How to Apply for DIN (Director Identification Number)?

The rules made by the Central Government are called the Companies (Director Identification Number) Rules, 2006. These are appointed on the 1st day of November, 2006 as the date on which the provisions of these rules came into force.

According to Section 165(1) of the Companies Act, 2013, a person can hold the office directorship of 20 companies simultaneously. But it should not be more than 20 companies at a given time. So, to obtain a Director Identification Number, the applicant has to follow the guidelines. In the article, a process to get a DIN is shared for different cases.

What is the Director's Identification Number?

The unique DIN number is provided by the central government to individuals who intend to be the Director of a company. It is an 8-digit identification number that is unique for every individual. 

The number is valid for lifelong, so you don’t need to renew it every year. However, a system of DIN is implemented to maintain the data of Director-related information within a database. If you want to check the DIN number of existing Directors then check the Registrationwala Company Search page, and choose the option “Director by DIN” from the dropdown. Search the name and click on the options that appear to check the status of the number.

Eligibility Criteria to Obtain DIN Number

Below are the points of eligibility criteria to obtain the DIN number: 

• Applicant must be older than 18 years.
• Have a valid PAN card.
• An applicant should not be declared as a person of unsound mind by a court of law. 
• The applicant should not declared as an undischarged insolvent.
• Lastly, an applicant must not have been convicted of an offence that results in imprisonment for two years or more.

Forms Required for DIN Application and Modification

The following forms are required to obtain DIN and modify it:

1. SPICe Form: Application for allotment of DINs to the proposed first Directors in respect of new companies shall be made in SPICe form only.
2. DIR-3 Form: Any person intending to become a director in an existing company shall have to make an application in eForm DIR-3 for allotment of DIN.
3. DIR-6 Form: Any changes in the particulars of the directors shall be filed in form DIR-6.

1. Filing SPICe Form

Any person who does not have a Director Identification Number (DIN) and proposed to become a first director. He/she needs to apply through eForm SPICe to get the number. Along with the application, the proof of identity and address must be attached. So, the DIN will be allocated to the user only after the approval of the form.

2. DIR-3 Form

Anyone intending to become a director in an existing company must apply for DIN through eForm DIR-3 and follow the procedure outlined below:

• Supporting Documents

Attach the proof of identity and proof of residence according to the guidelines. There is no need to submit the physical documents at the DIN cell.

• Digital Signature

The application must signed by the applicant and verified by the Company Secretary in the full-time employment of the company. Or it can be verified by the Managing Director, Director, CEO, or CFO of the existing company in which the applicant is intended to be appointed as a director.

• Fee Payment

After uploading the application, pay the filing fee. Only the electronic payment mode of fees is acceptable (Net banking/ Credit Card/ Debit Card/ Pay later/ NeFT). Also, the user is required to register on the MCA21 portal to get a Login ID. So, after login, upload the eForm. Once the form is processed, only after the DIN application fee is paid.

• Generation of DIN

Upon successful payment, the details will be checked and if the status of the details shows that the details are not identified as potential duplicates, then the approved DIN will be generated. But if the details have been identified as potential duplicates, then Provisional DIN will be generated.

• Verification of e-Form

If the details of eForm DIR-3 are found potential duplicates, then the same gets routed to the DIN cell for back-office processing. Upon successful approval of the form, provisional DIN becomes approved DIN and will be available for further use.

DIR-6 Form

In case there is a change in the form submitted to DIR-3/SPICe with respect to Directors. However, an applicant can submit an e-form DIR-6 for changes. For instance, to change the address of a director, he/she is required to intimate the changes by submitting the e-form DIR-6 along with the required attested documents.

What are the Reasons for Rejection of the Application?

The provisional DIN is approved only after scrutiny of the documents attached to the application. Below are some of the mistakes that applicants make and because of that the DIN application got rejected. If you did not submit the supporting documents such as: 

• Proof of identity of the applicant
• Father's name 
• Date of birth 
• Residential address 
• Copy of the passport (for foreign nationals)

When the Application and Supporting Documents are Invalid?

The following are the reasons when the application or the supporting documents become invalid for getting the approval of DIN:

• Documents are expired.
• Proof of identity is not issued by a Government Agency.
• Application/enclosed evidence has handwritten entries.
• Application is a duplicate DIN application and already one application of that applicant is pending or approved.
• Does not have a photograph affixed.
• Signatures are not appended to the prescribed place.
• Name filled in the application form does not match the name in the enclosed evidence.
• Father's name filled in application form does not match with the father's name in the enclosed evidence.
• Applicant's date (DD/MM/YY) of birth filled in the application form does not match the date of birth in the enclosed evidence.
• Address details filled in the application do not match those contained in the enclosed supporting evidence.
• Gender is not entered correctly in Form DIR-3.
• Identification number entered in application does not match the identity proof enclosed.
• If enclosed documents are not self-attested.

Conclusion

The DIN is a must to have to show the transparency, authenticity, and accountability of the business. However, the DIN system helps in preventing fraud, tracking the director’s activities and maintaining a database. Directors must follow the process diligently and fill in all the updated details. Reach out to Registrationwala to get assistance in the application process of DIN registration, we assist you with documentation to finally obtain the DIN number.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Q) Why my DIN is not approved?

A) If the application filed for DIN has some incorrect information or potential duplicate information, then the system will show an error message. This is the reason behind the non-approval of your DIN application.

Q) What is the DIN number used for?

A) To confirm the identity of the Director and prevent fraud, the DIN system was implemented.

Q) Can I surrender my DIN number?

A) Yes, an individual can surrender his/her DIN number by following the right process of surrendering the DIN. 

Q) Is DIN mandatory under GST?

A) The DIN is a mandatory requirement for all communications with the taxpayer. If the communication is done without the number, then it holds no validity.

Q) What is the validity of DIN?

A)  The DIN is valid for a lifetime, so you don’t need to renew this every time. An individual cannot hold more than one DIN at any point in time.

Author: Dushyant Sharma

Hey there, I'm Dushyant Sharma. With the extensive knowledge I've gained in past 8 years, I have been creating content on various subjects such as banking, insurance, telecom, and all the important registration and licensing processes for various companies. I'm here to help everyone with my expertise in these areas through my articles.