DIR-3 KYC is the annual director KYC filing introduced by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs in 2018 to clean up the DIN database — at one point estimated to contain over 5 lakh inactive or fictitious DINs. It is one of the simplest filings to complete but one of the most consequential to miss: non-filing deactivates the DIN, blocking the director from signing any company document until reactivation. This guide explains what DIR-3 KYC is, who must file, due date, OTP-based verification, fees, consequences of non-filing, and reactivation.
What DIR-3 KYC is
DIR-3 KYC is filed under Rule 12A of the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Rules, 2014. It requires every individual who holds a Director Identification Number (DIN) to verify their personal details with the MCA annually. The filing confirms that the DIN-holder is still active, contactable, and the details on record (mobile, email, address) are current.
There are two variants:
- DIR-3 KYC (Form) — full form, mandatory the first time after the DIN was allotted, or whenever the director's details have changed since the last KYC
- DIR-3 KYC Web — web-based filing using the existing details on record, for directors whose information hasn't changed
Who must file?
Every individual who has been allotted a DIN (also called DPIN — Designated Partner Identification Number — for LLPs) as on 31 March of a financial year must file DIR-3 KYC for that year, regardless of whether the DIN is being used or not. This includes:
- Directors of active private and public limited companies
- Designated partners of LLPs
- Directors of OPCs
- Holders of dormant DINs (those not currently on any board)
- Resident and non-resident DIN holders alike
A DIN holder serving on multiple boards files only ONE DIR-3 KYC — the DIN, not the directorship, is the unit of filing.
Due date — 30 September
DIR-3 KYC is due by 30 September of the financial year following the year in which the individual held DIN as on 31 March. So for the FY 2025-26 (DIN holding as on 31 March 2026), the filing is due by 30 September 2026.
For first-time filers (newly allotted DIN during the year), DIR-3 KYC is due within 6 months of the end of the financial year in which the DIN was allotted — which is also 30 September.
OTP-based verification
The DIR-3 KYC form (full form variant) uses two-factor verification:
- Mobile OTP — sent to the director's registered Indian mobile number
- Email OTP — sent to the director's registered email address
This is why DIR-3 KYC is one of the few MCA filings that absolutely requires up-to-date contact details. If the director changed their mobile or email since the last filing, the previous OTP routing won't work and the form will need to be regenerated.
For non-resident directors, only the email OTP is mandatory — mobile OTP is optional but recommended.
The form is also digitally signed (DSC of the director) and certified by a practising professional (CA, CS, or CMA) using their DSC.
Step-by-step filing
- Log in to MCA V3 portal (mca.gov.in)
- Navigate to MCA Services → DIN Services → DIR-3 KYC (or DIR-3 KYC Web)
- Enter DIN
- System auto-fills name, DoB, address, contact details
- For DIR-3 KYC Form: re-enter or update fields where required
- Generate OTP — sent to mobile and email
- Enter OTPs (valid for 30 minutes)
- Affix director's DSC
- Affix practising professional's DSC for certification
- Submit and download SRN acknowledgement
For DIR-3 KYC Web, the process is simpler — the director logs in, the form is auto-populated, OTPs are verified, no DSC is required, and submission is instantaneous. The web filing can only be used if there are no changes to the director's information.
Fees
- On or before 30 September — Free (₹0)
- After 30 September — ₹5,000 (additional fee for late filing)
This is one of the few MCA filings with no graded penalty — the moment the deadline passes, the flat ₹5,000 kicks in. There is no "1-day delay = ₹100" mechanic here.
Consequences of non-filing — DIN deactivation
If DIR-3 KYC is not filed by 30 September (and the ₹5,000 fee is not paid subsequently), the MCA deactivates the DIN. This has serious consequences:
- The director cannot sign any e-form on MCA V3 (AOC-4, MGT-7, INC-20A, PAS-3, etc.)
- The director cannot be appointed to any new company or LLP
- Existing companies on which the director is on the board cannot file any e-forms that require this director's signature
- The director's name continues to appear on the company's rolls but with "DIN Deactivated" status — which appears in due-diligence searches and signals non-compliance
For an active director of multiple companies, a deactivated DIN can paralyse the entire compliance machinery of those companies. Companies have missed AOC-4 / MGT-7 filings because one of the two signing directors had a deactivated DIN.
