- Class 2 certificates were discontinued from 1 January 2021, following Controller of Certifying Authorities guidelines.
- DSCs are typically issued with one-year or two-year validity and renewed on expiry.
- SPICe+, DIR-3, AOC-4, MGT-7 and most other MCA21 forms must be signed with a DSC.
- Name reservation through RUN does not need a DSC.
On this page
Who needs a DSC, and what does it sign?
Anyone who signs a company form: proposed directors at incorporation, serving directors, and the professional who certifies the filing.
A typical Indian subsidiary uses DSCs every quarter. The directors sign the incorporation form, every DIN application and each year’s AOC-4 and MGT-7. A practising chartered accountant or company secretary often certifies the same form with their own DSC.
So a two-director board means at least two live certificates. Two renewal dates.
The DSC sits on a USB token, protected by a PIN. Keep it safe. You register it on the MCA portal against your user ID before your first filing.
Why is Class 3 the standard now?
Because the lower class no longer exists. The Controller of Certifying Authorities discontinued Class 2 certificates from 1 January 2021, as the Indian Patent Office’s DSC guidance notes.
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Class for MCA21 filing | Class 3, signing type |
| Who issues it | Certifying Authorities licensed by the Controller of Certifying Authorities |
| Validity | Usually 1 or 2 years |
| Format | USB token with PIN |
| Foreign directors | Can obtain one with passport and address proof, often attested abroad |
Here is the mistake foreign boards make. A director’s DSC expires a week before the AGM filing window closes, the token is in another country, and nobody can sign AOC-4 on time. Late filing then costs ₹100 a day per form.
Calendar the renewals. Every one.
Does an EOR remove the need for a DSC?
Yes. Under an EOR model your head office signs nothing on Indian government portals, because the EOR’s own directors sign its company and tax filings.
You may still e-sign your EOR service agreement. That’s a contract. It needs no Indian DSC. A DSC becomes your problem once you have your own entity and its annual compliance calendar. Our guide on how to set up a subsidiary in India lists every signature you’ll owe at incorporation.
How does Remunance handle filings without your DSC?
Remunance signs its own MCA, TDS, EPF and ESIC filings as the legal employer of your team, so no token ever needs to travel from your head office. We’re ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified, which covers how we protect that signing and payroll data. If you would rather not run an Indian signature calendar at all, ask us how EOR hiring works.
What else do people ask about DSC meaning?
What is the difference between Class 2 and Class 3 DSC?
Class 3 is the higher-assurance certificate and is now the standard. Class 2 was discontinued from 1 January 2021, so new certificates for MCA filing are Class 3.
How long is a digital signature certificate valid?
Usually one or two years from issue, depending on what you buy. You renew it before expiry and re-register the new token on the portal where you file.
Can a foreign national get a DSC in India?
Yes. Foreign directors can apply to a licensed Certifying Authority with their passport and address proof. Attestation rules vary by authority, so allow extra time.
Planning a hire in India?
Our founding team has run payroll and hiring in India for 22+ years, first as Remunance Systems, which was later acquired by ADP.