GST Registration for Foreigners

GST Registration for Foreigners is the specialised registration process under the CGST Act, 2017 by which a Non-Resident Taxable Person (NRTP), Online Information and Database Access or Retrieval (OIDAR) service provider, or foreign entity supplying goods or services into India obtains a Goods and Services Tax Identification Number (GSTIN). Unlike a resident taxpayer, a foreigner or a foreign company cannot quote a domestic PAN by default and is governed by a distinct set of provisions — Sections 24, 27, 2(77), and 14 of the CGST / IGST Acts — along with dedicated forms such as GST REG-09 (NRTP) and GST REG-10 (OIDAR).

Registration is mandatory — without any threshold exemption — the moment a foreign person or entity makes a taxable supply in India, sets up a temporary or occasional presence to supply goods or services, or provides online services (SaaS, digital content, advertising, cloud, e-books, streaming) to non-business Indian recipients. A foreigner typically obtains a GSTIN for a limited period (up to 90 days, extendable by another 90), deposits an advance tax equal to the estimated GST liability, and operates through an authorised signatory located in India who holds a PAN.

We offer end-to-end GST registration services for foreigners and foreign companies — covering NRTP registration under REG-09, OIDAR registration under REG-10, appointment of an Indian authorised signatory, advance tax estimation and deposit, issuance of GSTIN, LUT / export structuring, monthly GSTR-5 or GSTR-5A compliance, and extension, amendment, or surrender of the foreign GSTIN — so overseas businesses can supply into the Indian market with full tax certainty and zero compliance risk.

No Threshold
Mandatory from first supply
REG-09 / 10
NRTP & OIDAR forms
5 Days
Pre-supply application window
90 + 90 Days
Validity with extension
Laws & Frameworks We Work Under
CGST Act, 2017 – Sec 24 & 27
IGST Act, 2017 – Sec 14
CGST Rules – Rule 13 & 14
Form GST REG-09 (NRTP)
Form GST REG-10 (OIDAR)
Place of Supply Rules
FEMA, 1999
Income Tax Act – Sec 195

Two Main Routes of Foreign GST Registration

NRTP

Non-Resident Taxable Person

Foreign supplier physically making taxable supplies in India occasionally — typically with goods brought in or services rendered locally.

  • Registered via Form GST REG-09
  • No threshold exemption applies
  • Advance tax deposit required
  • Valid for up to 90 days
  • Extension of 90 days allowed
  • Monthly GSTR-5 return filing
OIDAR

OIDAR Service Provider

Foreign digital service provider supplying online services to Indian non-business (B2C) recipients from a location outside India.

  • Registered via Form GST REG-10
  • Single registration for all India
  • No Indian establishment needed
  • Tax on B2C supplies in India
  • Monthly GSTR-5A return
  • IGST at 18% on most services

What Foreign GST Registration Covers

Identity

GSTIN & Certificate

Allotment of a 15-digit GSTIN for foreigners / foreign company with a dedicated temporary registration certificate.

  • State-wise GSTIN for NRTP
  • Centralised GSTIN for OIDAR
  • Registration Certificate REG-06
  • Validity period mentioned
  • Authorised signatory details
  • Place of business in India
Tax

Advance Tax & Payment

Estimation of tax liability for the registration period and mandatory advance deposit into the electronic cash ledger.

  • Estimated supplies for period
  • CGST / SGST / IGST split
  • Upfront cash ledger deposit
  • Utilisation against returns
  • Excess refund on surrender
  • No ITC on inward supplies
Compliance

Returns & Invoicing

GST-compliant invoicing, monthly GSTR-5 / GSTR-5A returns, and timely extension or closure of the registration.

  • GSTR-5 for NRTP (monthly)
  • GSTR-5A for OIDAR (monthly)
  • GST-compliant tax invoices
  • HSN / SAC code mapping
  • Place of supply determination
  • E-invoicing if applicable

Our GST Registration Services for Foreigners

01

Eligibility & Route Advisory

Analysis of your business model to determine whether you need NRTP, OIDAR, or a regular GST registration route.

02

REG-09 NRTP Filing

Preparation and filing of Form GST REG-09 for non-resident taxable persons making supplies in India.

03

REG-10 OIDAR Filing

End-to-end registration of foreign OIDAR service providers under Form GST REG-10 from outside India.

04

Authorised Signatory Setup

Appointment of an India-based authorised signatory with PAN to act on behalf of the foreign entity.

05

Advance Tax Computation

Estimation of GST liability for the registration period and guidance on electronic cash ledger deposit.

06

Document Legalisation

Guidance on notarisation, apostille, and translation of overseas incorporation and identity documents.

