Documents needed for company registration in India.

Core documents every entity needs

Regardless of whether you're registering a Private Limited Company, an LLP, or any other structure, the same core set of documents forms the base of every filing.

• PAN card of every director, partner or shareholder (mandatory for Indian nationals).
• Aadhaar card of every director, partner or shareholder, for identity verification.
• Passport-size photographs, recent, of each individual involved.
• Address proof — a bank statement, electricity bill or telephone bill no older than two months, in the individual's name.
• Specimen signature and, where applicable, a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) for filing.

Registered-office documents

Every entity needs a registered office address on file with the MCA from day one — this can be a residential address, a co-working space, or a commercial property, as long as the paperwork is in order.

• Proof of the registered-office address — a recent utility bill, property tax receipt, or rent agreement.
• No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the property owner, if the premises aren't owned by a director or the entity itself.
• Rent agreement, if the premises are leased.

What changes by entity type

• Private Limited — 2–3 proposed name options, and a short description of the intended business activity for the MoA.
• LLP — the same core set, plus each designated partner's capital contribution details for the LLP agreement.
• OPC — a nominee's PAN, Aadhaar and written consent, since a nominee is mandatory.
• Section 8 Company — a note on your charitable objects and a projected income & expenditure statement, required for the Central Government licence.
• Partnership Firm — no MCA filing at all; a signed partnership deed and PAN application are the core documents instead.

If a director is a foreign national

Foreign nationals can be directors and shareholders in most Indian entity types, provided at least one director is resident in India. Foreign directors typically need a notarised and apostilled (or consularised) copy of their passport, along with address proof from their home country, translated and notarised where the original isn't in English. This adds a few extra days to the standard timeline, so it's worth starting these documents early.

How to avoid delays

• Make sure names match exactly across PAN, Aadhaar and address proof — even minor spelling mismatches cause rejections.
• Keep address proof recent — most authorities want documents no older than two months.
• Apply for DSCs early — they're needed for almost every filing and can take a day or two to issue.
• Have your 2–3 name options ready before you start — see our guide on choosing a company name.

Frequently asked questions