HomeNotificationForeign Lawyers To Pay In Dollars To Get Registered In India: BCI

Foreign Lawyers To Pay In Dollars To Get Registered In India: BCI

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has notified the detailed fee schedule governing the registration, renewal, and Fly-In Fly-Out (FIFO) declarations for foreign lawyers and law firms seeking to practice or consult within India. 

Registration Fees

Foreign legal professionals and entities must pay substantial fees to begin practice in India. Individual foreign lawyers are required to pay USD 15,000 or an equivalent amount from their primary jurisdiction, whichever is higher. For foreign law firms—whether partnerships, LLPs, or corporations—the registration fee is USD 25,000 or the equivalent higher local amount.

In cases where multiple jurisdictions are involved, additional fees apply:

  • USD 5,000 per jurisdiction for individual lawyers.
  • USD 10,000 per jurisdiction for firms.

Renewal Every Five Years

Renewal is required every five years, with fees set at:

  • USD 8,000 for individual lawyers.
  • USD 15,000 for firms.

Extra charges for multi-jurisdiction practice remain consistent, at USD 2,000 and USD 5,000 respectively.

Fly-In Fly-Out Declarations

For lawyers visiting India temporarily, a Fly-In Fly-Out declaration must be filed:

  • USD 3,000 per declaration for individuals.
  • USD 6,000 for firms.

Read More: Unregistered Agreement To Sell Admissible As Evidence To Prove Contract In Specific Performance Suit: Supreme Court

Additional jurisdictions attract USD 1,000 and USD 2,000 respectively. Renewal of these declarations costs half the initial fee.

Security Deposits

To ensure compliance, refundable security deposits are mandatory:

  • USD 10,000 for individuals and USD 30,000 for firms.
  • For multiple jurisdictions: USD 2,500 (individuals) and USD 5,000 (firms).
  • FIFO-specific security: USD 5,000 for individuals and USD 10,000 for firms.

Non-Refundable Process Charges

Every application—be it for registration, renewal, or FIFO—must include a non-refundable processing fee:

  • USD 2,000 for individuals.
  • USD 5,000 for firms.
  • Additional charges apply for multiple jurisdictions.

Guiding Principles

The schedule emphasizes parity and fairness, allowing revisions in line with international standards and reciprocal treatment for Indian lawyers abroad. The BCI retains the right to amend fees to reflect global and local economic conditions or legal reciprocity.

Amit Sharma
Amit Sharma
Amit Sharma is the Content Editor at JurisHour. He has been writing about the Indian legal market. He has covered tax & company litigation stories from the Supreme Court, High Courts and Various Tribunals. Amit graduated from MLSU Law College with B.A.LL.B. and also holds an LL.M. from MLSU, Udaipur, Rajasthan. An Advocate in Taxation, and practised in Tribunals as well as Rajasthan High Court and pursued Masters in Constitutional Law. He started out small with little resources but a big plan to take tax legal education to the remotest locations across India and eventually to the world. His vision is to make tax related legal developments accessible to the masses.
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