07

Extension & Amendment

Filing of extension applications (up to 90 additional days), amendments, and surrender of foreign GSTIN.

08

Ongoing GSTR-5 / 5A Support

Monthly return filing, tax payment, reconciliation, and refund of unutilised advance tax on closure.

Foreign Businesses We Help Register

Exhibitors

Trade Fair & Exhibition Sellers

Foreign sellers participating in Indian trade fairs, expos, and exhibitions with temporary goods sales.

NRTP REG-09
SaaS

Foreign SaaS Providers

Cloud software, productivity tools, and SaaS platforms supplying subscriptions to Indian B2C users.

OIDAR REG-10
Streaming

OTT & Streaming Platforms

Foreign video, music, and content streaming services delivering to Indian individual subscribers.

OIDAR B2C
E-Learning

Online Courses & EdTech

Foreign e-learning platforms, MOOCs, and online certification providers selling to Indian learners.

OIDAR IGST 18%
Ads

Online Advertising Firms

Foreign ad networks, publisher platforms, and programmatic ad providers monetising Indian traffic.

OIDAR Digital
Gaming

Online Gaming & Apps

Foreign gaming platforms, app developers, and in-app purchase providers serving Indian users.

OIDAR B2C
Consultants

Foreign Consultants On-Site

Overseas consultants, technicians, or trainers rendering on-site professional services in India.

NRTP Short-term
E-commerce

Cross-Border Sellers

Foreign sellers supplying goods to India via marketplaces, or digital goods like e-books & stock photos.

NRTP OIDAR

When a Foreigner Must Register for GST in India

Occasional Supply in India

Foreign individual or business making an occasional taxable supply of goods or services in India.

Trade Fair Participation

Participation in Indian trade fairs, exhibitions, or pop-up stalls where goods are sold to Indian buyers.

OIDAR Services to India

Supplying digital / online services to Indian non-business (B2C) recipients from outside India.

Temporary Project Work

Short-term engineering, installation, training, or consultancy engagements executed on Indian soil.

Import Into India

Bringing goods into India for sale, demonstration, or exhibition on a temporary or one-off basis.

Cross-Border E-Commerce

Foreign sellers supplying digital goods like e-books, software, or subscriptions to Indian consumers.

Liaison / Branch Office Supply

Foreign company's BO / PO in India making taxable supplies falling within the GST net.

Marketplace Operator Demand

Indian marketplace or aggregator insists on a GSTIN before onboarding the foreign supplier.

Documents Needed for Foreign GST Registration

Foreign Entity KYC

  • Certificate of Incorporation
  • Tax ID from home country
  • Unique Identification Number
  • Passport of promoters / directors
  • Board resolution / authorisation
  • MOA / constitutional documents
  • Apostille / notarised translations

Indian Side Documents

  • PAN of authorised signatory
  • Aadhaar of authorised signatory
  • Appointment letter / POA
  • Photograph & contact details
  • Place of business in India
  • Rent agreement / NOC
  • Electricity / utility bill

Banking & Tax Data

  • Foreign bank account details
  • Indian bank account (if any)
  • Cancelled cheque / statement
  • Estimated supply & tax working
  • Advance tax challan proof
  • Sample invoices / contracts
  • Website / platform URL (OIDAR)

Our End-to-End Foreign GST Registration Approach

1

Advisory Call

Mapping your business, supply flow, and client base to NRTP, OIDAR, or regular GST route.

2

Document Pack

Collecting foreign KYC, authorised signatory papers, and legalising / apostilling documents.

3

Application Filing

Filing Form GST REG-09 (NRTP) or GST REG-10 (OIDAR) with supporting documentation.

4

Advance Tax & GSTIN

Estimation of tax, advance deposit, and issuance of the temporary foreign GSTIN.

5

Returns & Closure

Monthly GSTR-5 / GSTR-5A, extension if needed, and orderly surrender with refund of excess tax.

