Register a Company in India from Argentina

By Manu Rao | Updated March 2026

At a Glance

Why Argentine Investors Are Looking at India

Argentina and India share something unexpected: complementary economies with almost zero overlap. Argentina exports soybean oil, sunflower oil, lithium, and LNG. India imports all four in enormous quantities. Between January and July 2025, Argentina shipped 2.1 million tonnes of soybean oil and 420,000 tonnes of sunflower oil to India — the highest export volumes in over a decade.

Total bilateral trade hit $5.23 billion in calendar year 2024, bouncing back after a sharp 39% decline in 2023 caused by Argentina's drought and foreign exchange crisis. India imported $3.79 billion worth of Argentine goods. That makes India Argentina's 5th largest trading partner and export destination.

PM Modi visited Buenos Aires in July 2025, expanding ties in defense, space, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals. That same month, Argentina's YPF had already signed an MOU with ONGC Videsh, GAIL, and OIL for LNG exports and hydrocarbon collaboration. India is also interested in Argentina's lithium — the country sits in the "lithium triangle" alongside Chile and Bolivia, holding reserves that matter for India's electric vehicle push.

Indian companies are already on the ground. TCS, Infosys, Bajaj Motorcycles, and Glenmark Pharma operate in Argentina. The India-Argentina Business Council, launched in October 2020 by the Embassy of India, connects businesses in both countries.

But here is the catch. India and Argentina have no Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement. Only a Tax Information Exchange Agreement exists (signed 2011). That means full domestic withholding rates apply — 20% on everything. We will cover the tax impact in detail below.

Choose Your Entity Type

Your entity structure determines tax liability, compliance load, and how you interact with Indian regulators. Here is the comparison:

A Private Limited Company is the default choice for most Argentine investors. It offers equity flexibility, clean FDI compliance, and a structure that Indian banks and regulators understand well.

Since there is no DTAA, the entity structure choice also matters for tax planning. Structuring the investment through a jurisdiction that does have a DTAA with India could reduce withholding rates — but that requires careful legal advice to avoid anti-avoidance provisions under Indian law.

FDI Route and Sector Rules

India allows 100% FDI through the automatic route in most sectors. No government approval needed. Manufacturing, IT, healthcare, e-commerce (marketplace model), and food processing all qualify.

Government approval is required for defence above 74%, media and broadcasting, multi-brand retail, and select others listed under DPIIT's Consolidated FDI Policy.

Prohibited sectors remain off-limits regardless of nationality: atomic energy, lottery, gambling and betting, chit funds, Nidhi companies, trading in transferable development rights, and real estate business (not construction development).

Press Note 3 of 2020 does not apply to Argentina. That restriction targets countries sharing a land border with India. Argentine investors have automatic route access.

Where do Argentine businesses fit in India? The key areas are edible oil supply chain infrastructure, mining and mineral processing (lithium, cobalt), LNG and energy, agriculture technology, and pharmaceutical manufacturing. India's MERCOSUR PTA (signed 2004, effective 2009) provides limited tariff preferences on about 450 tariff lines from each side — a narrow window but worth checking for your specific products.

Step-by-Step Registration Process

Document Checklist and Authentication

• Passport copy (all pages, notarized by Argentine escribano)
• Address proof (utility bill or bank statement, less than 2 months old, notarized)
• Passport-size photographs
• Bank reference letter or last 6 months' bank statements
• Board resolution or authorization letter (in Spanish with certified English translation)
• MOA and AOA (drafted and notarized)
• Director declarations (INC-9)
• Proof of registered office in India (lease agreement or utility bill)

All documents from Argentina need apostille from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a provincial Notary Body. Argentina's online apostille system makes this relatively straightforward. Budget 1-5 working days.

Documents in Spanish must have certified English translations. MCA does not accept filings in any language other than English.

No DTAA: What This Means for Your Tax Bill

India and Argentina have no Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement. This is the single most important tax fact for Argentine investors. Here is what you actually pay:

Without a DTAA, surcharge and cess push the effective rate above 20%. For a non-resident company, the effective rate on royalties and FTS can be approximately 21.84% (20% plus applicable surcharge and 4% health and education cess).

A Tax Information Exchange Agreement (TIEA) has been in force since January 2013. But a TIEA only facilitates exchange of tax information between the two governments — it does not reduce withholding rates.

