DIN and DSC for Directors: How to Get Them, What They Cost and the DIR-3 KYC Rule (2026)
- A DSC is your electronic signature (Class 3, 2–3 year validity, ₹800–1,500); a DIN is a permanent 8-digit director number — you need the first to apply for the second.
- New companies get up to three DINs free inside SPICe+; an existing company adds a director through DIR-3 (₹500) and DIR-12.
- Every DIN holder must file DIR-3 KYC by 30 September each year; a deactivated DIN costs ₹5,000 to revive and blocks all filings.
Every person who wants to be a director of an Indian company needs two things before their name can go on the incorporation form: a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) to sign electronically, and a Director Identification Number (DIN) that identifies them permanently across all companies. Both are simple to obtain but come with rules that trip people up later — expired certificates that stall a filing on the due date, DINs deactivated for a missed annual KYC, and the disqualification that follows a company's three-year filing default. This guide covers what each is, how to get it in 2026, the costs, and the maintenance obligations that come with a DIN.
Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)
- What it is: a cryptographic certificate issued by a Certifying Authority licensed by the Controller of Certifying Authorities (eMudhra, Sify, Capricorn, NSDL/Protean, Pantasign and others). It is stored on a USB token and used to sign MCA, income-tax, GST and tender documents.
- Class: only Class 3 certificates are issued now; the earlier Class 2 was discontinued in 2021. A “signature” certificate is enough for MCA and tax filings; an “encryption” certificate is needed only for some tenders.
- Validity: 1, 2 or 3 years. Two years is the usual choice.
- Cost: ₹800–1,500 including the token for a two-year individual certificate; organisation-type certificates cost more.
- Process: PAN- and Aadhaar-based e-KYC with a short video recording; the certificate is downloaded to the token the same day. Foreign nationals use passport-based verification with apostilled documents.
- Registration on MCA: the DSC must be associated with the director's DIN or PAN on the MCA V3 portal (“Associate DSC”) before it can sign forms.
If you need certificates for several directors quickly, the DSC Services page on KyaTax handles the e-KYC and token issue for individuals and foreign directors.
Director Identification Number (DIN)
A DIN is an eight-digit number allotted by the Central Government under section 154 of the Companies Act, 2013. One person gets one DIN for life, valid for every company they ever join. There are two routes:
| Route | When | Form | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside incorporation | Proposed directors of a new company (up to three without DIN) | SPICe+ Part B | Nil |
| Existing company adds a director | Person without DIN joining an existing company | DIR-3, digitally signed by the applicant and certified by a practising professional, with a board resolution proposing the appointment | ₹500 |
| Designated partner of an LLP | Up to two inside FiLLiP; otherwise DIR-3 | FiLLiP / DIR-3 | Nil / ₹500 |
Documents for DIR-3: photograph, PAN (mandatory for Indian nationals), Aadhaar or passport, a current address proof not older than two months, and the applicant's DSC. Allotment is usually same-day to three days once the form is approved. DIR-3 cannot be filed by an individual on their own — a company must propose the appointment.
DIR-3 KYC: the annual obligation every DIN holder has
Every person holding a DIN on 31 March must complete KYC by 30 September of the same year, whether or not they are currently a director anywhere.
- First time, or after any change in details: e-form DIR-3 KYC with DSC and professional certification.
- Subsequent years with no change: web-based DIR-3 KYC using OTPs on the registered mobile and email — no fee, five minutes.
- Missed the date: the DIN is marked “deactivated due to non-filing of DIR-3 KYC”. Reactivation requires filing the KYC with a fee of ₹5,000. Until then the person cannot sign any MCA form, and every company where they are a director is stuck.
Worked example: the cost of one missed September
A company has two directors. One forgets DIR-3 KYC; the DIN is deactivated on 1 October. In November the company needs to file its AOC-4 and MGT-7, both of which need a director's signature.
- Reactivation fee: ₹5,000.
- If the other director's DSC has also expired (very common), the annual filings slip past their due dates: additional fee of ₹100 per day per form. A 30-day delay on two forms = ₹6,000.
- Total avoidable cost ≈ ₹11,000, plus the risk that a lender or investor sees the company's filing status as “default” in the interim.
A calendar reminder in early September and a DSC-expiry log costs nothing.
Disqualification and DIN surrender
- Under section 164(2), a director of a company that has not filed financial statements or annual returns for three consecutive years is disqualified for five years from every company — even a dormant company you forgot about can disqualify you from your main business.
- A DIN can be surrendered in DIR-5 if it was never used and the person has no directorships, for example when a duplicate DIN was obtained by mistake (holding two DINs is an offence).
- Changes in name, address or contact details are updated through DIR-6; keeping the email and mobile current matters because MCA notices go there.
Common mistakes
- Applying for a second DIN because the first one was forgotten. Search “Verify DIN” on MCA first; duplicates must be surrendered and can attract penalties.
- Buying a DSC without PAN linkage. Income-tax and MCA both validate the PAN embedded in the certificate; a mismatch fails at signing.
- Letting the DSC expire in September or October — peak filing season. Renew in July.
- Skipping DIR-3 KYC because “I resigned”. The obligation attaches to the DIN, not the directorship.
- Using one director's DSC to sign for another. That is forgery, not convenience; MCA V3 logs every signature against the DIN.
Do it yourself in minutes — free to try, no login needed.
Open DSC Services →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between DIN and DSC?
A DSC is a digital signature certificate on a USB token used to sign electronic forms; a DIN is a permanent 8-digit identification number allotted to a director by MCA. You need a DSC to apply for a DIN and to sign every company filing.
How do I get a DIN if I am joining an existing company?
The company passes a board resolution proposing your appointment and files DIR-3 with your photograph, PAN, address proof and DSC, certified by a practising professional. The fee is ₹500 and allotment usually takes one to three days.
What happens if I miss DIR-3 KYC on 30 September?
Your DIN is deactivated. You must file DIR-3 KYC with a ₹5,000 fee to reactivate it, and until then you cannot sign any MCA form for any company.
Can I hold two DINs?
No. Holding more than one DIN is an offence. If a duplicate was allotted by mistake, surrender the unused one in Form DIR-5.
General information for FY 2026-27, not professional advice for your specific case. Rules change — verify against the latest notification or ask a KyaTax expert.
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