DIN number in India: how to apply, surrender, and deactivate (2026)

Last updated: April 2026

A DIN number (Director Identification Number) is the 8-digit unique identifier issued by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) to every person appointed as a director of an Indian company. A DIN is mandatory for every director appointment, lasts for a lifetime if kept active, and has to be re-KYC’d every 3 years under the 2026 DIR-3 KYC rules. This guide covers how to apply for a DIN (through SPICe+ or the standalone DIR-3 route), the DIR-3 KYC triennial filing, deactivation and reactivation rules, and how to surrender a DIN using form DIR-5.

If you are forming a new company, getting added as a director to an existing one, or cleaning up an unused DIN, this guide covers the full lifecycle.

What is a DIN number?

A Director Identification Number (DIN) is an 8-digit unique number allotted by the Central Government (via the MCA) under Section 153 of the Companies Act, 2013. The DIN identifies a person as a director across all companies in India – one DIN follows a director through multiple appointments, resignations, and new directorships.

A DIN is mandatory for:

• Every director of a Private Limited Company, Public Limited Company, One Person Company (OPC), or Section 8 Company
• Every designated partner of a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) – the equivalent is called a DPIN (Designated Partner Identification Number), but the MCA system treats both uniformly

No person can be appointed as a director or designated partner without a valid DIN. Sole proprietors, partners in traditional partnerships, and HUF karta do not need a DIN.

How to apply for a DIN

There are two paths to get a DIN, depending on whether you are incorporating a new company or joining an existing one.

Path 1: SPICe+ form (during new company incorporation)

When you incorporate a new Private Limited Company, OPC, LLP, or Section 8 Company through the SPICe+ form on the MCA portal, DINs for all proposed directors are allotted automatically as part of the incorporation process. SPICe+ allows up to 3 DIN allotments in a single application.

You need:

• PAN of each proposed director
• Aadhaar of each proposed director
• A recent passport-size photograph
• Address proof (Aadhaar, passport, voter ID, driving licence, recent utility bill, or bank statement)
• Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) for each proposed director

Once SPICe+ is approved, the DIN appears on the Certificate of Incorporation and is active from day one.

Path 2: standalone DIR-3 application (for existing companies)

If a company already exists and wants to appoint a new director, that director has to file form DIR-3 on the MCA portal before the appointment resolution is filed. The steps are:

1. Obtain a Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) in the name of the applicant
2. Log into the MCA portal and open the DIR-3 form
3. Fill in personal details (name, PAN, Aadhaar, nationality, father’s name, permanent and present address)
4. Upload scanned proofs: photograph, identity proof, address proof
5. The form has to be digitally signed by the applicant and counter-signed by a director of the company where the appointment is being made, a company secretary, chartered accountant, or cost accountant in whole-time practice
6. Pay the government fee (₹500) via MCA portal
7. On approval, the DIN is allotted – typically within 1 to 2 working days

Government fees for a new DIN

• SPICe+ route: DIN allotment is part of the incorporation fee – no separate DIN fee
• Standalone DIR-3 route: ₹500 per applicant

If you use a CA, CS, or cost accountant to certify the DIR-3, their professional fee is separate.

DIR-3 KYC: the triennial filing requirement (2026 rule change)

Every DIN holder has to file form DIR-3 KYC periodically to keep the DIN active. The 2026 amendment has shifted this from an annual requirement to a triennial (once every 3 financial years) filing, due on or before 30 June of the applicable year.

What DIR-3 KYC covers

The unified DIR-3 KYC web form does five things:

1. Triennial KYC compliance (the core requirement)
2. Update mobile number
3. Update email address
4. Update residential address
5. Reactivate a deactivated DIN

How to file DIR-3 KYC

1. Log into the MCA portal using DIN credentials
2. Open the DIR-3 KYC web form
3. Verify pre-populated details; update mobile / email / address if anything has changed
4. Complete OTP verification on the registered mobile and email
5. Affix the DSC (Class 3) of the DIN holder
6. Submit – no fee if filed within the due date

Consequence of missing the DIR-3 KYC due date

If you miss the 30 June deadline of the applicable year, your DIN is automatically deactivated on 1 July. A deactivated DIN blocks the holder from signing any MCA form, filing annual returns, or acting as director in any filing. This can paralyse every company where the holder is a director.

