A company appoints a director in general meeting under section 152 of the Companies Act, 2013 or, if its Articles allow, the Board appoints an additional director under section 161, and the company files Form DIR-12 within 30 days. The person needs a DIN, a written consent in Form DIR-2 and a declaration that they are not disqualified.
Under section 152 of the Companies Act, 2013 directors are appointed by the company in general meeting unless the Act provides otherwise. No one can be appointed without a Director Identification Number (DIN), and the proposed director gives the DIN and a declaration that they are not disqualified. A director cannot act until the consent, in Form DIR-2, is given and filed. The company files Form DIR-12 within 30 days (Rules 8 and 18).
Both end with Form DIR-12 within 30 days.
An individual with a DIN: Only individuals can be directors, and each needs a DIN. Someone without one applies for it first.
Fees depend on the company's capital. Late filing is charged as multiples of the normal fee.
The company files; the proposed director supplies the personal documents.
Stage, Time limit, Basis
Enter the day the director was appointed.
A director may not act until the consent has been given and filed (section 152(5)).
DIR-3 KYC is now three-yearly: The Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Amendment Rules, 2025, notified on 31 December 2025 and in force from 31 March 2026, replaced annual DIR-3 KYC with a filing once every third financial year. See our DIN eKYC page.
Each point follows from a condition in the Act or the rules.
DIN application, where required: We apply for a DIN for a new director who does not have one.
A public company needs at least three, a private company at least two and a One Person Company at least one. The maximum is 15; more needs a special resolution (section 149(1)).
Within 30 days of the appointment. Late filing carries an additional fee of 2 to 12 times the normal fee.
Yes. No one can be appointed as a director without a DIN (section 152(3)).
Yes. At least one director must have stayed in India for 182 days or more during the financial year, counted in proportion for a newly incorporated company (section 149(3)).
Yes. A director cannot act until the consent is given and filed, and it is given on or before the appointment (section 152(5)).
No. From 31 March 2026 it is filed once every third financial year. A change in mobile number, e-mail or address is reported within 30 days.
Not for an ordinary resolution or a Board appointment. It is needed only if a special resolution is passed, for example to alter the Articles.
Yes, as an additional director, if the Articles allow it (section 161(1)). The term runs until the next AGM.
Security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs has to be attached to the filing.
No. The proposed director gives a declaration that they are not disqualified under section 164 (section 152(4)).
No. It covers directors of companies only. LLP partners are changed through Form 4: see our LLP Partner Change page.