29/05/2026
GIFT City is now a ready-made hub for ship leasing — and the updated IFSCA framework (May 20, 2026) makes that clear. You should know the difference between the two lease tracks, the fee and capital requirements, and the crucial domestic round-trip restriction before you plan structure or registration.
Key takeaways:
• Part I (Operating Lease): lower capital (USD 200k), flexible permissible activities.
• Part II (Financial Lease): higher prudential standards and USD 3M minimum owned fund.
• Fees: application USD 1,000; registration USD 12,500; annual fees differ by track.
• Critical: O.1 restriction limits domestic round-trips — but new ship purchases from Indian shipyards are exempt.
• All registrations and filings flow through SWITs (https://swit.ifsca.gov.in) and must be denominated in USD.
If you’re an NRI investor, fund manager, shipping group, or advisor considering GIFT City for ship finance, get expert help to model structures, meet compliance, and claim first-mover advantage.
Book a 1:1 call to explore GIFT City — we help you set up, register, and scale ship leasing operations with clear, practical advice. Follow for simplified GIFT insights.
Why GIFT City IFSC Is Becoming Asia's Ship Leasing HubWhen IFSCA notified 'ship lease' as a financial product under the IFSCA Act 2019 in January 2022, it was a quiet but consequential decision. It positioned GIFT City International Financial Services Centre as a credible alternative to established....