Procedure for Director Identification Number (DIN)
1. Director Identification Number – Application
As per Sections 153 and 154 of the Companies Act, 2013 (India),
every individual intending to be appointed as a Director of a company must apply for a
Director Identification Number (DIN) to the Central Government.
The following persons are required to obtain DIN:
- Any individual who intends to be appointed as a Director of a company
- Any individual who is already as a Director (if he/she has not been allotted DIN previously)
Any individual who has applied for a DIN can be appointed as the Director of an Enterprise, or can
continue to hold until a DIN has been allotted to them.
A person cannot be appointed as a Director unless he/she has a DIN.
2. Allotment of Director Identification Number
According to Section 154, the Central Government shall allot a DIN to an applicant upon application.
Procedure for Allotment:
- Application is filed electronically in Form DIR-3 on the MCA portal
- DIN can also be taken at the time of incorporation in SPICe + (INC-32) for upto 3 directors
- Approval of DIN is usually within 1-2 days
3. Intimation of DIN to the Company
After obtaining DIN:
- The director is required to intimate the company about the DIN
- At the time of appointment, the company files Form DIR-12 with the Registrar of
Companies (ROC)
4. Important Features of DIN
- DIN is required for all Company Directors
- Only one DIN is required per individual, irrespective of number of directorships
- DIN is valid for lifetime
- DIN is required for all MCA filings
- KYC (DIR-3 KYC) is required to be filed annually to keep DIN active
- DIN is required for foreign nationals who are Directors of Indian companies
- DIN may be deactivated in case of non-compliance (e.g., failure to file KYC)
Documents required for DIN application:
• Proof of Identity (PAN mandatory for Indian citizens)
• Address proof (Passport, Voter ID, Driving License, Utility Bill, Bank Statement, etc.)
5. Prerequisites before Appointment of Director
Before appointing an individual as Director, the following must be ensured:
• Ensure that the person has a DIN
• If not, then apply for DIN in DIR-3 or SPICe+
• Obtain consent to act as Director in Form DIR-2
• Submit Form DIR-12 to ROC within 30 days of appointment
Additional compliances:
• Enter particulars in Register of Directors and Key Managerial Personnel
• Record shareholding details in relevant registers
• Obtain disclosure of interest in Form MBP-1 (as per Section 184)
• Ensure compliance with provisions relating to related party transactions
Conclusion
DIN is a mandatory unique identification number for all Directors under the Companies Act, 2013, and
the process is now fully online, faster, and standardized compared to earlier provisions.