Why Choose Us for Foreign GST Registration

Deep NRTP & OIDAR expertise
Global client base & multi-jurisdiction
Document legalisation support
Authorised signatory arrangement
Accurate advance tax estimation
Fast REG-09 / REG-10 turnaround
End-to-end GSTR-5 / 5A filing
Orderly closure & tax refunds

FAQs on GST Registration for Foreigners

Who qualifies as a Non-Resident Taxable Person (NRTP) under GST?
Section 2(77) of the CGST Act defines a Non-Resident Taxable Person as any person who occasionally undertakes transactions involving the supply of goods or services in India, but who has no fixed place of business or residence in India. Typical examples include foreign exhibitors at trade fairs, overseas consultants flying in for short projects, foreign artists performing in India, and cross-border sellers bringing in goods for limited-period sale. NRTPs are required to obtain GST registration irrespective of turnover — the threshold exemption available to regular taxpayers does not apply here.
What is OIDAR and when is OIDAR GST registration required?
OIDAR stands for Online Information and Database Access or Retrieval services — essentially digital services delivered electronically over the internet with minimal human intervention. This covers SaaS subscriptions, cloud services, streaming video and audio, e-books, online courses, mobile apps, digital advertising, and online gaming. When a foreign provider supplies OIDAR services to non-business (B2C) recipients in India, the foreign supplier must register in India under Form GST REG-10 and charge IGST. For B2B supplies to GST-registered Indian customers, the Indian recipient pays tax under reverse charge, so registration by the foreign provider is generally not required for pure B2B flows.
When should a foreigner apply for GST registration?
A Non-Resident Taxable Person is required to apply for GST registration at least five working days prior to commencing business in India. This advance window allows the tax authorities to process the application, verify the authorised signatory and documents, and generate the temporary GSTIN before the first taxable supply is made. OIDAR service providers should ideally register before starting to invoice Indian B2C customers. We help foreign clients plan the registration timeline so that no taxable supply is made before the GSTIN is in place.
Is advance tax deposit mandatory for foreign GST registration?
Yes, for Non-Resident Taxable Persons. At the time of applying for registration in Form GST REG-09, the NRTP must deposit an advance amount of tax — equivalent to the estimated GST liability for the period of registration — into the electronic cash ledger. The certificate of registration is issued only after this deposit is made. The amount is later utilised against the tax liability shown in the monthly GSTR-5 return, and any unutilised balance is refundable upon surrender of registration. OIDAR registrants under REG-10 do not pay upfront advance tax in the same manner.
For how long is a foreign GST registration valid?
The certificate of registration granted to a Non-Resident Taxable Person is valid for the period specified in the application or for a maximum of ninety days from the effective date of registration, whichever is earlier. If the foreign business requires additional time, an extension of up to another ninety days can be obtained by filing Form GST REG-11 along with fresh advance tax for the extended period. OIDAR registrations granted under REG-10 continue to remain valid as long as the foreign provider supplies services to India and files monthly returns, until voluntarily surrendered.
Does a foreigner need an Indian PAN to obtain GSTIN?
A Non-Resident Taxable Person is not required to have an Indian PAN in their own name. Instead, NRTPs can quote their tax identification number or unique identification number issued by their home country. However, they are mandatorily required to appoint an authorised signatory based in India who must have a valid Indian PAN. OIDAR service providers likewise appoint an Indian representative with PAN. We assist overseas clients in appointing the correct authorised signatory and executing the necessary power-of-attorney and board resolution.
Which GST returns must a foreigner file after registration?
A Non-Resident Taxable Person is required to file Form GSTR-5 on a monthly basis, containing details of outward supplies, inward supplies, tax paid, and closing stock, within 13 days from the end of the relevant month or within seven days of the expiry of the registration, whichever is earlier. An OIDAR service provider files Form GSTR-5A monthly, disclosing taxable B2C supplies made to Indian recipients and the IGST paid thereon. We take care of the entire return cycle, tax calculation, payment, and compliance tracking for the full period of the foreign registration.
Can a foreigner claim input tax credit on Indian expenses?
The law imposes significant restrictions on input tax credit for Non-Resident Taxable Persons. An NRTP cannot claim ITC on most inward supplies of goods or services, except for input tax on imported goods intended for sale in India. OIDAR providers registered under REG-10 are also generally not allowed ITC. Because of this, a foreigner's tax planning often focuses on pricing the Indian contract to fully recover GST from the Indian customer, accurate advance tax estimation, and minimising timing gaps between payment and registration closure.
How do we close a foreign GST registration and claim a refund?
Once the business purpose is complete — the trade fair is over, the project is finished, or the OIDAR business is being wound down in India — the foreign registration can be surrendered by filing an application in Form GST REG-16 for cancellation. Before cancellation, all pending returns must be filed and tax liabilities cleared. Any unutilised balance in the electronic cash ledger — typically arising from advance tax deposited at the time of NRTP registration — can be claimed as a refund through Form RFD-01. We manage the entire exit process, ensuring clean closure without leaving any open compliance behind.

Supply Into India with Full GST Certainty

Partner with our specialists for end-to-end GST Registration for Foreigners — NRTP REG-09, OIDAR REG-10, authorised signatory, advance tax, and monthly returns — all under one roof.

Talk to an Expert