It is an unique Identification Number allotted to an individual who is an existing director of a company or intends to be appointed as director of a company pursuant to section 153 & 154 of the Companies Act, 2013.
In respect of a new company an application for allotment of DIN shall be made only through SPICe e-form at the time of its incorporation.

Any person intending to become a director in an existing company shall file form DIR-3 and the same gets processed by Central Government (Office of Regional Director (Northern Region), Ministry of Corporate Affairs). Further, person who is appointed as a director upon filing form SPICe (INC-32) will be issued a DIN by the approving authority (Central Registration Centre).

Any person intending to become a director in a new Company is required to apply for the allotment of Director Identification Number only through SPICe e-form at the time of incorporation while Any person intending to become a director in an existing company shall have to make an application in e-Form DIR-3 for allotment of DIN and should follow the following procedure:
1. Attach the photograph and scanned copy of supporting documents i.e. attested proof of identity and attested proof of residence as prescribed.
2. Physical documents are not required to be submitted to the DIN cell.
3. Form DIR-3 is mandatorily to be signed by the Applicant and which shall be verified digitally by a Company Secretary in full time employment of the company or by the Managing Director or Director or CEO or CFO of an existing company in which the applicant is intended to be appointed as a director.
4. Upon upload, make the payment of filing fee of e-Form DIR-3. Only electronic payment of the fees shall be allowed (i.e. Net banking / Credit Card/Debit Card/Pay later/ NeFT). E-Form DIR-3 will be processed only once the DIN application fee is paid.
5. After successful payment, an approved DIN shall be generated in case the details of the e-Form have not been identified as potential duplicate. Provisional DIN shall be generated in case the details of the e-form have been found as potential duplicate. A suitable informational message will be given to the user in this regard in the receipt.
6. Verification of e-Form: In case, details of e-Form DIR-3 are found as potential duplicate, the same gets routed to DIN cell for back office processing. Upon approval of the form, provisional DIN becomes approved DIN and would be available for further use.

The e-Form DIR-6 is required to be digitally signed by an Applicant and a Chartered Accountant or a Company Secretary or a Cost Accountant in whole- time practice.

Please note that Income Tax PAN is mandatory in case of Indian applicants so the applicant details (name, father’s name, date of birth) should be as per the PAN details. The particulars filled in form DIR-3 should match with the details given in the supporting documents to be submitted along with DIN application. Any mis-match will lead to rejection of DIN application.

Yes, DIN application fee of Rs. 500/- is payable.

Status of the payment made for Form DIR-3 can be enquired from ‘Track Payment Status’ link on the homepage of www.mca.gov.in.

– High resolution photograph of the applicant to be affixed within the e-Form
– PAN is mandatory in case of Indian national. So attested copy of PAN is mandatory for identity, name, father’s name and date of birth. Proof of father’s name is not required in the case of foreign nationals
– Attested copy of passport is mandatory as an identity proof in the case of foreign nationals.
– Duly attested present Address proof (not older than 2 months)

Please ensure the following before attaching supporting documents with DIN application:
– Documents submitted are currently valid and not expired.
– Documents issued by LIC may be enclosed as Date of Birth and Address proof.
– Voter’s identity card, Passport, Driving License, Unique Identification Number (UIN) as Address proof.
– Bank Statements, Utility Bills like telephone, mobile, electricity bill etc. furnished as residence proof are in the applicant’s name only and not older than two months.
– All supporting documents attached with form DIR-3 shall be either self-attested by the applicant or duly attested by either Public Notary or a Gazette Officer of a Government or attested by Company secretary in full time employment/ CEO / CFO/ Managing director of the Indian company in which he / she is proposed to be a director.
– In case the director is illiterate, thumb impression should be certified from the concerned revenue authority (where the applicant resides) and then all the documents should be notarized or attested OR if applicant is not in a position to sign the application due to medical reasons and affixed thumb impression on the application then duly attested medical certificate from Government hospital is must with the application stating the reason of his / her ailment.

Details of a valid passport should be filled in form DIR-3 and a certified copy of same should be attached with DIN application. All supporting documents including photograph should be certified by the Indian Embassy or a notary in the home country of the applicant. If a foreign director has a valid multiple-entry Indian visa or Person of Indian Origin card or Overseas Citizen of India card, then the attestation could also be done by Public Notary / Gazetted Officer in India.

A provisional DIN is approved only after scrutiny of the documents attached with the application. Some of the common mistakes committed by applicants and on account of which the DIN application gets rejected are as under-

Non-submission of supporting documents
– The proof of identity of the applicant is not submitted.
– The proof of father’s name of the applicant is not submitted.
– The proof of date of birth of the applicant is not submitted.
– The proof of residential address of the applicant is not submitted.
– The copy of passport (for foreign nationals) is not submitted

Invalid Application/supporting Documents
– The supporting documents are invalid or expired.
– The proof of identity submitted has not been issued by a Government Agency.
– The application/enclosed evidence has handwritten entries.
– The submitted application is a duplicate DIN application and already one application of that applicant is pending or approved.
– The submitted application does not have photograph affixed.
– The signatures are not appended to the prescribed place.
– The applicant’s name filled in application form does not match with the name in the enclosed evidence.
– The applicant’s father’s name filled in application form does not match with the father’s name in the enclosed evidence.
– The applicant’s date (DD/MM/YY) of birth filled in application form does not match with the date of birth in the enclosed evidence.
– The address details filled in the application do not match with those contained in the enclosed supporting evidence.
– The gender is not entered correctly in Form DIR-3.
– Identification number entered in application does not match with the identity proof enclosed.
– If enclosed documents are not self attested.

Yes, you will have to apply for a fresh DIN.

No. If the DIN application is put under Resubmission for example due to following reasons, you can submit additional documents for rectifying your DIN application, within a period of 15 days from the date on which it is marked as Resubmission:
– Proof of Identity/ residence is not enclosed or expired.
– Proof of Date of Birth is not enclosed.
– Supporting documents are not properly attested.
– Non-submission of affidavit (if required).
Note – On resubmitting with the additional documents, same DIN will be approved, if documents are found in correct order as per marked in resubmission.

Director is required to download and fill up eForm DIR-6 for such changes and follow the same common process for uploading the form as mentioned above for eForm DIR-3. The requested change is taken into consideration on verification of the proof enclosed with the application form. In case of change in the applicant’s name, gazette notification is must with form DIR-6. Married women, who are having Id proof with their maiden name, can submit marriage certificate along with application.

Income tax PAN is mandatory for Indian nationals however the same is optional for foreign nationals. If Income tax PAN is entered, it shall be mandatory to click on ‘Verify income-tax PAN’ button. Applicant’s name (first, middle and last name), applicant father’s name (first, middle and last name) and date of birth should be as per the income-tax PAN details.

Filing of DIN application shall not be allowed if the details entered in the form are not as per the Income tax database.