application scope and must be checked against current forms and time limits. Since the 2022 amendment, Rule 17A allows 45 days to intimate such a change.
Separate NGO approvals and final handover
FCRA status is separate from the organisation’s underlying entity registration, PAN, NGO Darpan profile, 12AB/80G, CSR-1 and ordinary NGO annual compliance. A trust, society or Section 8 company does not obtain FCRA permission merely because it holds one or more of those registrations.
FCRA applications are high-risk compliance work. Where eligibility, source classification, adverse history, publication/political issues, foreign key functionaries, disputed governance or receipt/utilisation history is uncertain, NGOGrant’s safe role is to organise facts and coordinate appropriate professional review rather than promise filing or approval.
The handover must record what was reviewed, what remains unresolved, the selected route, the responsible signatory, the professional role if any, the status of the designated account and which post-approval obligations are outside the engagement. Checklist completion is never an FCRA clearance certificate.
Fresh registration
Prepare FC-3A history, activity, financial, key-functionary and bank-account readiness with the three-year rule reviewed.
Prior permission
Prepare the FC-3B prior-permission file using the portal’s current form.
Existing or adverse case
Review renewal, annual return, change, expiry, cancellation, suspension or earlier permission history separately.
Applying to a foreign foundation grant? The Resilience Fund 2026 asks women-led community NGOs to be authorised to receive foreign funding, and its FAQ describes a prior-permission route for Indian applicants without FCRA. See our Resilience Fund 2026 guide.
Applying to a foreign feminist rapid-response fund or a US conservation foundation? See our guides to UAF Asia & Pacific rapid-response grants and Rainforest Trust protected-area awards — both normally implicate FCRA for Indian recipients.
Preparing an early-career conservation team application to a foreign programme? See our guide to the CLP Future Conservationist Awards 2027 — Indian recipients normally need to consider FCRA. General information only, not legal advice.
Preparing a MIT Solve 2027 Global Challenge application (Climate, Health, Learning, or Economic Prosperity)? Indian recipients of foreign contribution normally need to consider FCRA. See our guides: Climate, Health, Learning, and Economic Prosperity. General information only, not legal advice.
Preparing a TAG / Wellcome Architects of Trust (TB vaccines) EOI? Indian recipients of foreign contribution normally need to consider FCRA. See our Architects of Trust EOI guide. General information only, not legal advice.
Preparing an EMKP Documentation Grant with an Indian Host Institution? Foreign GBP awards normally need FCRA consideration. See our EMKP Documentation Grants 2026–27 guide. General information only, not legal advice.
People Powered CDA 2026 states FCRA registration is required for Indian applicants — see our CDA guide. OTF Internet Freedom Fund, OTF Rapid Response Fund, and Front Line Defenders Protection Grants are foreign awards where Indian organisational recipients normally need FCRA consideration: OTF IFF, OTF RRF, FLD Protection Grants. General information only, not legal advice.
How our FCRA registration support works
- 1 Classify Confirm the requested FCRA route and earlier history.
- 2 Review prerequisites Check entity record, Darpan/identity readiness, key functionaries and FCRA Account status.
- 3 Build evidence index Prepare the three-year registration file or the specific prior-permission donor/project file.
- 4 Resolve high-risk branches Escalate foreign-source, prohibited-person, publication, adverse-history and governance questions.
- 5 Applicant approval Confirm the final facts, declarations, route and quoted scope before any authorised submission.
- 6 Handover Record acknowledgement/outcome and separately identify renewal, FC-4, FC-6 and other later duties.
What NGOGrant does and what MHA decides
FCRA applications can raise legal, governance, banking and accounting issues. NGOGrant can organise the record and prepare agreed documentation, but it does not determine MHA eligibility, impersonate the applicant, certify an audit or guarantee receipt/utilisation permission.
Where a Chartered Accountant, advocate or other regulated professional is required for certification, legal advice or representation, NGOGrant coordinates the work and the qualified professional performs the regulated act.
FCRA Registration & Prior Permission FAQs
Can a government employee or journalist on our board receive foreign donations for the NGO?
