Complete your Director KYC (DIR3 KYC) today to stay compliant and avoid penalties. Update your details quickly, ensure smooth company operations, and maintain your active director status. Don’t delay—file your DIR3 KYC now and keep your records accurate and secure.
Annual Deadline
Penalties
Online Process
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Director’s KYC Filing is an annual activity and applies to every person who was allotted a DIN (Director Identification Number) on or before 31st March 2026. The purpose of filing the DIR-3 KYC form to the ROC is to keep the records of the ROC updated with the correct address, mobile and email address of the directors/designated partners. It is a mandatory filing, and if filed within the due date of 30th September 2025, there is no government fee. The DIN Numbers for which the KYC is not filed within its due date get deactivated, and the same can be activated after the filing of DIR-3 KYC with late filing fees of Rs. 5000 for each defaulting director or the designated partner.
If you hold a Director Identification Number (DIN) in India, there is one annual compliance you absolutely cannot ignore — the DIR-3 KYC. Mandated by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) under Rule 12A of the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Rules, 2014, DIR-3 KYC is essentially the government’s way of verifying that every active director’s personal information on record is accurate, current, and authentic.
Why does this matter? Failing to file DIR-3 KYC can result in your DIN being deactivated, which means you legally cannot act as a director of any company until the KYC is completed and the DIN is reactivated — with a late fee.
The MCA introduced this requirement in 2018 to clean up the director database — weeding out shell companies, dormant directorships, and fraudulent registrations. Since then, DIR-3 KYC has become a cornerstone of corporate compliance in India. Whether you are a director of a private limited company, a public company, a One Person Company (OPC), or any other registered entity, this filing applies to you.
The DIR-3 KYC requirement applies broadly. Here is a clear breakdown of who needs to file
✅ Mandatory for
⚠️ Does NOT apply to
A common misconception is that directors of companies that are struck off or dormant do not need to file. This is incorrect. As long as your DIN status shows “Approved,” the KYC requirement applies regardless of the company’s operational status. Even if the company has been wound up or struck off, the DIN remains active and the director must complete the KYC filing annually.
Another frequently asked question is about NRI and foreign national directors. Yes, they are also required to file DIR-3 KYC if they hold an Indian DIN. The process is slightly different for them in terms of document attestation, which we cover in the documents section below.
The MCA offers two modes of filing DIR-3 KYC, and choosing the right one depends on your situation. Many directors are confused about which form to use, so let us clarify this once and for all.
Full form. Required when you are filing for the first time OR when you need to update any personal details such as mobile number, email, address, or name.
Simplified web-based form. Applicable only if your details have NOT changed since the last filing and you just need to confirm existing information.
The DIR-3 KYC eForm is a full digital form that must be filed on the MCA21 V3 portal. It requires the digital signature of the director (Class 2 or Class 3 DSC), attestation by a practising professional (Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary, or Cost Accountant), and supporting documents.
You must use this form if:
The DIR-3 KYC Web is a simplified, faster version introduced by the MCA to reduce the compliance burden on directors whose details remain unchanged. It does not require uploading documents or a professional’s attestation. However, it still requires OTP-based verification of your registered mobile number and email address, as well as login via your MCA credentials.
Key rule: You can use DIR-3 KYC Web only if you have successfully filed DIR-3 KYC eForm at least once before, AND no personal details have changed. First-time filers must always use the full eForm.
To complete your Director KYC (DIR3 KYC), you will need:
The annual deadline for DIR-3 KYC filing is 30th September of every year, for DINs allotted up to 31st March of the same financial year.
📅 Key Dates at a Glance
The MCA has, in past years, occasionally extended this deadline. However, relying on an extension is risky — extensions are not guaranteed and are announced at the MCA’s discretion. Our strong advice: file well before 30 September, ideally by mid-August, to avoid last-minute server rush on the MCA portal.
For newly appointed directors: If you received your DIN in the current financial year (after 1 April 2026), your first DIR-3 KYC due date will be 30 September 2027.
Non-compliance comes with serious and immediate consequences. Unlike many other MCA filings where penalties accrue over time, DIR-3 KYC non-filing results in instant deactivation of your DIN.
| Scenario | Consequence | Fee to Restore |
|---|---|---|
Filed on time (by 30 Sept) | DIN remains active | ₹0 |
Filed after 30 Sept (same FY) | DIN temporarily deactivated; restored on filing | ₹5,000 |
Non-filing for multiple years | DIN remains deactivated; penalty per missed year applies | ₹5,000/year |
Acting as director with deactivated DIN | Violation of Companies Act — potential prosecution | Legal liability |
As per Rule 12A of the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Rules, 2014, the MCA is empowered to deactivate any DIN where the KYC has not been completed by the due date. The deactivation happens automatically — no individual notice is sent to directors.
⚠️ Practical Impact of a Deactivated DIN
If you have missed the deadline and your DIN has been marked as “Deactivated due to non-filing of DIR-3 KYC,” do not panic. The process to reactivate is straightforward, though it requires payment of the late fee.
Note: During the deactivated period, you are legally prohibited from acting in the capacity of a director. Any actions taken as a director during this period could be questioned legally. Act quickly to file and restore your DIN.
Yes, DIR-3 KYC is an annual compliance. Every year, before 30 September, all eligible DIN holders must either file the eForm or complete the web-based verification. There is no provision for a one-time permanent KYC.
The form must be filed using the director’s own MCA login credentials for DIR-3 KYC Web. For the eForm, a CA or CS can assist with the preparation and attach their DSC for certification — but the director’s own DSC is still required. The director cannot fully delegate this filing to someone else since OTP verification goes to the director’s personal mobile and email.
Yes. The DIR-3 KYC obligation is tied to the individual’s DIN, not the company’s status. Even if every company you were associated with has been struck off, dissolved, or closed, you must still file DIR-3 KYC annually as long as your DIN is in “Approved” status. To be exempt, you must formally surrender your DIN through the MCA surrender process.
Aadhaar-based OTP verification is required for Indian nationals. If you genuinely do not have an Aadhaar, you must first obtain one from UIDAI before filing DIR-3 KYC. For NRI directors who have returned and do not have an Aadhaar, the process involves using passport-based verification. Consult a practising CS or CA for your specific situation.
Typically, DIN reactivation happens within 24 to 48 hours after the successful submission of the DIR-3 KYC eForm with the late fee. You can check the DIN status on the MCA portal at any time under the “Find DIN/DPIN” service.
DIN (Director Identification Number) is issued to directors of companies. DPIN (Designated Partner Identification Number) is issued to designated partners of LLPs. However, for KYC purposes, if your DIN has been used as DPIN or vice versa after MCA integration, the DIR-3 KYC requirement applies uniformly to both. Most DPINs now function as DINs under the unified system.
You must update one director’s contact details to use unique mobile and email. Each DIN in the system must be linked to a unique mobile number and a unique email address. Before filing, update the details of one of the directors through the eForm process to avoid rejection.
No. DIR-3 KYC filed on or before 30 September carries zero government fee. The ₹5,000 fee is a late filing fee that applies only after the deadline. This makes timely compliance especially important — it is completely free if done on time.
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