FCRA for Churches in India: The Complete Donation Guide (2026)

"Receiving money from abroad without FCRA registration is not a grey area — it is a criminal offence under Indian law. Get registered before the first dollar lands."

FCRA — the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act — governs how non-profits, associations, and churches in India receive money from foreign sources. Many Indian churches receive support from diaspora members abroad, partner churches overseas, or international mission organisations without realising they may need FCRA registration to do so legally.

This guide explains what FCRA is, whether your church needs it, how to get registered, and how to set up an FCRA-compliant giving page on your website.

1. What Is FCRA and Why Does It Apply to Churches?

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 (amended in 2020) regulates the acceptance and utilisation of foreign contributions by persons, associations, and companies in India. "Foreign contribution" includes:

• Money received from a foreign citizen
• Money received from a foreign organisation or company
• Money received from an OCI cardholder (Overseas Citizen of India) — treated as a foreign source
• PayPal or bank transfers from abroad, even from Indian nationals with foreign bank accounts in many cases

Churches are specifically covered under FCRA because they qualify as "associations" with a definite cultural, social, or religious programme. Any church that receives money from any of the above sources must be FCRA-registered.

2. Does Your Church Need FCRA Registration?

Ask yourself these questions:

• Do you have members working in the Gulf (UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia) who send money to the church?
• Do you receive support from partner churches in the US, UK, Australia, or South Korea?
• Do you have diaspora members in the US or UK who contribute to the church?
• Do you receive funds from international mission organisations or foundations?

If you answered yes to any of these, you need FCRA registration before you can legally receive those funds.

3. FCRA Registration: The Two Routes

Route 1: Prior Permission (Faster, One-Time)

If you need to receive a specific foreign contribution for a specific project, you can apply for Prior Permission. This is granted for a particular purpose and a specific amount from a specific donor. Approval typically takes 90–120 days.

Route 2: Regular Registration (Recommended for Churches)

Regular FCRA registration allows your church to receive foreign contributions from any source for any permissible purpose on an ongoing basis. This is the right route for churches with regular diaspora or partner church support.

Eligibility requirements for Regular Registration:

• The association must be registered under a relevant Act (Societies Registration Act, Indian Trusts Act, or Section 8 Companies Act)
• Must have been in existence for at least 3 years before applying
• Must have spent at least ₹15 lakh on activities in the previous 3 financial years
• Must have a clean track record — no criminal cases, no prior FCRA violations

4. How to Apply for FCRA Registration

1. Obtain DARPAN ID: Register your association on the NGO Darpan portal (ngodarapan.nic.in). This is mandatory before applying for FCRA.
2. Open an FCRA bank account: As of 2020, all FCRA funds must be received in a specific FCRA-designated account at the State Bank of India's New Delhi Main Branch (NDMB). Open this account before applying.
3. File Form FC-3A: Submit the FCRA registration application online at fcraonline.nic.in. Attach all required documents.
4. Pay the fee: ₹10,000 for regular registration (as of 2026).
5. Wait for processing: FCRA registration typically takes 6–12 months. The MHA may conduct a field inquiry during this period.

Key Documents Required

• Registration certificate of the association (Trust deed / Society certificate)
• PAN card of the association
• Audited financial statements for the past 3 years
• Activity report for the past 3 years
• Details of office bearers (Aadhaar, PAN, passport)
• DARPAN ID
• SBI NDMB FCRA account details

5. Annual FCRA Compliance Requirements

FCRA registration is not a one-time task. Registered churches must comply annually:

• Annual Return (FC-4): File every year before December 31 for the previous financial year (April to March).
• Renewal: FCRA registration must be renewed every 5 years.
• Separate accounts: Foreign funds must be kept in the designated FCRA bank account and cannot be mixed with domestic funds.
• Utilisation restrictions: FCRA funds can only be used for the stated purpose. Administrative expenses are capped.
• Sub-granting: Transferring FCRA funds to another organisation requires that organisation to also be FCRA-registered.

6. FCRA-Compliant Website Giving Pages

If your church is FCRA-registered and accepts foreign donations through your website, your giving page must include specific disclosures. ChurchStacks builds FCRA-compliant giving pages as part of our Growth and Digital Ministry packages:

• Clear notice that foreign contributions are accepted only in the FCRA-designated SBI account
• Separate giving forms for domestic (Razorpay/UPI) and international (PayPal/Stripe) donors
• Automatic receipt generation with the church's FCRA registration number
• Donor information collection as required for FCRA annual reporting