Section 3 bars public servants, Government servants, Judges and journalists/owners of registered newspapers from accepting foreign contribution themselves. Whether their board role affects your NGO’s application needs case-specific advice; raise it with a CA before filing.
How much of a foreign grant can go on admin costs?
Up to 20% of the foreign contribution received in a financial year (s.8(1)(b)); more needs prior Central Government approval.
What happens if our application is not decided in ninety days?
The Act says the Government shall communicate the reasons to the applicant (s.12(3), first proviso).
Should our NGO apply for FCRA registration or prior permission?
Registration (FC-3A) and prior permission (FC-3B) are separate routes on the FCRA portal. The correct route depends on your organisation’s facts – check with a CA before choosing.
Does FCRA prior permission also need three years of existence and spending?
No. The three-year existence and core-activity spending condition belongs to the ordinary registration route. Prior permission has donor/project-specific requirements instead.
What does the FCRA portal list as the age and spending conditions for registration?
The FCRA portal says an applicant must “Have existence for at least three years” and “Have spent Rs. 15 lakh in its chosen field”. Your actual accounts still need review by a CA.
What does the FCRA portal ask for on Darpan ID and Aadhaar?
Darpan ID is a field on the FCRA forms, and the form asks for Aadhaar details. Keep identity details secure.
What documents do we need to upload for FCRA registration (FC-3A)?
The portal’s current FC-3A upload list includes three years of financial statements and audit reports, year-wise activity reports and, where applicable, a CA certificate and key-functionary affidavits. Older short checklists should not be treated as complete.
Does income-tax registration, NGO Darpan or CSR-1 also cover FCRA?
No. FCRA, income-tax registrations, NGO Darpan and CSR-1 are distinct frameworks with separate eligibility and filings.
Can we transfer foreign contribution to a partner organisation?
No. Section 7, as substituted in 2020, says no registered or prior-permission holder “shall transfer such foreign contribution to any other person”. If your project depends on partners, review the structure with a CA before you sign with the donor.
How long is FCRA registration valid, and when should we apply for renewal?
Five years (FCRA s.12(6)); your certificate shows the exact dates, and the portal’s “Check Validity” tool confirms them. Apply for renewal on FC-3C within six months before expiry (s.16(1)). The Act says renewal is ordinarily decided within ninety days, but that is not a guarantee.
If NGOGrant helps with our FCRA application, is renewal included?
Not automatically. Renewal is a separate FC-3C process with its own timing, fee and current checks unless the written engagement includes it.
Do FCRA annual returns (FC-4) apply to prior-permission holders too?
FCRA annual reporting duties can apply to prior-permission recipients as well. The actual FC-4 population, year and attachments should be checked for the case.
Do we still file FC-4 for a year when we received no foreign contribution?
MHA’s published charter describes a Nil FC-4 return for a year with no foreign contribution, with different attachment treatment. Current portal instructions should still be checked for the relevant year.
Can NGOGrant tell us whether our donor counts as a foreign source?
NGOGrant can organise the donor facts, but source classification and high-risk cases require current legal review. The page does not issue a legal opinion.
Our FCRA registration expired or was cancelled. Can we simply apply afresh?
Do not start from a blank fresh-application assumption. Current rules include additional history-related evidence in some cases, and receipt/utilisation after expiry or cancellation can raise serious compliance issues.
Will NGOGrant ask for our FCRA portal password or OTP?
This guide does not access government accounts or request passwords or OTPs. Any later authorised filing workflow must keep applicant control and comply with the actual portal process.
Does completing the preparation checklist on this page mean our FCRA application will be approved?
No. It means the preparation categories were organised. Eligibility, authenticity, donor/source status, current forms, fees, declarations, portal acceptance and any professional review must still be confirmed.
What is FCRA registration?
It is registration with the Ministry of Home Affairs under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010. The Act says an organisation with a definite cultural, economic, educational, religious or social programme cannot accept foreign contribution without a certificate of registration, or prior permission if it is not registered.
Who is eligible for FCRA registration?
