DIN
What DIN means, where you will meet it and what it means for your business.
DefinitionA Director Identification Number (DIN) is the permanent 8-digit number every director of an Indian company must hold, allotted by the MCA and used in all company filings.
No one can be appointed a director without a DIN. For a new company, up to three directors get their DINs allotted through the SPICe+ form itself, so no separate application is needed. An existing person joining a board later applies through Form DIR-3 with identity and address proof, signed with a DSC. A DIN is issued once for life and stays the same across every company you direct. What it means for you: keep it active. Each DIN holder must complete DIR-3 KYC by 30 September every year, or the DIN is deactivated and a ₹5,000 fee applies to restore it. A deactivated DIN blocks every filing that needs your signature, including AOC-4 and MGT-7A, so the penalty compounds quickly.