UK company formation, designed for Indian founders.
An advisor-led guide for residents of India — from Mumbai and Delhi to Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, Ahmedabad and beyond. Written by the specialists who onboard Indian founders to UK Limited Companies every week.
Why this guide exists — and who it is written for.
India is one of the fastest-growing sources of new UK Limited Companies. Every week, founders from Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and dozens of tier-2 cities incorporate a UK entity to invoice international clients, sell on UK and EU marketplaces, launch a SaaS or AI product, or build a globally credible consulting practice.
This guide is written specifically for Indian residents — not a generic "non-resident" template. It explains the legal position under UK law, what identity documents you actually need, how banking really works in practice for Indian founders, and where UK obligations end and Indian obligations begin.
By the end you will know exactly what a UK Ltd delivers for an Indian entrepreneur, what it costs, how long it takes, and what to prepare before you order.
From Bengaluru IT houses to Ahmedabad exporters — where a UK Ltd genuinely helps.
The UK Limited Company is not the right structure for every Indian business — but for a specific set of use cases it is the most efficient, credible and internationally recognised vehicle available.
Indian IT houses and independent developers use a UK Ltd to invoice UK and EU clients, sign MSAs under English law, and appear as a UK-domiciled counterparty on procurement panels.
For founders in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune shipping SaaS or AI tools globally, a UK entity simplifies Stripe, App Store, and enterprise contracts that require a Western billing entity.
Exporters use a UK Ltd (often with an EORI) to sell into the UK and EU, hold sterling and euro balances, and settle with buyers who prefer a UK-invoicing counterparty.
Digital, marketing, design and management-consulting agencies invoice UK, US and Gulf clients from a UK entity — cleaner tax treatment for the client and a stronger commercial footprint.
Indian sellers targeting Amazon UK, eBay UK and Shopify use a UK Ltd plus VAT/EORI to onboard cleanly, meet marketplace verification, and reclaim UK import VAT where eligible.
Independent consultants — engineering, financial, medical, education — use a UK vehicle to sign global contracts and separate personal and business liability.
A Companies House–registered UK Ltd is a globally recognised structure. It gives Indian founders a credible façade for procurement checks, KYC reviews and enterprise buyers.
Can an Indian resident register a UK company?
Under the UK Companies Act 2006, there is no residency, nationality or immigration requirement for directors, shareholders or Persons with Significant Control (PSCs) of a UK Limited Company. An Indian resident holding an Indian passport can incorporate a UK Ltd, own 100% of the shares, act as sole director, and run the business entirely from India.
The company itself must have a UK registered office (a real UK address for statutory mail) and, from 2025 onwards, every director and PSC must complete Companies House identity verification — but neither of these requires you to be, or become, a UK resident.
Requirements at a glance.
Six practical items. Nothing more. We handle the paperwork, filings and Companies House interactions on your behalf.
Indian passport is fully acceptable. Machine-readable, not expiring within 6 months.
Recent utility bill, bank statement or Aadhaar-linked document showing your Indian residential address (within 3 months).
You can appoint yourself. No UK residency requirement. No minimum age other than 16+.
Every UK Ltd must have a UK registered office address. We provide one in London.
Companies House ID verification is now mandatory for directors and PSCs. Completed remotely from India.
We file the IN01, articles of association and PSC declarations for you.
From India to a live UK company in seven clear steps.
- 1Choose a company name
We run a Companies House availability and sensitive-word check, plus a light trade-mark sweep on IPO and WIPO so you don't build a brand on shaky ground.
- 2Complete identity verification
Companies House ID verification for every director and Person with Significant Control. Done from India via an Authorised Corporate Service Provider — no travel, no notary in most cases.
- 3Prepare company details
SIC codes, share structure, PSC statements, service and residential addresses, and articles of association. We draft everything — you approve.
- 4Submit the incorporation
Electronic filing at Companies House. Standard turnaround is same working day once ID verification is complete.
- 5Receive incorporation documents
Certificate of Incorporation, Memorandum & Articles, share certificates, first board minutes and a compliance calendar delivered to you as a digital pack.
- 6Set up banking
We prepare your onboarding for Wise Business, Revolut Business, Airwallex, Payoneer and, where appropriate, a UK high-street application. No approval is ever guaranteed.
- 7Start trading
Register for VAT if you cross or opt in below the £90,000 threshold, register for PAYE if you employ, and use our compliance calendar for the confirmation statement and annual accounts.
What banks and EMIs actually expect from an Indian director.
Banking is where most Indian founders get stuck. The reality is straightforward: UK EMIs (Wise Business, Revolut Business, Airwallex, Payoneer) are the reliable first line of banking for a fully remote Indian director. UK high-street banks (Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, NatWest) can be considered later, usually once the company has visible UK trading activity and a clean digital footprint.
