A company, being an artificial entity, managed and administered by its officers called the directors of the company. According to the provision under the Companies Act, 2013, a Director is appointed to the Board of a company. The Directors are the chief of a company. They are the highest authority administered by the managerial and other affairs of the company. They are jointly recognized as the Board of Directors (BOD) of a company under Section 2 (10) of the Companies Act, 2013. The Board of Directors supervises the management activities of the company and also protects the long-term interests of the shareholders of the company.
The company's law in India does not prevent foreign nationals to become directors in Indian companies. A foreigner or a non-resident Indian can become an executive or a non-executive or independent director of Indian public or private companies. Following are the pertinent laws related to a foreign national as a director in an Indian company :
Under Indian Companies Act, 2013, six types of Directors are employed in a company. These are independent director, women director, additional director, small shareholders director, alternative and nominee director. The Act does not restrict a foreign national to be appointed as any of the above-stated directors in Indian Companies by following the Companies Act, 2013 along with the Companies Rules, 2014 that deals with appointment and qualifications of directors.
Following are the conditions that are to be satisfied by an individual including a foreign national to be a Director of a company under the Act :
Every individual including a foreign national shall be provided with a Director Identification Number (DIN) before appointing as a director
Every person including a foreign national to be employed as a Director shall give his DIN and shall declare that he is not disqualified from becoming a Director under this Act
The individual including a foreign national appointed as a Director shall not act as a Director unless he offers his written consent to act as director in Form DIR-2. This consent must be filed with the Registrar within 30 days of his appointment.
An applicant including a foreign national shall create an application for getting DIN in electronic Form DIR-3 to the Central Government along with prescribed fees of Rs. 500 as given in Companies Rules, 2014. The Central Government will offer an electronic system to ease submission of the application for giving Director Identification Number through the portal on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs website.
The Form DIR-3 must be downloaded from the portal. It has to be filled and signed by the applicant using his/her own Digital Signature Certificate and has to be submitted electronically. Following are the documents needs to be attached to the application :
Proof of identity
Photograph
Copy of Resolution about proposal for appointing Director including Foreign National/ NRI
Evidence of residence
If foreign national is applying for DIN to become a director in an Indian company, then the details of a valid passport should be filled in Form DIR-3 and a certified copy of same should be produced with DIN application.
All supporting documents with photograph should be certified by the Indian Embassy or a notary in the home country of the applicant or by the CEO or Managing Director or Company Secretary of the company incorporated in India, in which applicant is a director.
The DIN so acquired by the applicant shall be applicable till the lifetime of the applicant.
An independent director of a company denotes such a director who is not a promoter nor associated to the promoter of the company. He doesn't have any financial relationship nor related to any individual having financial relationship with the company, whether it is holding or subsidiary or associate company. Neither he nor his relative holds a chief managerial personnel or any employee in the company.
A foreign national can be an independent Director of a company if he has skills, knowledge and experience in one or more fields of finance, management, law, marketing, sales, research, administration, technical operations, corporate governance or other disciplines connected with company's business.
A foreign national, wants to become a full-time or managing director, should be a resident of India who has been living in India constantly not less than twelve months, immediately before the date of his appointment. He should not be less than 21 years of age or not more than 70 years of age.
According to Companies Act and FEMA, there are no restrictions for a foreign national to become a director in an Indian Company. He is appropriate for remuneration, sitting fees, travel expenses and commission just like any other director.
A foreign national as a director in an Indian company can have and retain a foreign currency account with a bank outside India and obtain or take the whole salary payable to him for his services. If foreign nationals are incorporated by Indian companies, the Indian companies must file an application for payment of remuneration to authorized dealers with a statement and undertaking certificate about payment of Income Tax. A foreign national want to become a director in an Indian company must retain a legitimate employment visa.
Any income earned in India subjects to Income Tax. In the same way, where a foreign national earns as a director of an Indian company is subjected to income tax under Income Tax, 1961. The necessary TDS shall be deducted from their remuneration or commission under the provisions of Income Tax Act.
Step 1 – Foreign National / NRI are required to get Digital Signatures.
Step 2 - Then it is needed to acquire Director Identification Number (DIN) in Form DIR- 3 in which details of a valid passport must be filled and a certified copy of same shall be attached. All supporting documents with photograph must be certified by the Indian Embassy or a notary in the home country of the applicant or by the Managing Director / Company Secretary / CEO of the company registered in India, in which applicant is a director.
If a foreign director has a valid multiple entry Indian visa or Overseas Citizen of India card or Person of Indian Origin card, then the attestation can also be done by Public Notary / Gazetted Officer in India or a practicing company secretary /chartered accountant / cost accountant
Documents needed :
Passport Size Photograph
ID Proof (Copy of Passport or, National ID where he is a National and that attested by,
Consulate / Indian Embassy / High Commission / Person of Indian Origin (PIO)/ Apostille or
A foreign nation of Indian Origin can file POI allotted by Government of India
Copy of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card issued by GOI)
Address Proof (Copy of Passport, Other National ID attested by Consulate / Indian Embassy / High Commission /Apostille or
Bank account statement in country of residence, duly attested by High Commission / Indian Embassy / Consulate / Apostille in the country where applicant is placed or
Person of Indian Origin (PIO) issued by Government of India or
NRE bank account statement or
Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card issued by GOI)
The Form DIR-3 must be digitally verified by :
A company secretary (in whole-time practice) / a chartered accountant (in whole-time practice) or a cost accountant in practice; or
A company secretary in full-time employment with the company or managing director or director of the company in which the applicant is to be appointed as director.
Step3 - Now as DIN is obtained the company will file Form DIR-12 for the appointment of Director along with following documents :
DIR-2 (Consent to operate as Director of the Company)
DIR-8 (Intimation by Director regarding his interest in other entities and Disqualification under section 164 of the Companies Act, 2013)
Letter of Appointment form the company
Resolution passed by the Company about his/her appointment
Passport is compulsory for foreign nationals. Foreign nationals shall select the nationality as mentioned in the passport.
All the forms must be filed under the Companies Act are filed through MCA website through the digital signature. In view of this, the foreign director is needed to have one digital signature.
