FCRA Registration Online for NGOs and Trusts

An organization generally needs FCRA registration or prior permission to receive foreign contributions in India. Eligible recipients can include trusts, societies, and Section 8 companies that meet the applicable requirements under the FCRA.

• Trusts: A registered trust with permitted objectives can apply for FCRA approval if it meets the applicable eligibility conditions.
• Societies: A registered society carrying out eligible social, educational, cultural, religious, or economic activities can apply.
• Section 8 Companies: A Section 8 company with eligible objectives can seek FCRA approval to receive foreign contributions.
• Other Eligible Associations: Other associations established for permitted programs may qualify if they satisfy the FCRA requirements.

Who Does Not Need FCRA Registration?

An entity or individual does not need FCRA registration when the receipt falls outside the definition of foreign contribution or qualifies under a specific statutory exemption. Examples include:

• Payments for goods or services: Fees or payments received in the ordinary course of business, trade, or commerce do not generally constitute foreign contributions.
• Personal remittances from relatives: Personal remittances received from relatives abroad are generally excluded from foreign contribution, subject to applicable reporting requirements.
• Certain personal gifts: Gifts received for personal use may fall outside FCRA when they meet the prescribed conditions and value limit.
• Specified diplomatic payments: Certain payments received by diplomatic or consular officers from foreign sources are excluded under the Act.

There are primarily two types of FCRA registration that an organization can apply for:

• Regular FCRA Registration: This route is available to an association that has been in existence for more than three years and has spent at least ₹15 lakh in its chosen field. The registration is valid for five years and allows the organization to receive foreign contributions generally for its approved activities. Existing FCRA-registered associations must also file Form FC-6F within one year to declare the purposes for which they seek to retain registration and the States or Union Territories where they operate. The deadline for this filing is June 21, 2027.
• Prior Permission (PP): This route is available when an organization does not meet the requirements for regular registration, including newly established organizations. The approval is granted for a specific amount from a specific foreign donor for a specific project or purpose. The current FCRA portal states that the approved contribution must be received within three years and utilized within four years from the date of permission.

Obtaining FCRA registration offers several benefits for NGOs and Trusts that receive foreign contributions:

• Legal Acceptance of Foreign Funds: FCRA registration allows your organization to legally receive foreign contributions for permitted activities, subject to the conditions of the FCRA.
• Enhanced Credibility and Trust: An FCRA registration certificate demonstrates that the organization has obtained the required government approval to receive foreign contributions under the FCRA framework.
• Access to a Wider Funding Pool: FCRA registration allows eligible organizations to receive foreign grants and donations from permitted foreign sources, subject to applicable requirements.
• Participation in National Development: Access to foreign contributions can help eligible organizations fund and expand activities in areas such as education, healthcare, social welfare, and other permitted fields.
• Assurance for Donors: FCRA registration allows foreign donors to contribute to an organization that has the required approval to receive foreign contributions under Indian law.

An organization must meet the requirements under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 (FCRA) and the applicable rules before applying for regular FCRA registration.

• Eligible Legal Entity: The applicant must be an association or entity established for a definite cultural, economic, educational, religious, or social program and registered under the applicable Indian law. This can include a trust, society, or Section 8 company.
• Minimum Period of Existence: For regular FCRA registration, the organization should generally have been in existence for at least three years and have undertaken activities in its chosen field.
• Demonstrable Activities and Expenditure: The organization must provide evidence of its activities and expenditure in the relevant period. The FCRA portal currently states that an applicant should have spent ₹15 lakh in its chosen field for regular registration. The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2026 (S.O. 3272(E)), notified on June 22, 2026, and effective from publication, introduced a separate reasonable-activity requirement for retaining or renewing an FCRA certificate. This requires utilization of at least ₹10 lakh of foreign contribution during the preceding two financial years.
• Definite Program or Objectives: The organization must have clearly defined objectives covering one or more permitted areas, such as social, educational, cultural, religious, or economic activities.
• Eligible Office Bearers and Key Functionaries: The organization and its office bearers, directors, trustees, and other key functionaries must satisfy the restrictions under Section 3 of the FCRA. Persons falling within prohibited categories cannot receive foreign contributions through the organization.
• NGO Darpan ID: The organization must obtain an NGO Darpan ID for FCRA registration and renewal through the NITI Aayog portal.
• FCRA Designated Bank Account: Before receiving foreign contributions, the organization must maintain the designated FCRA account with the State Bank of India, New Delhi Main Branch, as required under the FCRA framework. The organization can maintain utilization accounts with other permitted banks.

