An Ancillary Service Provider, or ASP, is the registration used by professional and support firms that serve the IFSC ecosystem rather than carrying financial risk themselves.
What it is, in simple words
If your business advises, audits, administers or supports financial institutions, the ASP route lets you operate from GIFT City as a services unit rather than a licensed financial entity.
Who typically registers one
- Law firms and company secretarial practices
- Accounting, audit, tax and valuation firms
- Fund administrators, trusteeship and management consulting firms
- Technology, data and other permitted support providers
What an ASP can do
Provide the permitted professional and support services listed in the IFSCA framework to IFSC units and, where allowed, to offshore clients — legal, accounting, audit, tax, administration, consulting and similar work.
Why firms choose GIFT City
- Proximity to the funds, banks, insurers and leasing platforms they serve
- Foreign-currency billing for offshore clients
- A lighter registration path than a financial licence
- SEZ operating benefits and a concessional tax framework for IFSC units
Broad requirements at a glance
- A company, LLP or branch registered as a unit in the GIFT SEZ
- Registration under the IFSCA (Ancillary Services) Framework, with SEZ approvals under the SEZ Act, 2005 and SEZ Rules, 2006
- Qualified professionals and adequate infrastructure for the services offered
- Services restricted to permitted categories and client types
Questions people usually ask
Is it a financial licence? No. It is a services registration, so prudential capital norms do not apply the way they do to banks or funds.
Can an ASP serve domestic Indian clients? The framework is built around IFSC and offshore clients; domestic work generally stays with the firm’s onshore entity.
Can a small practice qualify? Yes, provided the professional qualifications and office requirements are met.
Where to go next
Run our eligibility and fit check, read the detailed ancillary services guide, or browse registered providers in the entity directory.
