Form DIR-3: Complete Guide to Application for Allotment of Director Identification Number (DIN)
Form DIR-3 is the web form filed for application for allotment of Director Identification Number (DIN) before appointment as a director in an existing company or as a designated partner in an existing LLP. It is governed by Section 153 of the Companies Act, 2013, Rule 9(1) of the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Rules, 2014, and Rule 10 of the Limited Liability Partnership Rules, 2009.
Who files DIR-3? Any individual who does not already have a DIN and intends to be appointed as a director in an existing company, or as a designated partner in an existing LLP, must apply for a DIN through webform DIR-3.
Note: DIN allotment for a new incorporation is done through SPICe+, not DIR-3. DIR-3 is used only where the individual is being appointed to an existing company or LLP.
Who Should File DIR-3
- Any individual not having a DIN who intends to be appointed as a director in an existing company
- Any individual not having a DIN who intends to be appointed as a designated partner in an existing LLP
Important Checkpoints Before Filing
- Applicant must be registered as a business/registered user on the MCA portal
- The company/LLP in which appointment is proposed must have a valid and approved CIN/LLPIN
- Signatories must have an approved DIN or valid PAN/Membership number, as applicable
- DSC must be valid, non-expired, and non-revoked
- DSC of the signatory must be registered on the MCA portal against the DIN/PAN/Membership number provided
- The applicant must not be a potential duplicate DIN/DPIN applicant, and no DIN/DPIN should already be allotted to the applicant
- ID proof numbers (PAN/Voter’s ID/Passport/Driving Licence/Aadhaar/mobile/email) should not already be associated with an existing approved/under-processing DIN or a pending SPICe+/DIR-6/FiLLiP application
- Applicant’s name in the webform must match the name on the DSC affixed
- Affix the applicant’s DSC first, followed by the DSC of the authorised signatory
- Single name is allowed in applicant/father’s name only if the same single name exists in the Income-tax PAN database
Step-by-Step Filing Process
Initial Submission
Option 1: Via MCA Services Menu
- Access MCA homepage and log in with valid credentials
- Select MCA Services → E-Filing → Company Forms Download
- Navigate to “DIN related filings”
- Access “Application for allotment of Director Identification Number before appointment in an existing company or LLP (Form No. DIR-3)”
- Fill up the application
- Optionally save as draft (enabled after entering applicant name)
- Submit the webform
- Note the SRN generated
- Affix DSC — applicant’s DSC first, then authorised signatory’s DSC
- Upload the DSC-affixed PDF on MCA portal
- Pay Fees (within 15 days of SRN generation for upload, and 7 days of upload for payment, or due date + 2 days, whichever is earlier — else SRN is cancelled)
- Receive acknowledgement with provisional/approved DIN details
- On processing, an approval order or rejection intimation is emailed to the registered user
Option 2: Via MCA Search Bar
Search “DIR-3” on the MCA homepage and proceed from filling the application as above.
