Foreign firms rarely lose time in India on engineering. They lose it on approvals nobody put on the plan. We map every permission your entry and your project need, sequence them, prepare the paperwork with your advisers and follow each one through, openly and on the record.
Book an India-entry callRead the market-entry guide
Why foreign firms get stuck here
Entering India involves several layers of permission: company or office set-up under Reserve Bank of India rules, tax and procurement registrations, local-content certification, sector licences and, for projects, environmental, pollution-control, land and utility approvals.
Each sits with a different authority, often at different levels of government. Missing one can stop a bid, delay a payment or halt a site.
What you get
A complete approvals map
Every permission your entry and project need, with the authority, documents, typical timeline and what depends on what.
Entry set-up
Subsidiary incorporation, or a project, branch or liaison office under Reserve Bank of India rules, including whether your case falls under general permission or needs prior approval.
Procurement registrations
Vendor registration with target buyers, the Government e-Marketplace, and, where relevant, the registration required for bidders from countries that share a land border with India.
Local-content compliance
Classifying your supply under India’s public procurement local-content rules and preparing the self-certifications and calculations tenders ask for.
Project permissions
Environmental, pollution-control, land, utility and building approvals, in the order a project needs them.
Weekly status and a compliance calendar
A short weekly note while applications are open, and a calendar of renewals and conditions once they are granted.
How it runs, and how long it takes
- Week 1: approvals audit
What you hold, what you need, and what is on the critical path.
- Weeks 2–3: document packs
Applications prepared and checked with your team and advisers.
- Ongoing: filing and follow-up
Applications filed and tracked, with meetings and written follow-up where needed.
- Close-out
A record of every approval, its conditions and renewal dates.
Who this is for
Foreign firms setting up in India for the first time, firms that have won or are bidding for a project and need site and sector permissions, and firms whose existing approvals have stalled.
Why UBR Infra
- We work only through formal, transparent channels. We never offer or arrange improper payments, and we decline any mandate that would require one.
- We give realistic timelines from recent cases, and tell you early when something is slipping.
- We coordinate your lawyers, chartered accountants and engineers so nothing falls between them.
Questions foreign firms ask us
How long does it take to set up a company in India?
Incorporating a private limited company typically takes a few weeks once documents are ready. Bank accounts, tax registrations and sector permissions add to that. We give you a realistic timeline for your case.
Does a foreign company need RBI approval for a project office?
Not always. A project office can be opened under general permission in defined cases, for example when the project is funded from abroad or by a multilateral agency, or the Indian client has a bank term loan for it. Other cases need prior approval.
What is the land-border bidder restriction?
Since July 2020, bidders from countries that share a land border with India, or substantially controlled through them, must register with a government committee before bidding in public procurement.
What are Class I and Class II local suppliers?
Under the Make in India public procurement order, Class I suppliers have at least 50% local content and get purchase preference; Class II have 20% to 50%. Some ministries set higher thresholds.
Do you guarantee approval timelines?
No one honestly can. We commit to accurate expectations and early warnings.
Can you take over approvals already in progress?
Yes. We start with an audit of what has been filed and what is missing.
Where to go next
- India market entryChoosing the entry vehicle before you apply
- Foreign EPC contractorsTypical approvals for contractors
- Guide: how foreign EPC contractors win work in IndiaThe rules explained in plain language
Book a 30-minute India-entry call
Tell us what you make or build, and where you want to be in India. A partner reads every enquiry and replies within one working day with times for a call.
Prefer email? info@ubrinfra.com · +91 22 2492 7671 · Mumbai, India (UTC+5:30)
