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DIR-3 KYC for Directors

Every person holding a Director Identification Number (DIN) must complete DIR-3 KYC to keep the DIN active. From a recent rule change, this KYC is now filed only once every three years, by 30 June, instead of annually, through the unified Form DIR-3 KYC Web. Miss it and the DIN is deactivated, blocking all company filings until a Rs. 5,000 fee is paid. Samkhya handles your DIR-3 KYC quickly and correctly.

DIR-3 KYC: A Detailed Guide

DIR-3 KYC is the identity verification that every holder of a Director Identification Number (DIN) must file with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) under Rule 12A, so that the MCA’s records of directors stay accurate. Following the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Amendment Rules, 2025 (G.S.R. 943(E), effective 31 March 2026), the filing has shifted from annual to triennial, and is now required only once every three consecutive financial years, on or before 30 June of the year after the third year, through a single unified Form DIR-3 KYC Web. The obligation applies to every DIN holder, including resigned directors, foreign nationals, and LLP designated partners. If a director’s mobile, email, or address changes, an update must still be filed within 30 days. Missing the deadline deactivates the DIN.

Why DIR-3 KYC Matters

Completing DIR-3 KYC on time is important:

  • Keeps the DIN Active: It keeps the Director Identification Number valid and usable.
  • Enables Filings: An active DIN lets the director sign and file company forms.
  • Avoids the Penalty: Timely filing avoids the Rs. 5,000 reactivation fee.
  • Prevents Blockages: It prevents the DIN deactivation that stalls AOC-4 and MGT-7.
  • Now Less Frequent: Under the triennial rule, it is needed only once every three years.
  • Accurate Records: It keeps the MCA’s record of the director up to date.

The Triennial Cycle

The new KYC cycle works as follows:

  • Once in Three Years: KYC is now filed once every three consecutive financial years.
  • By 30 June: The due date is 30 June of the year after the third year.
  • Unified Form: A single Form DIR-3 KYC Web is used for the filing.
  • Anchored to Allotment: The cycle runs from the year the DIN was allotted.
  • 30-Day Updates: A change in mobile, email, or address is updated within 30 days.
  • Update Does Not Reset: An interim update does not reset the three-year cycle.

Who Must File and When

The KYC obligation is broad:

  • Every DIN Holder: Anyone allotted a DIN must file, whether or not they are on a board.
  • Resigned Directors: Even resigned directors must file while they hold the DIN.
  • Foreign Nationals: Foreign directors with a DIN are included.
  • LLP Partners: Designated partners of an LLP holding a DIN must file.
  • By 30 June: The filing is due by 30 June on the triennial cycle.
  • Surrender to Stop: The obligation ends only on surrender of the DIN via DIR-5.

When the e-Form Is Needed

The form used depends on the situation:

  • The unified Form DIR-3 KYC Web is used for routine triennial KYC.
  • A first-time KYC or a change in details may require the fuller e-Form with certification.
  • Reactivation of a deactivated DIN is done through the KYC filing with the fee.
  • The web form uses OTP verification of the registered mobile and email.
  • A practising professional certifies the filing where the e-Form is used.

The MCA Portal and the Process

DIR-3 KYC is filed online on the MCA V3 portal. For routine KYC, the DIN holder accesses Form DIR-3 KYC Web, which pre-fills their details from the MCA records, and verifies them through an OTP sent to the registered mobile number and email. Where it is a first-time KYC, or where details such as the mobile, email, or address have changed, the fuller e-Form is used, with identity and address proof uploaded and the form certified by a practising professional (CA, CS, or CMA). On successful filing within the due date, there is no fee, and the DIN remains active. If the deadline is missed, the DIN is deactivated and can be reactivated only by filing with the Rs. 5,000 fee.

Documents Required

For the Filing:

  • The director’s PAN and Aadhaar (and passport for foreign nationals).
  • The registered mobile number and email for OTP verification, and a recent address proof.

For the e-Form:

  • A photograph and the digital signature of the director.
  • Certification by a practising professional where the fuller form is used.

DIR-3 KYC Process

DIR-3 KYC follows a clear sequence:

  1. Confirm whether the web form or the e-Form applies.
  2. Log in to the MCA V3 portal and open Form DIR-3 KYC.
  3. Verify the pre-filled details from the MCA records.
  4. Upload identity and address proof where the e-Form is used.
  5. Verify the mobile and email through OTP.
  6. Have the form certified by a professional where required.
  7. Submit before 30 June to keep the DIN active.

File DIR-3 KYC with Samkhya

Filing DIR-3 KYC with Samkhya Corporate Services is simple. Just follow these easy steps:

  • Share your DIN details: Tell us your DIN and contact details.
  • We confirm the form: We check whether the web form or e-Form applies.
  • Fill the form: Complete our online form and provide your documents.

From there, our team verifies the details and files before the deadline.

Keeping the DIN Compliant

To keep a DIN compliant:

  • File on Cycle: File the KYC once every three years by 30 June.
  • Update Within 30 Days: File any change in mobile, email, or address within 30 days.
  • Track the Cycle: Note the next due year from the DIN allotment cycle.
  • Keep the DIN Active: Avoid deactivation, which blocks all company filings.
  • Reactivate Promptly: If deactivated, reactivate by filing with the Rs. 5,000 fee.
  • Surrender if Unused: Surrender an unused DIN via DIR-5 to end the obligation.

Fee and Penalty

There is no fee for filing DIR-3 KYC on time, as the periodic KYC filed on or before 30 June of the due year is free. If the deadline is missed, the MCA deactivates the DIN and marks it as deactivated due to non-filing of KYC, after which it can be reactivated only by filing the KYC together with a Rs. 5,000 fee, which is fixed, non-refundable, and cannot be waived. A deactivated DIN is more than a personal inconvenience: the director cannot sign any MCA form, which can stall the company’s AOC-4 and MGT-7 filings and trigger their own Rs. 100-per-day penalties. The shift to a three-year cycle has reduced the filing frequency, but the 30-day update rule and the deactivation consequence make timely action essential.

DIR-3 KYC at a Glance

Feature Detail
Governing Rule Rule 12A, Directors Rules.
Form DIR-3 KYC Web (unified).
Frequency Once every three years.
Due Date 30 June of the due year.
On-Time Fee Nil.
Late Fee Rs. 5,000 (DIN reactivation).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is DIR-3 KYC?

It is the identity verification every holder of a Director Identification Number must file with the MCA so the records of directors stay accurate.

How often is DIR-3 KYC filed now?

Following a 2026 rule change, it is filed once every three consecutive financial years, by 30 June, instead of annually.

Who must file DIR-3 KYC?

Every DIN holder, including resigned directors, foreign nationals, and LLP designated partners, must file while they hold the DIN.

What happens if I miss the deadline?

The DIN is deactivated, blocking all company filings, and can be reactivated only by filing the KYC with a Rs. 5,000 fee.

Do I file if my details change?

Yes. Any change in mobile, email, or address must be updated within 30 days, though this does not reset the three-year cycle.

How do I stop the KYC obligation?

The only way to end it permanently is to surrender the DIN by filing Form DIR-5.