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Home / GIFT City (IFSC) / IFSC Finance Company Registration
Last updated: 2 October 2026
Lending, treasury, leasing and related financial activities in GIFT City IFSC are carried on by a finance company or finance unit registered with IFSCA under the IFSCA (Finance Company) Regulations, 2021. The activity chosen decides the owned fund, staffing and prudential requirements. Expertvuw supports the application, documentation and ongoing compliance.
Under the IFSCA (Finance Company) Regulations, 2021, a finance company is a separately incorporated entity and a finance unit is a branch; neither may accept public deposits. Permissible activities are split into core activities, such as lending, factoring and forfaiting, investment in securities, derivatives and global or regional corporate treasury centres, and non-core activities, such as merchant banking, investment advisory, operating lease and trade finance.
The minimum owned fund depends on the activity: USD 3 million where core activities are undertaken, and USD 0.2 million for non-core activities alone or for a corporate treasury centre. Finance companies must maintain a minimum capital ratio of 8%, operate in freely convertible foreign currency and keep their balance sheet in US dollars. Specific IFSCA frameworks apply to corporate treasury centres and aircraft and ship leasing, and a May 2026 amendment added leasing or financing activity by special purpose vehicles.
FinTech businesses that are not finance companies follow separate IFSCA routes, including the FinTech Sandbox Framework issued in March 2026. Expertvuw prepares the application and supporting documents and coordinates with IFSCA, bankers and independent licensed professionals where certifications are required.
Based on the regulations and circulars referred to on this page. Last updated: 28 September 2026.
IFSCA (Finance Company) Regulations, 2021, as amended, including the May 2026 amendment (IFSCA/GN/2026/009)
Higher of USD 3 million or minimum regulatory capital where core activities are undertaken (Schedule)
USD 0.2 million for non-core activities only or for a treasury centre (Schedule; GRCTC framework)
Minimum 8% of regulatory capital to risk-weighted assets (Reg. 4(2))
Operations in freely convertible foreign currency; balance sheet only in USD (Reg. 6)
At least five qualified personnel in IFSC, including Head of Treasury and Compliance Officer (GRCTC framework, 2025)
Applications are usually held up by activity classification, capital planning or staffing.
Adding a single core activity raises the owned fund from USD 0.2 million to USD 3 million.
Parents from FATF high-risk jurisdictions are not eligible, and parent regulator NOCs may be needed.
Operating lessors need USD 200,000 owned fund but financial lessors need USD 3 million under the aircraft lease framework.
Related services.
SEZ approval, SWIT application and tax position for a new unit in GIFT City IFSC.
Fund Management Entity registration under the IFSCA (Fund Management) Regulations, 2025.
External commercial borrowing structuring and RBI reporting for Indian borrowers.
RBI certificate of registration for non-banking financial companies operating in domestic India.
We classify proposed activities as core or non-core and identify any specific framework that applies.
We assess subsidiary versus branch and plan the owned fund and capital ratio.
Business plan, policies and declarations are prepared in the format IFSCA specifies.
The application is filed on SWIT with parent documents and any NOC required.
We coordinate responses to IFSCA queries until the certificate of registration is issued.
IFSC banking accounts, capital infusion and reporting set-up before operations begin.
A registered finance company or finance unit must meet prudential and reporting requirements throughout its operations.
Maintain the prescribed owned fund and 8% capital ratio at all times.
Liquidity requirements and exposure limits under the regulations and IFSCA guidelines.
Periodic returns to IFSCA and audited USD financial statements through independent licensed professionals.
Corporate governance guidelines, AML/CFT compliance and intimation of material changes.
Share your query and our team will reply during business hours.
A finance company is separately incorporated in IFSC, while a finance unit is a branch of an existing entity. Both are registered under the IFSCA (Finance Company) Regulations, 2021.
A finance company or unit that manages treasury activities for its group entities, resident in India or abroad, under IFSCA’s GRCTC framework with a USD 0.2 million owned fund.
Yes, under IFSCA’s aircraft lease framework. Operating lessors need USD 200,000 owned fund and financial lessors USD 3 million.
No. A finance company or finance unit cannot accept deposits from the public under the regulations.
Not necessarily. FinTech solutions may use IFSCA’s separate routes, including the FinTech Sandbox Framework, 2026, unless they undertake finance company activities.
ACS – Director, Expertvuw Management Pvt Ltd
Advisory and company secretarial work is handled by Expertvuw’s team. Audits, certifications and representation that the law reserves for Chartered Accountants, advocates or other licensed professionals are provided by independent professionals engaged for your case.