What is FCRN? Foreign Company Registration Number Explained
Everything you need to know about FCRN — what it means, which foreign companies need it, how MCA issues it, how to decode its structure, and how to verify any foreign company's FCRN in India.
What is FCRN?
FCRN (Foreign Company Registration Number) is a unique 21-character alphanumeric identifier assigned by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) to every foreign company that establishes a place of business in India and registers under Sections 380–393 of the Companies Act, 2013. It is the foreign company equivalent of a domestic company's CIN.
Foreign companies operating branch offices, liaison offices, or project offices in India are legally required to register with the ROC within 30 days of establishing their place of business. Upon registration, MCA issues an FCRN which must appear on all official documents and regulatory filings in India.
Which Foreign Companies Need an FCRN?
Branch Office
A foreign company's branch that carries out the same business activities as the parent company in India. Requires RBI approval + MCA registration.
Liaison Office
A representative office that acts as a communication channel between the parent company and Indian customers/partners. Cannot earn income in India.
Project Office
A temporary office set up to execute a specific project in India. Requires RBI approval and must be closed once the project is complete.
How to Read an FCRN — Structure Breakdown
Example FCRN: F12345MH2005FTC000123
How is an FCRN Issued / Created?
Obtain RBI Approval (if required)
For branch and liaison offices, the foreign company must first obtain approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under FEMA regulations before registering with MCA.
File Form FC-1 on MCA21
Within 30 days of establishing a place of business in India, the foreign company must file Form FC-1 on the MCA21 portal along with certified copies of the charter documents, memorandum, list of directors, and the RBI approval letter.
ROC Reviews and Approves
The Registrar of Companies (ROC) of the state where the place of business is established reviews the FC-1 filing, verifies the documents, and approves the registration.
FCRN Issued by MCA21
Upon approval, the MCA21 system auto-generates a unique FCRN and issues a registration certificate. The FCRN must then appear on all official documents, letterheads, and annual filings (FC-3, FC-4) in India.
How to Validate an FCRN
Format Validation
A valid FCRN must match this pattern:
^F[0-9]{5}[A-Z]{2}[0-9]{4}FTC[0-9]{6}$- ✓ Exactly 21 characters
- ✓ Always starts with 'F'
- ✓ Followed by 5 digits (serial)
- ✓ 2 uppercase letters (state code)
- ✓ 4 digits (year of registration)
- ✓ Fixed string 'FTC' (entity type)
- ✓ 6 digits (suffix serial)
Live Verification Methods
- MCA21 Portal — Search at mca.gov.in using the foreign company name or FCRN to verify active registration status.
- Paperli.ai — Search any foreign company by name or FCRN to instantly view registration details and compliance filings.
- MCA Registration Certificate — The original certificate issued by ROC upon FC-1 approval is the primary source of truth.
Watch out: Foreign companies operating in India without a valid FCRN are in violation of the Companies Act, 2013. Always verify an FCRN on the MCA21 portal or Paperli.ai before entering into any business agreement with a foreign entity.
FCRN vs CIN vs LLPIN — Key Differences
| Feature | FCRN | CIN | LLPIN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Governing Law | Companies Act, 2013 (Section 380–393) | Companies Act, 2013 | LLP Act, 2008 |
| Entity Type | Foreign Company (branch/liaison/project) | Indian Company | Indian LLP |
| Unique ID | FCRN (21 chars) | CIN (21 chars) | LLPIN (10 chars) |
| Registration Form | Form FC-1 | SPICe+ | FiLLiP |
| Annual Filing | Form FC-3 & FC-4 | AOC-4 & MGT-7 | Form 11 & Form 8 |
| Starts With | F + digits | L or U | 3 letters |
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Frequently Asked Questions about FCRN
What is FCRN (Foreign Company Registration Number)?
FCRN is a unique 21-character alphanumeric identifier assigned by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) to every foreign company that establishes a place of business in India — such as a branch office, liaison office, or project office — and registers under the Companies Act, 2013 (Sections 380–393).
Which foreign companies need to register and get an FCRN?
Any foreign company that establishes a place of business in India — including branch offices, liaison offices, and project offices — must register with the ROC within 30 days of establishment under Section 380 of the Companies Act, 2013, and will receive an FCRN upon registration.
How is an FCRN assigned / created?
FCRN is automatically generated by the MCA21 system when the foreign company's FC-1 registration form is approved by the ROC. The company cannot choose or create an FCRN manually — it is system-generated at the time of registration.
What does an FCRN look like?
An FCRN is 21 characters long and always starts with 'F', followed by digits, a 2-letter state code, a 4-digit year, 'FTC', and a 6-digit serial. Example: F12345MH2005FTC000123.
Where can I find a foreign company's FCRN?
You can find the FCRN on the foreign company's MCA registration certificate, any official MCA filing, the company's letterhead, or by searching the MCA21 portal (mca.gov.in) or Paperli.ai using the company name.
How do I validate an FCRN?
A valid FCRN is exactly 21 characters, starts with 'F', followed by 5 digits, 2 uppercase letters (state), 4 digits (year), 'FTC', and 6 digits. You can verify it on the MCA21 portal or Paperli.ai.
What is the difference between FCRN and CIN?
CIN is assigned to Indian companies incorporated under the Companies Act. FCRN is assigned to foreign companies that register a place of business in India. Both are 21 characters and issued by MCA, but FCRN always starts with 'F' and uses 'FTC' as the entity type.
What annual filings does a foreign company with FCRN need to submit?
A registered foreign company must file Form FC-3 (annual accounts) and Form FC-4 (annual return) with the ROC every year. Non-compliance can lead to penalties and cancellation of registration.
Search Any Foreign Company by FCRN on Paperli.ai
Instantly look up any foreign company's FCRN, registration details, directors, and compliance filings in India on Paperli.ai.
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