A Director Identification Number (DIN) is a unique 8-digit identification number issued by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to anyone who wants to become a director of a company in India. No person can be appointed as a director of any company without a valid and active DIN. It is essentially the PAN card of a company director — permanent, linked to the individual not the company, and required for all MCA filings.
Step-by-Step Process
Step 1 — How to get a DIN through SPICe+ (free)
The easiest and free way to get a DIN is through the SPICe+ incorporation form when you are incorporating a new company. DIN is allotted as part of the incorporation process at no separate cost. You fill in your personal details (PAN, Aadhaar, address) in the SPICe+ form and the DIN is auto-allotted when the company is incorporated. Documents required: PAN card, Aadhaar card or passport for address proof, passport-size photograph, and a personal mobile number linked to Aadhaar for OTP verification.
Step 2 — Annual Director KYC (DIR-3 KYC)
Every person holding a DIN must complete Director KYC annually by filing Form DIR-3 KYC or DIR-3 KYC Web on the MCA V3 portal before September 30 each year. This is mandatory regardless of whether the director is actively working in any company. If you miss the September 30 deadline, your DIN is deactivated by MCA — you cannot be appointed as director of any company, and this affects all companies you are associated with. Filing after the deadline costs 5,000 as a penalty.
Step 3 — How to reactivate a deactivated DIN
If your DIN has been deactivated due to non-filing of DIR-3 KYC, reactivate it by filing the full DIR-3 KYC form (not the web version) along with a fee of 5,000. The reactivation happens within 1–2 working days of filing. Documents required: PAN card, Aadhaar, passport-size photograph, and a current address proof. Once reactivated, the DIN remains valid until the next September 30 deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions answered by our legal experts
1Can a foreign national get a DIN in India?
2How many DINs can a person have?
3Is DIN required to be a partner in an LLP?
4What is Form DIR-3 KYC vs DIR-3 KYC Web?
5Can a director be associated with multiple companies?
6What happens to my DIN if I resign from all companies?
7How do I check if someone DIN is active or deactivated?
8What are the consequences for a company if a director DIN is deactivated?
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