FEMA Consultant in Kochi
Money from Keralites abroad reaches Kochi companies in several forms — share capital, loans, gifts to relatives who then invest — and FEMA treats each differently. We help Kochi companies and their NRI shareholders choose the right route, price repatriable investments under Rule 21, file FC-GPR, FC-TRS and FLA returns, and take past gaps to compounding before RBI at Kochi, from Chennai.
The decisive choice for an NRI shareholder is made when the money is invested: on a repatriation basis the shares are foreign investment and can later be sold with the proceeds sent abroad; on a non-repatriation basis under Schedule IV the investment counts as domestic and the money stays in India. Changing the character later is cumbersome, so it is settled before the money moves.
Key facts for Kochi companies
| Item | Kochi |
|---|---|
| Registrar of Companies | The Registrar of Companies, Ernakulam (whole of Kerala) |
| FEMA compounding applications | RBI's Foreign Exchange Department at Kochi |
| NCLT bench | The Kochi Bench of the National Company Law Tribunal |
| FEMA reporting | Online on RBI's FIRMS portal through the authorised dealer bank |
What must be reported when a foreign investor invests?
Shares issued to a non-resident are reported in Form FC-GPR within 30 days of issue; a transfer between a resident and a non-resident in Form FC-TRS within 60 days; a downstream investment in Form DI within 30 days; and every company with foreign investment files the FLA return by 15 July. Equity instruments must be issued within 60 days of receiving the money, or the money refunded within the next 15 days. Step-by-step FC-GPR and FC-TRS filing.
Is approval needed, and how is the price fixed?
Most sectors are open under the automatic route; investment from a country sharing a land border with India needs government approval (Press Note 3 of 2020). Shares are issued at not less than fair value under Rule 21 of the FEMA (Non-debt Instruments) Rules, 2019, certified by a chartered accountant, merchant banker or cost accountant. More on Rule 21 valuations.
When does a Kochi company deal with RBI rather than its bank?
Routine reporting — FC-GPR, FC-TRS, FLA — runs through the authorised dealer bank or directly on RBI's portals. RBI's Foreign Exchange Department at Kochi, which covers Kerala and Lakshadweep, comes in mainly when a contravention has to be compounded; approvals RBI gives itself, such as for a gift of shares by a resident to a non-resident relative, are sought through the authorised dealer bank.
Foreign investment in Kochi
The account the money comes through
A repatriable investment by an NRI is paid from an NRE or FCNR(B) account or by inward remittance; a non-repatriable one can come from the NRO account. The account used is evidence of the basis of investment, so it is recorded in the board papers.
Gulf-based NRIs buying from residents
When an NRI working in the Gulf buys shares of a Kochi company from a resident on a repatriation basis, the price must be at least fair value under Rule 21, and the resident seller files Form FC-TRS within 60 days.
Money from family abroad
Money sent by NRI family members to a Kochi company is a gift, a loan or an investment, and each is treated differently under FEMA; an investment for shares must be priced and reported, while borrowing from NRIs follows separate rules.
About V Viswanathan & Associates
- Chartered Accountants, FRN 013713S— Practising since 2012 from G-131, Spencer Plaza, Anna Salai, Chennai.
- IBBI Registered Valuer— Securities and financial assets, CA V. Viswanathan (IBBI/RV/03/2019/12333).
- FCA, ACS, CFE— Company law, tax and forensic accounting under one roof.
- Kochi clients— Served from Chennai through video consultations and digitally signed filings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deadline for Form FC-GPR?
Within 30 days from the date of issue of the shares to the non-resident investor, filed on RBI's FIRMS portal and processed by the company's authorised dealer bank (Regulation 4(1) of the FEMA (Mode of Payment and Reporting of Non-Debt Instruments) Regulations, 2019). The shares themselves must be issued within 60 days of receiving the money, or the money refunded within 15 days after that.
What happens if FC-GPR or FC-TRS is filed late?
A delay of up to three years can usually be regularised by paying a late submission fee through the authorised dealer bank: ₹7,500 plus 0.025% of the amount involved for each year of delay (counted in months), capped at the amount involved, under RBI's A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 16 of 30 September 2022. A late FLA return attracts a flat ₹7,500. Longer delays and other contraventions are compounded by RBI on an application.
Where is a FEMA compounding application filed for a Kochi company?
RBI's Foreign Exchange Department at Kochi. Applications can be filed physically or on RBI's PRAVAAH portal, with a fee of ₹10,000 plus GST.
Can a Kochi company issue shares to an NRI who pays from an NRO account?
Yes, on a non-repatriation basis under Schedule IV. Those shares are treated as domestic investment, so sale proceeds later stay subject to the NRO rules rather than being freely repatriable.
Do you have an office in Kochi?
No. We serve Kochi clients from our office at Spencer Plaza, Anna Salai, Chennai, through video consultations, secure document sharing and digitally signed filings and reports.
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Law stated as at 27 Oct 2026. Official sources: Companies Act, 2013 (MCA), FEMA and RBI directions (RBI), Registered valuers (IBBI). Reviewed by CA V. Viswanathan, FCA, ACS, CFE, IBBI Registered Valuer (IBBI/RV/03/2019/12333).
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