DIN registration happens in one of three ways: through the SPICe+ incorporation form for up to three proposed directors of a new company, through FiLLiP for up to five designated partners of a new LLP, or through Form DIR-3 for anyone joining an existing company or LLP. The government fee for a DIR-3 application is ₹500, and the Companies Act gives the Central Government one month to allot the number.
When the Companies Act requires a DIN
No one can be appointed a director of a company without a Director Identification Number, under section 152(3) of the Companies Act 2013. Anyone proposed for appointment must also give the company their DIN and a declaration that they are not disqualified (section 152(4)).
Three more rules shape every application:
- One person, one DIN. Section 155 bars anyone from applying for, obtaining or holding a second number, so a person whose old DIN is deactivated should reactivate it, not apply again.
- For life. Rule 10(6) of the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Rules 2014 makes the DIN valid for the holder's lifetime, and it is never given to anyone else.
- LLPs use the same number. An individual joining an existing LLP applies in Form DIR-3, and the DIN is enough for appointment as a designated partner under rule 10(1) of the LLP Rules 2009.
DIN through SPICe+, FiLLiP or DIR-3: which route applies?
The route depends on whether the company or LLP already exists. New entities get DINs inside their incorporation form; existing ones use DIR-3, which an officer of that company or LLP certifies.
| Situation | Form | Limit or condition |
|---|---|---|
| Directors of a company being incorporated | SPICe+ (INC-32) | DINs for a maximum of three proposed directors (rule 9(1) proviso) |
| Designated partners of an LLP being incorporated | FiLLiP | Applications by no more than five individuals (LLP Rules, rule 11(1), as amended in 2022) |
| A new director of an existing company | DIR-3 | Certified by a director, company secretary, manager, CEO or CFO of that company |
| A new designated partner of an existing LLP | DIR-3 | Certified by a designated partner of that LLP |
If a new company wants more than three first directors without DINs, the others generally join after incorporation, through DIR-3. Ofin's private limited company registration covers the SPICe+ route, and add directors covers appointments to an existing board.
Documents and details Form DIR-3 asks for
Form DIR-3, as notified in January 2023, asks for a photograph, identity numbers and proof of residence, and lets you fetch some details from DigiLocker. PAN is mandatory for Indian nationals, a passport is mandatory for foreign nationals, and each document attachment is capped at 2 MB.
- Photograph: a recent passport-size photograph.
- Identity: PAN, with your name and details exactly as on the PAN record; Aadhaar if you have one; and, where you hold them, voter ID, passport and driving licence numbers, each with an attachment slot.
- Personal details: father's name (the form says married women must also give it), nationality, residential status, occupation, educational qualification, date of birth and gender.
- Addresses: permanent and present residential address, each with the police station that has jurisdiction.
- Contact details: mobile number with country code, and email.
- Proof of residence: a mandatory attachment.
- Digital signature: the applicant signs DIR-3 with his or her own DSC. If you need one, Ofin arranges a digital signature certificate.
How to apply for a DIN in Form DIR-3, step by step
The applicant fills and signs the form, an officer of the company or LLP certifies it, and the Central Government decides within a month. Rule 10 sets the sequence.
- Get a DSC for the applicant and collect the documents above.
- Fill DIR-3 on the MCA portal, fetching from DigiLocker where you can, and attach the scans.
- Sign it with the applicant's DSC.
- Have it certified with the DSC of a director, CS, manager, CEO, CFO or designated partner of the company or LLP that intends to appoint the applicant.
- Pay the fee online. The system then generates an application number (rule 10(1)).
- If the application is defective, MCA places the defect on its website and emails the applicant, who has 15 days to resubmit (rule 10(3)).
- On approval, the DIN is communicated to the applicant (rule 10(2)).
DIN registration fees and the official timeline
The government fee for a DIN application is ₹500 under the fee table of the Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules 2014. Section 154 gives the Central Government one month from receipt to allot the DIN, and rule 10(2) repeats that limit.
| Cost item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Government fee for DIR-3 | ₹500 |
| Ofin's DIN registration fee | From ₹1,499 |
| Digital signature for the applicant, if needed | From ₹1,999 |
The fee is lost if the application fails. Under rule 10(4), when an application is rejected or treated as invalid, the fee is neither refunded nor adjusted against a new one. Checking the documents before filing is cheaper than paying twice.
Can an NRI or foreign national get a DIN?
Yes. A foreign national or NRI applies in the same DIR-3, with the passport number mandatory for foreign nationals. For an applicant living outside India, the person certifying the form verifies the particulars from documents attested by the prescribed attesting authority.
Two further rules apply to boards with overseas members:
- Land-border countries: since 1 June 2022, a national of a country that shares a land border with India must attach security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs, or the system will not generate an application number (rule 10(1) proviso).
- Resident director: every company needs at least one director who stays in India for a total of 182 days or more in the financial year, counted proportionately in a new company's first year (section 149(3)), so a board made up only of overseas directors does not comply.
Why DIN applications get sent back or rejected
The usual causes come straight from the form and the rules: mismatched details, the wrong certifier or a second application. Each is avoidable with a careful check before filing.
- PAN mismatch: the form expects details as per PAN. If PAN is wrong, the form tells applicants to correct PAN first.
- Wrong certifier: the certification on DIR-3 comes from a director, CS, manager, CEO, CFO or designated partner of the company or LLP making the appointment, who enters its CIN or LLPIN.
- Existing DIN: the applicant declares that no DIN has already been allotted. Anyone with an old or deactivated number should use that one.
- Missing clearance: for nationals of land-border countries, no application number is generated without the MHA clearance.
- Partial fixes: if a resubmission fixes only some defects, the application can be rejected and a fresh one required (rule 10(3) proviso).
After allotment: DIR-12, KYC and surrender
A DIN on its own does not make anyone a director. The company still files the director's consent and Form DIR-12 with the Registrar within 30 days of the appointment (section 152(5), rule 8 and section 170(2)), and the holder joins the DIR-3 KYC cycle.
For the first KYC, MCA's illustrations put a DIN allotted during 2025-26 at April to June 2029. For a DIN allotted during 2026-27, the DIR-3 KYC due date tool estimates 30 June 2030 on the same pattern. A change of mobile, email or address has to be reported within 30 days. If the appointment never happens and the DIN is never used for any filing, the holder can surrender it in Form DIR-5 under rule 11(1)(f).
How Ofin handles DIN registration
Ofin's CAs and CSs prepare and file DIR-3 on the MCA portal, arrange the certification and follow up with MCA until allotment, with packages that add a Class 3 digital signature and first-year KYC support. Everything is 100% online, with a reply within 24 hours. The fee starts at ₹1,499. Check an existing number first with the DIN lookup, then get a fixed-price proposal.