The FCRA portal lists associations, NGOs, trusts, societies and Section 8 companies, and sets conditions including at least three years of existence, a definite programme, at least Rs. 15 lakh spent on its core activities in the last three financial years, a Darpan ID and a designated FCRA Account at SBI, New Delhi Main Branch. Some people, such as election candidates, journalists, judges and government servants, are barred from accepting foreign contribution under section 3.
How do I apply for FCRA registration online?
On the FCRA portal, sign up or log in, select the 3A service, fill in Form FC-3A, upload the documents, make the payment, complete e-sign and submit. Keep the FCRA Account, Darpan ID and three years of audited accounts and activity reports ready before you start. The application must also name the purposes (chosen from the Schedule to the Rules) and the States or Union territories where you plan to work (Rule 9(1B), as amended in 2026).
What is the government fee for FCRA registration in 2026?
The FCRA Rules set ₹10,000 for registration (FC-3A) for one State or Union territory and one purpose, plus ₹300 for each extra State or Union territory and ₹300 for each extra purpose; these additions apply to new registrations only. Prior permission (FC-3B) is ₹5,000 and renewal (FC-3C) is ₹5,000. Our professional fee is separate.
What changed in the FCRA Rules in June 2026?
S.O. 3272(E) of 22 June 2026 added fees of ₹300 for each extra State/UT and ₹300 for each extra purpose on new registrations, added Form FC-6F, which associations registered earlier must file within one year of commencement to name their purposes and States or Union territories, and added Rule 14A, under which reasonable activity for renewal and cancellation means at least ₹10 lakh of foreign contribution used in the last two financial years.
How many days do we have to file an FC-6 change intimation?
45 days. G.S.R. 506(E) of 1 July 2022 changed the time in Rule 17A from fifteen days to forty-five days. FC-6 is for intimating changes; renewal is filed in Form FC-3C.
When is the FCRA annual return FC-4 due?
Rule 17(1) of the FCRA Rules, 2011 sets the FC-4 deadline: within nine months of the close of the financial year. For a year ending 31 March, that works out to 31 December (our calculation).
Official FCRA sources we rely on
Primary MHA/FCRA materials are used narrowly. Older FAQs and notices are not treated as overriding later rule changes; unresolved live-portal fields stay under review.
FCRA association charter / FC-4 guidance
Annual FC-4 and Nil-return context
2026 verification note
The current FCRA portal lists FC-3A for registration, FC-3B for prior permission and FC-3C for renewal, and offers a “Check Validity” tool for certificates. It states the SBI New Delhi Main Branch account requirement and the Darpan ID requirement. Check these again on the official FCRA portal immediately before filing.
Official guidelines and sources
- NPO DARPAN portal (Darpan ID is a field on the FCRA forms)
- Gazette of India: FCRA (Amendment) Rules 2020, G.S.R. 695(E), 10 November 2020 – egazette.gov.in (PDF) (fees, Rule 9(1)(f), forms)
- Gazette of India: corrigendum G.S.R. 17(E), 11 January 2021 – egazette.gov.in (PDF) (renewal “before” expiry, Rule 12(2))
- Gazette of India: G.S.R. 506(E), 1 July 2022 – egazette.gov.in (PDF) (45 days for FC-6 and utilisation accounts)
- Gazette of India: G.S.R. 790(E), 31 December 2024 – egazette.gov.in (PDF) (administrative expenses carry-forward)
- Gazette of India: G.S.R. 342(E), 26 May 2025 – egazette.gov.in (PDF) (FC-6C Note: SBI New Delhi Main Branch)
- Gazette of India: S.O. 3272(E), 22 June 2026 – egazette.gov.in (PDF) (₹300 proviso, FC-6F, Rule 14A)
- Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, India Code (copy accessed 23 October 2026)
- FCRA Rules, 2011, Rule 17(1) (copy saved 23 October 2026)
Update 28 October 2026: Rule-based fees, eligibility and deadlines in the 2026 section were checked against the Gazette notifications listed above, read 28 October 2026. Act sections and Rule 17(1) are from saved copies of the Act (India Code) and the 2011 Rules.