DIN deactivation and reactivation

A DIN can be deactivated because of:

• Missing the DIR-3 KYC due date
• Incorrect or mismatched PAN / Aadhaar details
• Death of the DIN holder (marked as deactivated with reason “Deceased”)
• Court or MCA order in cases of fraud or disqualification

Reactivating a deactivated DIN

If deactivation was due to missed KYC, file the DIR-3 KYC web form and pay a late filing fee of ₹5,000. Reactivation is usually within 24 hours of successful KYC submission. The ₹5,000 applies regardless of how long the DIN has been deactivated.

For deactivations due to disqualification or court orders, the director has to approach MCA with legal documents and relief orders before the DIN can be reactivated.

DIN surrender using form DIR-5

If a person no longer wants to hold a DIN, they can file form DIR-5 to formally surrender it. Reasons to surrender:

• The person is no longer a director anywhere and does not plan to take up a directorship in future
• The person has been allotted multiple or duplicate DINs and wants to surrender the extras
• The DIN was obtained by fraud or false particulars
• The DIN holder has died (filed by a legal heir)

Steps to surrender a DIN via DIR-5

1. Ensure the DIN is not associated with any active directorship – resign from all boards first
2. Log into the MCA portal and open form DIR-5
3. Fill in reasons for surrender and attach supporting documents (e.g., affidavit, death certificate, resignation letters)
4. The form has to be certified by a CA, CS, or cost accountant in whole-time practice
5. Affix the DSC of the applicant
6. Pay the government fee
7. On approval, the DIN is marked “Cancelled” and cannot be used again

Surrender is the only way to stop the recurring DIR-3 KYC obligation on a DIN.

Common mistakes with DIN management

• Forgetting the triennial DIR-3 KYC: the 3-year cycle is easier to forget than an annual one – set a calendar reminder
• Letting mobile or email go stale: OTPs fail, KYC cannot complete, DIN deactivates
• Applying for multiple DINs: one person should only ever have one DIN – duplicates attract surrender and penalty
• Not updating residential address: MCA communicates to the address on record – missed notices can escalate
• Surrendering without resigning first: a DIN cannot be surrendered while it is associated with an active directorship
• Using a personal DSC for MCA filings that requires a DSC registered against the DIN: some filings need the DSC to be paired with the DIN, not just any DSC

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Related reading:

• MCA company verification guide: how to verify a company on MCA portal
• MCA clarification guide: how to respond to MCA queries
• How to close a company in India: complete guide

Frequently asked questions

Can one person have more than one DIN?

No. The Companies Act allows only one DIN per person for the entire lifetime. If multiple DINs have been allotted by mistake, extras have to be surrendered via DIR-5.

Is DIN the same as DPIN for an LLP?

Historically DPIN was a separate identifier for designated partners of LLPs. Since 2011 the MCA has unified the two – any new designated partner of an LLP uses a DIN, and legacy DPINs have been converted. Functionally they are now the same.

How long is a DIN valid?

A DIN is valid for the lifetime of the holder, as long as the triennial DIR-3 KYC is filed on time and the DIN is not deactivated or surrendered.

Can a foreign national get a DIN?

Yes. A foreign national who is a proposed director in an Indian company can apply for a DIN. Documents must be notarised and apostilled in the home country and translated to English where required.

What is the fee to reactivate a deactivated DIN?

₹5,000 is the late filing fee for DIR-3 KYC when the DIN has been deactivated for missed KYC. This applies regardless of the length of deactivation.

Is a DSC mandatory for DIN application?

Yes, a Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate is mandatory for DIR-3 and DIR-3 KYC. For SPICe+ incorporation, the DSCs of all proposed directors are needed.