Extension of FCRA Registration Certificate Validity

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has announced the extension of the validity period of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) registration certificates. FCRA registration is mandatory for associations and NGOs to receive foreign funds. The Public Notice No. No. II/21022/23(22)/2020-FCRA-III dated 30th September 2021 says the deadline for NGOs certificates or registration expiring between September 29, 2020, to December 31, 2021, could apply for renewal till December 31, 2021. The current article briefs the extension so provided. Know more about Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2020

FCRA Registration Certificate

NGOs, Societies, Section 8 Company that receives foreign contribution or donation from foreign sources are required to obtain FCRA registration certificate under Section 6(1) of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010. Registered NGOs can receive foreign contributions for five purposes — social, educational, religious, economic, and cultural. The FCRA registration is renewed every five years. Know more about the FCRA Registration – Eligibility & Application Procedure

Earlier Extension

The Ministry MHA earlier provided a relief up to September 30, 2021, to NGOs whose FCRA registration was expiring between 29.09.2020 and 30.09.2021
As mentioned above, The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has further extended the deadline till December 31^st, 2021 for NGOs to apply for renewal of their Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) registration certificates.

Reason for Extension of FCRA certificate validity

Earlier, the prevailing COVID 19 situation was the cause for granting the extension of the validity period of the FCRA registration certificate. Now, the extension is granted due to an amendment in section 16(1) of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010. Ministry announced that this has been done to ensure a smooth transition to the amended legal regime and, in the public interest, the government has decided that the FCRA registration certificates which are expiring during the period between 29th September 2020 and 31st December 2021 and which await renewal shall remain valid up to 31st December 2021.

Important announcement to NGOs

Ministry also announced that those NGOs who have applied for renewal of registration where the registration has expired on 30.09.2021 but did not receive the renewal certificate, shall now be eligible to receive and utilize the foreign funds till 31.12.2021.

Renewal of FCRA Registration

As per Section 16 of FCRA, 2010 every person who has been granted a certificate of registration under Section 12 thereof shall have such certificate renewed within six months of the expiry of the period of the certificate. Associations that desire to renew their registration certificate shall apply online only in Form FC-3C within 6 months of the expiry of their existing registration certificate. After successful payment of fees only, the application is deemed to have been completed. If the association does not apply for renewal of registration, the existing registration under FCRA, 2010, will cease from the date of completion of the period of five years from the date of grant of registration and will not be eligible for receipt & utilization of foreign contribution. In such a case, the association has to apply afresh for a grant of registration

Fee for FCRA Certificate Renewal

For FCRA registration certificate renewal, the association is required to pay a fee of Rs.5000,

Documents Required

The following documents are to be uploaded for renewal of registration.

Registration certificate of the association
Memorandum of Association/ Trust Deed
FCRA Registration Certificate of association issued by Ministry of Home Affairs

Note: Darpan id, the signature of the Chief Functionary, the seal of the association are also mandatory for the renewal.

Application Procedure for Renewal of FCRA Registration

The application procedure to apply for the renewal of FCRA registration is listed as follows: Access the official website of the Ministry of home affairs, the following screen will be displayed.

Extension of the validity period of the FCRA registration certificate - MHA Homepage By clicking on FCRA online forms link from the homepage, the following screen will be displayed. Click on FC-3 Application for Renewal of FCRA Registration.

Extension of the validity period of the FCRA registration certificate - Forms From the new page, click on the ‘Click to apply online’ button to proceed further. The user needs to provide the user id and password to log in to the portal.

Extension of the validity period of the FCRA registration certificate - MHA Login After login, a new page will be displayed. Select FCRA Renewal and click on the Click here to Apply Online button.

Extension of the validity period of the FCRA registration certificate - MHA Login2 After reading all Instructions Click on Continue Fresh/Partial Completed Application to proceed further. The application form for FCRA renewal will be displayed. Provide the following details in the Association Details form:

Association Name and Address
Details of registration
Main aim and objective of the association

Extension of the validity period of the FCRA registration certificate - Applicant Details Forms The executive committee form will be displayed to provide all the information and a pop-up window will be displayed to add related foreign details.

Extension of the validity period of the FCRA registration certificate - Executive Forms On the next page furnish the EC detail and others and click on the Save button to proceed further with the application.

Extension of the validity period of the FCRA registration certificate - EC Details Forms After Clicking on the Utilization Accounts menu tab, the following screen will be displayed.

Extension of the validity period of the FCRA registration certificate - Utilization Accounts Forms Once the details are furnished in the application form, upload all the documents. After the final submission of the application form, online payment will be enabled. Click on the payment button to make payment after selecting of payment gateway.

Extension of the validity period of the FCRA registration certificate - Payment On successful verification of documents and application, the FCRA Registration Certificate will be renewed.