The NGOs cannot take foreign contribution directly. For this purpose, they should be registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act 1976, commonly known as the FCRA.
There can be two types of contribution from the foreign source, i.e. one time or expected more than once and even regularly. For anyone time contribution the NGOs can receive the amount by seeking prior permission of the FCRA Section of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India; whereas for multiple and regular contributions of the foreign source, it is advisable to seek permanent registration from the said Ministry.
For this purpose an application is to be made by the NGO, which should be in working for at least three years after its due registration, to the Secretary to the Government of India, ministry of Home Affairs, 26 Mansingh Road, New Delhi – 110003 in the prescribed Form FC-8 along with the desired enclosures (Certificate of Registration, Memorandum and Rules or the Trust Deed or any other proof of registration, audited financial statement and activity report of the least three years, and if possible letter of the prospective donor.
