Country guides

India entry by country

The Indian setup process is the same wherever you come from. The documents, the treaty rates and the home-country tax points are not. Pick your country for a guide written for that corridor.

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Last reviewed: November 2026 · Reviewed by CA Regi Tom Antony, Regi Tom Antony & Associates.

In short: Singapore, the USA, Japan, the Netherlands and the UAE were among India's largest sources of FDI equity in FY 2025-26 (DPIIT data), and the USA and UK produce the most searches from companies looking to set up in India. Every corridor follows the same Indian steps: FDI route check, SPICe+ incorporation, a resident director and FC-GPR within 30 days of allotment. What differs is document legalisation, the treaty rate on dividends and the tax points in your home country.

Corridors compared

Country	FDI equity into India, FY 2025-26	Documents	Treaty rate on dividends	Time difference
Singapore	US$19.80 bn (1st)	Apostille (Singapore Academy of Law)	10% (holding at least 25%), otherwise 15%	India is 2½ hours behind
United States	US$11.17 bn (2nd)	Apostille (state Secretary of State)	15% (requisite corporate stake), otherwise 25%	India is 9½–12½ hours ahead
Japan	US$3.75 bn (4th)	Apostille (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)	10%	India is 3½ hours behind
Netherlands	US$3.37 bn (5th)	Apostille (Dutch district court)	10%	India is 3½–4½ hours ahead
United Arab Emirates	US$2.74 bn (6th)	Attestation (UAE MOFA and Indian mission)	10%	India is 1½ hours ahead
United Kingdom	US$1.01 bn (9th)	Apostille (FCDO)	10%	India is 4½–5½ hours ahead
Germany	US$0.50 bn (10th)	Apostille (competent German authority)	10%	India is 3½–4½ hours ahead
Canada	Not in top 10	Apostille (since January 2024)	15% (at least 10% shareholding and voting power), otherwise 25%	India is 9½–12½ hours ahead
Australia	Not in top 10	Apostille (DFAT)	15%	India is 4½–5½ hours behind

FDI figures: DPIIT, FY 2025-26 (April 2025 to March 2026), FDI equity inflows by source country. Treaty rates are the usual ceilings for an eligible corporate beneficial owner with a Tax Residency Certificate and Form 41 (formerly Form 10F); conditions and anti-abuse rules apply. Time differences vary with daylight saving.

Priority corridors

India entry from Singapore

Apostille (Singapore Academy of Law). Dividends: 10% (holding at least 25%), otherwise 15%. FDI FY 2025-26: US$19.80 bn (1st).

India entry from the USA

Apostille (state Secretary of State). Dividends: 15% (requisite corporate stake), otherwise 25%. FDI FY 2025-26: US$11.17 bn (2nd).

India entry from Japan

Apostille (Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Dividends: 10%. FDI FY 2025-26: US$3.75 bn (4th).

India entry from the Netherlands

Apostille (Dutch district court). Dividends: 10%. FDI FY 2025-26: US$3.37 bn (5th).

India entry from the UAE

Attestation (UAE MOFA and Indian mission). Dividends: 10%. FDI FY 2025-26: US$2.74 bn (6th).

India entry from the UK

Apostille (FCDO). Dividends: 10%. FDI FY 2025-26: US$1.01 bn (9th).

Also covered: Germany, Canada and Australia, which have large Indian diaspora communities and steady founder and NRI demand.

Holding-company routes: Singapore, Mauritius and the Netherlands

A large share of FDI arrives through holding companies rather than directly from the parent's home country. Mauritius (about US$6.6 billion in FY 2025-26), Cayman Islands and Cyprus also appear among the top ten sources for this reason. Holding structures work, but treaty relief depends on beneficial ownership, real substance, the principal purpose test and India's general anti-avoidance rules. See FDI entry routes and withholding tax on foreign remittance.

Investors from countries bordering India

Investors from a country that shares a land border with India, or whose beneficial owner is from such a country, need government approval under Press Note 3. Read Press Note 3 (2026 update) before choosing a structure.

Frequently asked questions

Which countries invest the most in India?

In FY 2025-26 the largest sources of FDI equity into India were Singapore (about US$19.8 billion), the USA (US$11.2 billion), Mauritius (US$6.6 billion), Japan (US$3.8 billion), the Netherlands (US$3.4 billion) and the UAE (US$2.7 billion), according to DPIIT data released in June 2026. Singapore, Mauritius and the Netherlands are often holding-company locations, so the ultimate investor may be in another country.

Does the setup process change depending on where the investor is from?

The core Indian steps are the same for every country: check the FDI route and sector cap, incorporate through SPICe+, appoint a resident director, and file FC-GPR within 30 days of allotting shares. What changes by country is how documents are legalised (apostille or attestation), the treaty rate on dividends and other payments, the home-country tax points, and investor restrictions such as Press Note 3 for countries sharing a land border with India.

Which countries need attestation instead of an apostille?

Countries that are not parties to the Hague Apostille Convention with India, such as the UAE, use attestation through their own authorities and the Indian mission. Apostille countries, including the USA, UK, Singapore, Japan, the Netherlands, Germany, Canada and Australia, use a single apostille certificate from the designated authority.

Can an investor use a holding company in Singapore, Mauritius or the Netherlands?

Yes, and many do. Treaty benefits then depend on the holding company being the beneficial owner with real substance, and on the principal purpose test and India's general anti-avoidance rules. A Tax Residency Certificate and Form 41 (formerly Form 10F) are needed for treaty relief on each payment.

What if my country is not listed here?

The same Indian process applies. We work with founders and companies from other countries too, and check document legalisation, treaty position and any investor restrictions for your country at the start.

Reviewed by CA Regi Tom Antony, Regi Tom Antony & Associates. Last reviewed: November 2026. General guidance, not tax or legal advice on your facts.

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