StampMitra - Digital LegalTech, Virtual Office & Compliance Platform

Digital Signature Certificate (Class 3 DSC) Online

A Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) is an electronic credential issued by a licensed Certifying Authority that lets you sign filings digitally. New certificates are Class 3, because Class 2 has not been issued since 1 January 2021.

What a DSC is and who regulates it

A Digital Signature Certificate binds an individual or an organisation to a public key. It is issued by a Certifying Authority licensed under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA) under the Ministry of Electronics and IT regulates those authorities. The Act gives digital signatures legal recognition.

Who commonly needs a DSC

Directors and designated partners: To sign MCA e-forms, including DIN KYC updates and reactivation. Periodic DIN KYC needs none.

  • Directors and designated partners
  • Authorised signatories
  • Professionals
  • Taxpayers using a DSC
  • Tender bidders
  • Importers and exporters

Individual and organisation certificates

Class 3 individual / Organisation certificate / Class 2 and earlier

  • Class 3 individual
  • Organisation certificate
  • Class 2 and earlier

Fees and our personal DSC prices

The token adds ₹499. The prices above are StampMitra's fees; a 1-year certificate is also available. Organisation, DGFT and renewal certificates have their own forms. We confirm the exact amount before filing.

  • Personal DSC, Class 3: 2 years
  • Personal DSC with USB token: 2 years
  • Personal DSC, Class 3: 3 years
  • Personal DSC with USB token: 3 years
  • Government fee: None found

Documents for a DSC

The issuing authority makes the final call on what it accepts.

  • PAN
  • Identity proof
  • Address proof
  • Passport-size photograph
  • Live video identity check

How a DSC is issued and registered

Validity, renewal and loss

Under the Information Technology Act, the holder must protect the private key and must not give false information to the authority.

  • Statutory deadline: None. You apply when you need to sign.
  • Issue time: Depends on the issuing authority and on how quickly verification is completed
  • Validity: Authorities issue 1, 2 or 3 years
  • Renewal: A certificate cannot be extended; renewal means a new certificate with a fresh identity check. Start before expiry to avoid a gap.
  • Change of name or signer: A changed name, a new signer, a revoked certificate or a lost token is a fresh issue, not a renewal.
  • Expired DSC: Cannot sign MCA or GST filings. Late fees on the underlying filing still apply.

Common reasons an application fails

Name or date of birth does not match PAN.

  • Name or date of birth does not match PAN.
  • Documents are blurred or unreadable.
  • The video verification failed or was not completed in the allowed window.
  • The address proof is older than three months.
  • The board resolution is missing for an organisation certificate.
  • The organisation's name does not match its registration.

What StampMitra does for you

Choose the right certificate: We help you pick the class, validity and token option for what you need to sign.

  • Choose the right certificate
  • Application and verification
  • Token option
  • Expert help

How it works

  1. Choose class, type and validity Select Class 3, individual or organisation, and 1, 2 or 3 years.
  2. Apply to a licensed Certifying Authority Submit the application and documents.
  3. Verify your identity Complete the live video identity check.
  4. Receive the certificate on a token The authority issues the certificate after verification.
  5. Register on the portal On MCA21 V3, use Associate DSC.

Frequently asked questions

Which DSC class do I need?

Class 3. The CCA stopped new Class 2 issuance from 1 January 2021, so only Class 3 certificates are issued now.

How long is a DSC valid?

Issuing authorities offer 1, 2 or 3 years. Our personal DSC packages are for 2 or 3 years.

Is video verification mandatory?

The issuing authority checks identity by a live video call with your original documents; some also use eKYC from Aadhaar, PAN or bank records alongside it. The authority tells you which applies to you.

Is a USB token mandatory?

The key has to sit on a secure hardware token. We offer a USB token as an add-on for ₹499. New tokens are of the FIPS 140-3 standard from 21 September 2026, and an older token may not take a new certificate.

Can I have more than one DSC?

Yes.

Is Aadhaar eSign the same as a DSC?

No. Aadhaar eSign suffices for some consent workflows, but it is a different mechanism.

Do directors need a Class 3 DSC?

For MCA e-forms where a DSC is used to sign, yes, in practice a Class 3 signing certificate registered on MCA21 V3.

What if my token is lost?

Ask the issuing authority to revoke the certificate and apply afresh.

Do foreign nationals need an apostille?

Usually attested documents are needed, such as notarised, apostilled or consularised ones. We confirm the exact requirement with the issuing authority.

Do I need a separate organisation DSC?

Only where a portal asks for an entity-level certificate. DGFT asks for one carrying the business name for every business except a proprietorship, and some e-tender portals ask for one too. Check the portal's requirement.

Can I renew after expiry?

A certificate cannot be extended. Renewal means a new certificate with a fresh identity check. You can still get one after expiry, but you cannot sign until it is issued and registered, so start before expiry to avoid a gap.

Is a registered DSC accepted by MCA, GST and income tax?

Yes, where the portal uses a DSC, once the certificate is registered on it.