Certificate of Good Standing for an Indian Company or LLP
A foreign bank, buyer or regulator wants proof that your Indian company is active and up to date with the Registrar. We check your MCA record, fix any gaps, and prepare a certificate of good standing backed by Registrar-certified documents, ready for notarisation and apostille.
What it is
A certificate of good standing confirms that a business legally exists, is active on the official register and is up to date with its statutory filings. In the UK, for example, the company registry issues one on request, so foreign parties expect the same from an Indian company.
India works differently. The Registrar of Companies (ROC) does not issue a standard “good standing” certificate. Instead, the proof is built from the company’s record on the MCA V3 portal, copies certified by the Registrar under Section 399 of the Companies Act, 2013, and a certificate from a practising professional who has checked that record. Together they show the company is alive and compliant.
Who it applies to
Companies going abroad
Say a Faridabad auto-parts maker is opening a subsidiary in Germany. The foreign registry and bank will usually ask for proof of the Indian parent’s standing, alongside the FEMA reporting for the overseas investment.
Exporters and vendors
A US client onboarding a Gurugram IT firm as a vendor, or a foreign buyer running a tender, often asks for it.
LLPs and companies raising money
Overseas investors and lenders ask for it during due diligence. LLPs can get the same kind of proof from their LLP record.
Why it matters
Bank KYC depends on it
Foreign banks usually ask for proof that an Indian parent or shareholder exists and is active before they complete KYC.
Close deals faster
A certified set of documents answers the counterparty’s legal team at once.
Find problems before the bank does
Preparing it forces a check of your MCA record. Pending filings or a deactivated DIN are better found by you than by a foreign bank.
Documents required
From the company
- CIN or LLPIN
- Board resolution authorising the request, if the recipient wants one
- Details of any change not yet filed with the ROC
From the recipient
- Their required format or checklist
- Country, so we know if an apostille or embassy legalisation applies
- How recent the documents must be
We obtain
- MCA master data and filing history
- Certified copy of the certificate of incorporation
- Certified copies of the latest filed forms, where asked
What “good standing” covers
| Check | What we look for | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Company status | “Active” on the MCA register, not struck off, dormant, amalgamated or under liquidation | MCA master data |
| Annual filings | AOC-4 and MGT-7 or MGT-7A filed for every year due (Form 8 and Form 11 for an LLP) | Filing history on the MCA V3 portal |
| Directors | Every director’s DIN active, with DIR-3 KYC current | Director master data |
| Charges | Open charges shown correctly | Index of charges |
| Incorporation | Date of incorporation and registered office | Certified copy of the certificate of incorporation |
How it works
Pull and read the MCA record
We pull master data, filing history and director status, the same data behind a ROC search report.
Fix the gaps before certifying
Here is the catch: a certificate can only state what the record shows. So pending annual ROC filings, a lapsed DIR-3 KYC or an unfiled change get put right first.
Prepare the certificate and certified copies
A practising CS or CA signs the certificate based on the MCA record. We apply for certified copies from the Registrar under Section 399.
Notarise, then apostille or legalise
For Hague Convention countries, the documents go for apostille by the Ministry of External Affairs. For other countries, embassy legalisation follows attestation.
Timelines
Clean record
If filings are up to date, the certificate and copies can be ready in a few working days.
Record with gaps
Pending filings must be cleared first. That can take weeks if accounts for old years are still to be audited.
How recent it must be
No Indian law fixes a validity period. The recipient decides. Many ask for documents issued in the last few months, so check before ordering.
What happens if your company is not in good standing
Pending annual filings
We file the overdue AOC-4 and MGT-7. Each carries an additional fee of ₹100 per day of delay, so the sooner the better.
Struck-off status
A company struck off under Section 248 must be restored by the NCLT under Section 252 before it can show “Active” again.
Deactivated DINs
Picture a family company where one director forgot DIR-3 KYC. That DIN is deactivated, and reactivation through DIR-3 KYC Web costs ₹5,000.
Frequently asked questions
Does the ROC issue a certificate of good standing in India?
No, there is no standard ROC form for it. What the ROC does provide is certified copies of the certificate of incorporation and filed documents under Section 399 of the Companies Act, 2013. These are admissible in evidence as if they were originals. We combine them with the MCA master data and a professional’s certificate, which most foreign banks and registries accept.
Who signs the certificate of good standing?
A practising Company Secretary or Chartered Accountant signs it after checking the company’s MCA record. The certificate states the CIN, date of incorporation, registered office, current status and filing position as on a stated date. A CA certificate carries a UDIN, which the recipient can verify online. We confirm with the recipient beforehand whether they prefer a CS or a CA.
How much does a certified copy from the Registrar cost?
Under Rule 14 of the Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014, a certified copy of the certificate of incorporation costs ₹100. Copies or extracts of other documents cost ₹25 per page. Inspection of documents costs ₹100. These are government fees, separate from any apostille charge. In practice, many foreign recipients ask for the incorporation certificate copy plus the latest filed annual forms.
How do I get the certificate apostilled?
Apostille is done by the Ministry of External Affairs for countries that follow the Hague Convention of 1961, in force for India since 14 July 2005. The MEA fee is ₹50 per document. Company documents usually need an earlier attestation step before the MEA stamp. We prepare the set and coordinate the process, so you receive documents ready to send abroad.
What if the country is not part of the Hague Convention?
An apostille will not work there. The documents need legalisation by that country’s embassy or consulate in India. This happens after attestation by the Ministry of External Affairs. We check the destination country’s rule at the start, so the documents are prepared in the right format and you do not pay twice.
Can an LLP get a certificate of good standing?
Yes, on the same basis as a company. We check the LLP’s status and filing history on the MCA V3 portal, including Form 8 and Form 11, and the designated partners’ DIN status. A practising professional then certifies the position. If Forms 8 or 11 are pending, we file them first so the certificate can show a clean record.
My company shows “Active” but has pending filings. Is it in good standing?
Not fully. “Active” only means the company is on the register. A careful recipient will also look at filing history, and pending AOC-4 or MGT-7 forms will show up. We recommend filing them before the certificate is issued. Each day of delay adds ₹100 per form, so clearing them also stops the late fee from growing.
Is a ROC search report the same thing?
No, though they overlap. A ROC search report is a detailed review of a company’s records, used mainly by lenders and buyers in India. A certificate of good standing is a short confirmation of status and compliance for a foreign recipient. If the recipient wants both, we prepare them together from the same MCA data.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
Government fees: certified copy of the certificate of incorporation ₹100; other certified copies ₹25 per page; MEA apostille ₹50 per document. Any overdue filings carry their own fees.
Ready to begin?
Tell us who is asking and for which country, and we will send the exact document list the same day.