Question 1

Who needs FCRA registration?

Accepted Answer

Any association, trust, society, or Section 8 company that wishes to receive foreign contributions — donations, grants, or any funds from foreign sources — must obtain FCRA registration from the Ministry of Home Affairs. This applies even if the foreign contribution is a one-time grant. Operating without FCRA registration and receiving foreign funds is a criminal offence.

Question 2

What are the eligibility criteria for FCRA registration?

Accepted Answer

Key eligibility criteria include: the organisation must be registered as a trust, society, or Section 8 company; it must have been in existence for at least 3 years; it must have spent at least ₹15 lakh on charitable activities in the last 3 years (excluding administrative expenses); it must have 12A registration; and key members must not have been convicted of offences or associated with banned organisations.

Question 3

What is prior permission under FCRA and when is it needed?

Accepted Answer

Prior permission is a one-time permission for newly registered NGOs (less than 3 years old) or organisations that do not meet the FCRA registration eligibility criteria to receive a specific foreign contribution for a specific purpose from a specific foreign source. It is project-specific and does not give general permission to receive foreign funds.

Question 4

What is the FCRA designated bank account requirement?

Accepted Answer

All FCRA-registered organisations must open a designated FCRA bank account exclusively at the State Bank of India, New Delhi main branch (IFSC: SBIN0000691). All foreign contributions must first be received in this account. The funds can then be transferred to utilisation accounts at other banks for spending on charitable activities.

Question 5

What annual compliance is required after FCRA registration?

Accepted Answer

FCRA-registered organisations must file the annual FC-4 return by December 31 each year on the MHA FCRA portal, declaring all foreign contributions received and spent during the year. They must also maintain separate books of accounts for FCRA funds. FCRA registration must be renewed every 5 years. Failure to file FC-4 results in suspension or cancellation of FCRA registration.

FCRA Registration

What's Included

Documents Required

Frequently Asked Questions

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