Reactivation process
Reactivation is straightforward but requires the ₹5,000 fee:
- File DIR-3 KYC (Form variant) with all current details
- Pay the ₹5,000 additional fee
- System reactivates the DIN within 24 hours of successful submission
There is no "permanent block" — as long as the form is filed and the fee paid, the DIN can be reactivated regardless of how long it has been deactivated.
DIR-3 KYC Web vs DIR-3 KYC Form
| Aspect | DIR-3 KYC Web | DIR-3 KYC Form |
|---|---|---|
| When to use | No change in details since last filing | First time or details have changed |
| DSC required | No | Yes (director + practising professional) |
| OTP verification | Yes | Yes |
| Fees | Same — free on time, ₹5,000 late | Same — free on time, ₹5,000 late |
| Time to file | 5–10 minutes | 30–45 minutes (including DSC affixation) |
How Kapitalyze helps
Kapitalyze tracks DIR-3 KYC compliance for every director across all companies in your portfolio. Director management shows a real-time KYC status for each DIN — filed, due in next 30 days, overdue, deactivated — with reminders going out 60, 30, 15, 7, and 1 day before the 30 September deadline.
For CA / CS firms managing 100+ DINs across client portfolios, the CA/CS portal consolidates DIN status across the entire client base. A bulk-filing workflow generates DIR-3 KYC drafts for each pending director, with OTP verification triggered when the director is ready to sign.
The MCA compliance calendar includes DIR-3 KYC alongside AOC-4, MGT-7, DPT-3, and other annual filings — so directors and CS teams see all their year-end deadlines in one view, never missing the 30 September date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to file DIR-3 KYC if I'm not a director on any board?
Yes. The filing is based on holding a DIN, not on active directorship. Even if you've resigned from all boards but still hold a DIN, you must file DIR-3 KYC annually until the DIN is cancelled (which requires filing DIR-5).
Can I surrender my DIN to avoid filing DIR-3 KYC?
Yes, by filing Form DIR-5 (application for surrender of DIN). This is appropriate if you no longer intend to serve on any board. Once the DIN is surrendered, you cannot be appointed as a director without applying for a fresh DIN.
What if my mobile number or email has changed?
File DIR-3 KYC Form (not Web) with the updated details. The form will re-route OTPs to the new mobile and email. Make sure the new contacts are accessible before filing.
Is there a separate KYC for designated partners of LLPs?
No. The same DIR-3 KYC applies to designated partners (DPIN holders). The DPIN is functionally equivalent to a DIN for KYC purposes.
Can a practising professional sign DIR-3 KYC for the director without a meeting?
Yes. The professional's role is to certify the information submitted in the form. The director's DSC and OTP responses are the primary authentication; the professional's certification is procedural.
Foreign and NRI director considerations
Foreign nationals and NRIs holding DINs face a few practical hurdles with DIR-3 KYC:
- Indian mobile number: For full Form filing, an Indian mobile number is preferred. If the director only has a foreign mobile, the email OTP becomes the primary verification
- Passport as ID: For foreign nationals, passport is the primary ID. Photo, passport number, country of issuance, validity must match the original DIN application
- Address proof: Foreign address proof (utility bill, bank statement) must be apostilled if the director is from a Hague Convention country, or notarised and consularised otherwise
- DSC for foreign directors: Foreign DSCs from approved certifying authorities are accepted; alternatively, an Indian DSC can be obtained from an Indian CA after KYC
Bulk filing for CA/CS firms
For a CA or CS firm handling 50+ DIN holders across the client base, the manual approach of filing each form individually is impractical. The recommended approach:
- Maintain a master tracker of all DINs (across all client companies), with mobile, email, DSC expiry, and last KYC filing date
- In July of each year, run a status check: any DIN holder whose mobile or email has changed needs the full Form (with DSC), others can use the Web variant
- Schedule each director's filing in August so there's no last-minute September rush
- Set up an automated reminder system that sends each director a check-in email 60 days before the deadline
- Maintain a register of SRNs and acknowledgements for audit purposes
September is also the AGM deadline month, so practitioners' bandwidth is severely constrained. Front-loading DIR-3 KYC to August or earlier reduces overlap stress.