Prepare the required documents before filing Form FC-3A for FCRA registration. The Ministry of Home Affairs requires the following documents for a fresh registration application:

For organizations applying for regular FCRA registration, MHA also requires additional documents where applicable, including an affidavit relating to capital investment when expenditure on the organization’s aims and objects is below the prescribed ₹15 lakh threshold. Applicants should upload the documents in the format and manner specified on the FCRA portal.

You can apply for FCRA registration online through the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) FCRA portal. The application form depends on whether you seek Regular Registration or Prior Permission.

1. Check Eligibility: Confirm that your organization meets the applicable requirements for Regular Registration or Prior Permission under the FCRA.
2. Prepare the Required Documents: Gather the registration certificate, governing documents, PAN, activity reports, audited financial statements, details of office bearers, and other documents required for the applicable application. Regular registration requires documents covering the preceding three financial years.
3. Obtain a Darpan ID: Enter the organization's Darpan ID in the FCRA application where required. The current Form FC-3A includes a field for the Darpan ID.
4. Maintain the Designated FCRA Account: Arrange the designated FCRA bank account required for receiving foreign contributions before submitting the application. Foreign contributions must be received through the designated State Bank of India account at its New Delhi Main Branch.
5. Select the Applicable Form: Apply through Form FC-3A for FCRA registration or Form FC-3B for Prior Permission, depending on your requirement.
6. Complete the Online Application: Enter the organization's registration details, objectives, activities, office-bearer details, proposed use of foreign contribution, bank details, and other information requested in the form. Ensure that the information matches your supporting documents.
7. Upload Documents and Submit the Form: Upload the prescribed documents in the required format and complete the online submission through the FCRA portal. The application must include the required declarations and supporting documents.
8. Pay the Prescribed Fee: Pay the applicable government fee through the online payment facility provided on the FCRA portal. The current fee is ₹10,000 for registration and ₹5,000 for Prior Permission.
9. Track the Application: Save the application details and monitor the FCRA portal for its status. The MHA may request additional information or clarification during processing.
10. Respond to Queries: If the MHA raises a query, submit the required clarification or documents through the prescribed process within the specified time.
11. Receive the FCRA Approval: If the application is approved, the MHA grants the applicable FCRA registration or Prior Permission. You can access the approval details through the FCRA portal.

Note: The FCRA 2.0 portal, compliance framework, and application forms have been updated in 2026. The current Form FC-3A includes additional fields relating to the organization's social media accounts, scope of registration, geographical area of operation, and activities undertaken during the last three financial years.

The government fee for FCRA applications depends on the type of application, with additional costs possible where an organization faces separate compliance proceedings.

The Ministry of Home Affairs can suspend or cancel a registration when an organization violates the FCRA Act, Rules, or conditions of its registration. Common grounds include failure to file the FC-4 annual return, misuse of foreign contribution, or non-compliance with applicable FCRA requirements.

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2026, also introduced a reasonable-activity requirement under Rule 14A. An organization must have utilized at least ₹10 lakh of foreign contribution during the preceding two financial years to meet this requirement. Failure to satisfy this condition can affect the renewal or continuation of its FCRA registration.

Organizations should therefore maintain proper records, file required returns on time, use foreign contributions only for permitted purposes, and comply with the conditions attached to their FCRA approval.

FCRA registration is generally valid for five years from the date of registration. An association must apply for renewal within the prescribed period before the certificate expires to continue receiving and utilizing foreign contributions legally.