Both countries have discussed expediting a DTAA (mentioned in a February 2019 joint statement). But as of March 2026, no agreement has been signed. Argentine investors need to plan around the current 20% reality.

Realistic Timeline: 6-8 Weeks

Here is the honest breakdown:

• DSC + DIN: 1-3 days
• Name reservation: 1-4 working days
• Document preparation + apostille in Argentina: 1-2 weeks (including certified English translation)
• SPICe+ filing to Certificate: 5-15 working days
• Bank account opening: 2-4 weeks (enhanced KYC for foreign-owned companies)
• GST registration: 1-3 weeks

Total: 6-8 weeks. Budget 10 weeks with a safety margin. Argentina is UTC-3, India is UTC+5:30. That 8.5-hour gap means almost zero overlap during standard business hours. Plan for asynchronous communication.

Post-Registration Compliance Calendar

Your annual obligations after incorporation:

• Within 30 days of share allotment: File FC-GPR with RBI through your Authorized Dealer bank. Mandatory under FEMA.
• Board meetings: Minimum 4 per year. Not more than 120 days between consecutive meetings.
• AGM: By September 30 each year.
• AOC-4: File within 30 days of AGM.
• MGT-7: File within 60 days of AGM.
• Statutory audit: Mandatory every year for all foreign-owned companies.
• Income tax return: Due by October 31 (companies requiring audit).
• GST returns: Monthly GSTR-3B and GSTR-1 if registered.
• Transfer pricing: If your Indian subsidiary transacts with the Argentine parent, maintain documentation under Section 92D of the Income Tax Act. Without a DTAA, transfer pricing becomes even more critical — the tax authority has less treaty framework to anchor assessments against.

Bank Account Opening: 2-4 Weeks

Opening a current account for a foreign-owned Indian company takes 2-4 weeks. Enhanced KYC applies. You need FATCA/CRS declarations, Authorized Dealer bank verification, and potentially a physical visit by one director.

One practical concern: Argentina's capital controls (cepo cambiario). While the Milei government has been easing these restrictions, Argentine investors should confirm with the Banco Central de la Republica Argentina (BCRA) that outward remittance for the investment is cleared before initiating the India process. You do not want to incorporate an Indian company and then find you cannot fund it.

Profit Repatriation

Methods: dividends, royalties, management fees, share buyback. The process runs as follows: TDS deduction at domestic rates (20% plus surcharge and cess — no DTAA to reduce this), Form 16A issuance, CA certificate in Form 15CB, Form 15CA filing on the Income Tax portal, then wire through the Authorized Dealer bank.

No DTAA means no reduced rates on any outward payment. This makes profit repatriation from India to Argentina among the most tax-costly paths for any foreign investor in India. Structure your remittance strategy carefully.

Dividend Distribution Tax was abolished in April 2020. Argentine shareholders pay tax on dividends at the full domestic non-resident rate.

Exit Strategy

Two options if the venture does not work out.

Strike-off under Section 248 of the Companies Act, 2013: For dormant companies with no assets or liabilities. Inactive for two preceding financial years. Application to the Registrar of Companies.

Voluntary liquidation under Section 59 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016: For active companies. Special resolution, insolvency professional, 6-12 months.

Neither is quick. But you should know the exit before you commit to the entry.

How Beacon Filing Helps

We handle the complete India entry process for investors based in Argentina. From initial structuring through post-incorporation compliance, here is what we cover:

• Foreign Direct Investment advisory — route selection, sector analysis, RBI compliance, and FC-GPR filing
• Resident Director services — appointment of a qualified Indian resident director who meets the 120-day requirement
• Company setup and incorporation — SPICe+ filing, DSC, DIN, name reservation, and Certificate of Incorporation
• Tax and DTAA advisory — treaty benefit structuring, transfer pricing documentation, and annual compliance
• Accounting and statutory audit — bookkeeping, financial statements, ROC filings, and GST returns

Related Country Guides

Setting up from a different country? These guides cover similar territory:

• Register a Company in India from Brazil
• Register a Company in India from Chile
• Register a Company in India from United States of America

Get in Touch

Setting up an Indian company from Argentina? Talk to us. No commitment, no generic sales pitch. We will walk you through the structure, timeline, and costs specific to your situation.

WhatsApp: +91 874 501 3644 | Email: hello@beaconfiling.com