Resubmission
- Login → Application History → select DIR-3 application marked ‘Resubmission Required’
- Fill, submit, affix DSC (applicant’s first), and upload within 15 days of resubmission marking
- Alternatively, use the link in the resubmission notification email to complete the same steps
Field-Level Instructions
Field 4: Applicant’s Name
- Either first name or last name is mandatory; single alphabet not allowed except for foreign nationals
- Verified against PAN if PAN is provided
Field 10: Date of Birth
- Must be entered manually if DigiLocker is not used
- Difference between date of birth and system date must be ≥ 18 years
Field 12: Income-tax PAN
- Mandatory if applicant is a citizen of India
- Must be a valid 10-character alphanumeric PAN, not already linked to any existing DIN
- “Verify income-tax PAN” must be clicked; PAN attachment is mandatory once PAN is entered
Fields 14–17: Identity Documents
- Aadhaar mandatory if ‘Yes’ selected for “Do you have Aadhaar”
- If no Aadhaar, one of Voter’s ID / Passport / Driving Licence must be provided
- Passport is mandatory for foreign nationals
Field 21: Present Residential Address
- Auto-populated from permanent address if same; else entered manually
Signatory Details
- Webform must be digitally signed by a Director/Manager/Company Secretary/CEO/CFO of the company (or authorised representative for LLP)
- Director: enter approved DIN; Manager/CEO/CFO: DIN or valid PAN; Company Secretary: valid membership number
- CIN (or LLPIN for designated partners) of the entity in which appointment is proposed must be entered
Mandatory Attachments
| Attachment | Mandatory? |
|---|---|
| Proof of residence of applicant | Mandatory |
| Photograph (passport size, JPG, < 1 MB) | Mandatory |
| Income-tax PAN attachment | Mandatory if PAN entered |
| Aadhaar / Voter ID / Passport / Driving Licence attachment | Mandatory for whichever ID is provided |
| Optional attachments (up to 5) | Optional |
- Format: PDF or JPG; each attachment up to 2 MB; total up to 10 MB
Signing Requirements
- Applicant must digitally sign the webform first
- Authorised signatory of the company/LLP (Director/Manager/CS/CEO/CFO) signs next, using their approved DIN, valid PAN, or membership number as applicable
- Certification: all checkboxes must be selected
Fee Structure
| Application | Fee (Other than OPC & Small Company) | Fee (OPC & Small Company) |
|---|---|---|
| Allotment of DIN under Section 153 | ₹500 | ₹500 |
No additional/delay fee is applicable for DIR-3.
Processing Mode
| Condition | Processing Mode |
|---|---|
| No potential duplicate DIN identified | STP mode — taken on record electronically without further processing. No resubmission possible. |
| Potential duplicate DIN identified | Non-STP mode — reviewed manually |
Useful Links
Common Rejection Codes
| # | Reason for Rejection |
|---|---|
| 1 | Proof of identity not attested by the applicant |
| 2 | Proof of residential address not attested by the applicant |
| 3 | Identity proof not issued by any government authority |
| 4 | Enclosed evidence has handwritten entries |
| 5 | Date of birth does not match the proof attached |
| 6 | Applicant’s name does not match the proof attached |
| 7 | Address does not match the address proof attached |
| 8 | Father’s name does not match the proof attached |
| 9 | Identification number does not match the identity proof enclosed |
| 10 | Gender not entered correctly |
| 11–12 | Proof of identity/address not attached |
| 13–14 | Passport (or apostilled passport) not enclosed for foreign nationals |
| 15 | Supporting documents not valid, current, or expired |
| 17 | Duplicate DIN application — an approved DIN already exists in this name |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Who needs to file Form DIR-3? Any individual without a DIN who is being appointed as a director in an existing company, or a designated partner in an existing LLP.
Q2. Is DIR-3 required for a director being appointed at the time of incorporation? No. DIN for first directors/subscribers at incorporation is applied for through SPICe+ Part B, not DIR-3.
Q3. What is the fee for DIR-3? A flat fee of ₹500, with no additional/delay fee, since DIN allotment has no statutory time limit trigger.
Q4. Can DIR-3 be resubmitted if marked for resubmission? Yes, provided the resubmission is completed within 15 days of the “Resubmission Required” marking.
Q5. Whose DSC is required on DIR-3? Both the applicant’s own DSC (affixed first) and the DSC of an authorised signatory (Director/Manager/CS/CEO/CFO) of the company or LLP.
Q6. What happens if a potential duplicate DIN is detected? The form moves to Non-STP mode for manual review by the department instead of automatic STP processing.
Disclaimer
This article is based on the official Instruction Kit published by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Government of India. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the content is intended for general guidance purposes only. MCA forms, rules, and fee structures are subject to change through amendments to the Companies Act, 2013 or notifications issued thereunder.
In case of any inconsistency or doubt, readers are advised to refer to the official MCA helpkit and resources available on MCA website.