The FCRA Rules specify the renewal procedure and ₹5,000 renewal fee.

The FCRA Act strictly prohibits certain individuals and entities from accepting foreign contributions to prevent potential misuse or undue influence:

• Candidates for election
• Correspondents, columnists, cartoonists, editors, owners, printers, or publishers of registered newspapers
• Public servants (including judges, government servants, or employees of any corporation owned or controlled by the government)
• Members of any legislature
• Political parties or office-bearers thereof
• Organizations of a political nature
• Associations or companies engaged in the production or broadcast of audio news or audio-visual news, or current affairs programs

Furthermore, as per the FCRA Amendment Act, 2020, the transfer of foreign contributions to any other person or organization is strictly prohibited. The funds must be utilized by the organization that originally received them.

While FCRA regulates foreign contributions stringently, certain transactions are specifically excluded from the definition of "foreign contribution" and therefore do not require FCRA registration:

• Salaries, Wages, or Payments in Ordinary Course of Business: Amounts received by way of fee or cost instead of goods or services rendered in the ordinary course of business, trade, or commerce.
• Gifts for Personal Use: Articles given as gifts for personal use, provided their market value in India on the date of the gift does not exceed ₹1,00,000.
• Payments by Diplomats: Payments received by way of fees or otherwise from a foreign source by any person who is serving as a diplomatic or consular officer of a foreign government.
• Remittances from Relatives: Personal remittances received from relatives residing abroad are not considered foreign contributions. However, if the amount exceeds ₹10 lakhs in a financial year, it must be reported to the Central Government in Form FC-1 within three months.
• Scholarships and Stipends: The FCRA contains specific provisions concerning scholarships, stipends, and similar payments from foreign sources.

The FCRA certificate is issued by the MHA upon successful approval of your application. It legally authorizes your organization to receive foreign contributions and donations under the FCRA Act, 2010.

It contains your unique FCRA registration number, validity period, and details of the approved bank account for fund receipt. This certificate is mandatory for all NGOs, societies, and trusts receiving international donations.

How to Download the FCRA Registration Certificate?

Once your FCRA registration is approved, you can download your FCRA registration certificate directly from the FCRA online portal:

• Log in to your organization's account on the FCRA website.
• Look for the "View/Print Certificate" or a similar option under the relevant application status.
• You can then download the digital copy of your registration certificate in PDF format. This serves as your official proof of FCRA registration validity.

How to Check the Status of the FCRA Registration Certificate?

You can easily check the FCRA registration status of your application online:

• Visit the official FCRA website.
• Navigate to the "Status of Application" section.
• Enter your File Number (the 9-digit number generated upon submission of your application) or other relevant details.
• The portal will display your FCRA registration application status, indicating whether it's pending, approved, or has queries.

To verify another organisation's FCRA status, you can also search its FCRA registration number or name using the public search facility on the FCRA portal.

FCRA-registered associations must maintain records and file annual returns to continue complying with the Act and Rules.

• File Form FC-4 Annual Return: Submit the annual return online for each financial year, along with the required financial statements and supporting documents. Form FC-4 captures foreign contributions received and utilized, unutilized balances, bank accounts, and other compliance information.
• Maintain Separate FCRA Accounts: Keep foreign contribution records and accounts separate from domestic funds and use the designated FCRA account for receiving foreign contributions.
• Follow the 20% Administrative Expense Limit: Administrative expenses generally cannot exceed 20% of the foreign contribution received. The 2024 amendment also permits eligible unspent administrative expenses to be carried forward to the immediately succeeding financial year, subject to the prescribed conditions and FC-4 disclosure.
• Use Funds for Approved Purposes: Use foreign contributions only for the purposes permitted under the registration or Prior Permission and maintain the required accounts, assets, and records.
• Report Changes and Maintain Records: Report applicable changes in the organization's details, office bearers, key functionaries, and bank accounts through the prescribed FCRA forms and maintain the supporting records. Non-filing of annual returns and other FCRA violations can affect renewal and compliance status.