- A coherent UK business summary — what you sell, to whom, in which countries
- PSC and director details that match your passport exactly
- A credible economic reason for the UK entity (clients, marketplace, contracts)
- Clean sanctions and adverse-media screening on all directors and PSCs
- A working business email on your own domain — not Gmail, not Yahoo
- Realistic expected turnover, currencies and counterparty countries
- Keep your Indian passport valid for at least 12 months
- Have a recent Indian residential proof (utility bill / bank statement, ≤3 months old)
- Register a domain and set up a professional business email before applying
- Prepare a one-page business plan describing your UK activity
- Where possible, secure a first UK/EU client or letter of intent
We are not a bank, an EMI or an introducer for any specific provider. We do not receive commissions from Wise, Revolut, Airwallex, Payoneer or any UK bank. Our role is to prepare your file to the standard those institutions actually expect.
No advisor — in the UK, India or anywhere — can guarantee bank approval. Any firm promising a "guaranteed UK bank account" for a non-resident should be treated with strong scepticism.
Business Banking AssistanceUK obligations, and where Indian tax begins.
The UK company pays Corporation Tax on its worldwide profits (19% small profits rate rising to 25% at the main rate, subject to marginal relief). Annual accounts are filed with Companies House and a CT600 return with HMRC.
VAT registration is mandatory once UK taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 in a rolling 12-month period. Voluntary registration below that is common for B2B exporters and marketplace sellers.
Dividends paid from a UK Ltd to a non-resident shareholder are not subject to UK withholding tax. How that dividend is then taxed in India is governed by Indian domestic law and the India–UK DTAA.
We do not advise on Indian tax. Your personal position as an Indian resident — including reporting foreign shareholdings, dividends and any LRS/ODI implications — should be confirmed with a qualified Indian Chartered Accountant.
Answers to the questions Indian founders actually ask us.
Can I register a UK company while living in India?+
Yes. There is no requirement for a director, shareholder or Person with Significant Control (PSC) to be a UK resident or citizen. Indian residents can incorporate a UK Limited Company, own 100% of the shares and act as the sole director entirely from India.
Do I need a UK visa or work permit to own a UK company?+
No. Owning shares in, or being a director of, a UK Limited Company does not itself grant any right to live or work in the UK, and equally it does not require any visa. You are running the company from India as a non-resident director — that is legally recognised and common.
Do I need to travel to the UK at any point?+
No. Incorporation, Companies House identity verification, banking preparation and post-formation compliance are all completed remotely from India. Some UK high-street banks may request a visit for a physical account, but Wise, Revolut Business, Airwallex and Payoneer typically onboard without any UK visit.
Can I own 100% of the UK company as an Indian resident?+
Yes. The UK places no cap on foreign ownership of a Limited Company. You can hold 100% of the ordinary shares, be the sole director and be the sole Person with Significant Control.
Can my UK company invoice US, EU or Gulf clients from India?+
Yes. A UK Ltd is a global trading vehicle. You can invoice clients anywhere in the world in GBP, USD, EUR or other currencies (subject to your banking setup) and settle into your UK business account.
Can I receive international payments into the UK company?+
Yes. Once your UK business account (bank or EMI such as Wise/Revolut/Airwallex) is live, you can receive SWIFT, SEPA and Faster Payments transfers, Stripe/PayPal payouts and marketplace disbursements from Amazon, Etsy and similar platforms.
Can I use my Indian passport for identity verification?+
Yes. An Indian passport is an accepted identity document for Companies House ID verification and for onboarding with Wise, Revolut, Airwallex and most UK banks. It must be valid (not expired) and machine-readable.
Can I appoint myself as sole director and shareholder?+
Yes. This is the most common structure we set up for Indian founders — one Indian-resident individual acting as sole director, sole shareholder and sole PSC of the UK Ltd.
Will I be taxed in the UK on all my income?+
The UK company pays UK Corporation Tax on its profits (currently 19%–25% depending on profit band). Your personal tax position as an Indian resident is governed by Indian domestic law and the India–UK Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement. We are not Indian tax advisors — we recommend confirming your personal position with a qualified CA in India before drawing dividends or salary.
Do I need to comply with RBI / LRS rules to send funds from India?+
If you plan to remit capital from India into the UK company (for share subscription or as a loan), the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) and Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) rules of the Reserve Bank of India apply. This is an Indian-law matter — you should take advice from an Indian CA or authorised dealer bank before remitting funds. Many of our Indian clients capitalise the company modestly and grow through retained UK earnings instead.
How long does incorporation take from India?+
Once identity verification and documentation are complete, incorporation is typically same-working-day for our Prestige and Elite clients. Identity verification itself is usually completed within 24 hours of order.
Can I use a virtual UK address as my registered office?+
Yes — and we provide one at our central London address as part of Prestige and Elite. This is a valid Companies House registered office; it must be a real address where statutory mail can be received, not a P.O. box.
An advisory firm, not a form-filling factory.
We work with Indian founders every week. We know what Companies House, banks and EMIs expect — and where applications typically fail.
Every incorporation is reviewed by a human advisor before submission. WhatsApp, email and phone support in English throughout.
Fixed fees. No hidden add-ons. No "+ VAT" on top. What you see is what you pay.
The Prestige package
Most Popular — Ideal for non-UK residents.
Your UK company, ready this week.
Order online in minutes. Once your payment is confirmed, one of our advisors will contact you to confirm your documentation requirements and guide you through the next steps.