Setting Up a Project Office in India for Foreign Contractors

A Project Office lets a foreign company establish a temporary presence in India to execute a specific contract or project — common in infrastructure, EPC, and turnkey work.

Eligibility

Available when a foreign company has secured a contract from an Indian company to execute a project, and the project is funded by inward remittance, a bilateral/multilateral agency, or has regulatory clearance.

RBI Route

Project offices are generally permitted under the automatic route with reporting to the RBI/AD bank; some cases need prior approval.

Permitted Activities

Strictly limited to the project — it cannot undertake unrelated commercial activity. Surplus can be repatriated on project completion.

Closure

On completion, the office is wound up with a closure application and remittance of surplus.

Statura sets up and closes project, branch and liaison offices with full FEMA compliance.