Quick Answer
Company registration in India requires PAN, Aadhaar, address proof, and a passport photo for Indian directors, plus a notarized or apostilled passport and address proof for foreign directors. You’ll also need registered office proof (utility bill, rent agreement, and owner NOC) and, for DPIIT recognition, an additional set of startup-specific documents.
This checklist covers every document required for company registration in India, split by category: Indian directors and shareholders, foreign directors and shareholders, registered office proof, and DPIIT startup recognition. Use it to gather your paperwork before filing SPICe+, so incorporation doesn’t stall on a missing signature or an expired utility bill.
Documents for Indian Director/Shareholder
Every Indian director and shareholder must submit the following:
- PAN card: mandatory for every Indian director and shareholder, no exceptions.
- Aadhaar card: used for identity verification and DSC issuance.
- Address proof: a bank statement, utility bill, or similar document, no older than two months.
- Passport-size photograph: recent, color, standard passport format.
- Proof of registered office: a rent agreement or sale deed, plus a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the owner if the company doesn’t own the premises.
All documents must be self-attested. Altacit Global reviews document sets before filing to catch mismatches (name spelling differences between PAN and Aadhaar are the most common rejection triggers).
Documents for Foreign Director/Shareholder
Foreign directors and shareholders face a stricter documentation standard, since Indian authorities can’t independently verify overseas paperwork. Required documents include:
- Passport: mandatory, and must be notarized or apostilled depending on the director’s country of residence.
- Address proof from the home country: a utility bill or bank statement, notarized or apostilled in the same manner as the passport.
- Additional declarations: a compliance affidavit confirming that at least one director on the board is an Indian resident, as required under the Companies Act, 2013.
Apostille requirements depend on whether the director’s country is a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention. Non-signatory countries require consular legalization instead, which adds processing time. Plan for this early if your incorporation includes a foreign director or shareholder.
Registered Office Proof
Your registered office documentation must be current and verifiable. The Registrar of Companies checks this closely during SPICe+ Part B review. You’ll need:
- Recent utility bill or property tax receipt: issued within the last two months.
- No Objection Certificate (NOC): from the property owner, if the premises are rented rather than company-owned.
- Rent agreement: required if the registered office is a leased or rented property.
A residential address qualifies as a registered office, provided you have owner NOC and utility proof in place. There’s no requirement for the office to be commercial-only.
DPIIT Startup Recognition: Additional Documents
If you’re incorporating with the intent to register under the Startup India scheme, DPIIT recognition requires additional documents beyond standard incorporation paperwork:
- Certificate of Incorporation
- A brief write-up describing the nature of the business and how it’s innovative or scalable
- Details of directors and authorized representatives
- Declaration, where applicable, confirming the nature of the business activity
DPIIT recognition is optional at the time of incorporation but easier to apply for once your Certificate of Incorporation is issued.
Missing a document already? Altacit Global helps founders assemble compliant document sets before SPICe+ filing. Contact us at info@altacit.com for a document review.
Get Your Document Checklist Verified Before You File
Missing or mismatched documents are the single biggest cause of SPICe+ rejection. Altacit Global, with offices in Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Coimbatore, reviews document sets for Indian and foreign directors before filing, so your incorporation moves through Registrar review without delay. Contact info@altacit.com for a document checklist review specific to your company structure.
Frequently Asked Questions: Company Registration Documents India
Q1: Can I register a company using a residential address as the registered office?
Yes. A residential address is valid as a registered office for company registration in India, provided you submit a recent utility bill, property tax receipt, and an NOC from the property owner if you don’t own the premises.
Q2: Do all directors need a PAN card to register a company in India?
Indian directors must have a PAN card; it’s mandatory and non-negotiable. Foreign directors don’t need an Indian PAN at the time of incorporation, but they must submit a notarized or apostilled passport and address proof instead.
Q3: What happens if my documents are incomplete during SPICe+ filing?
Incomplete or mismatched documents trigger a resubmission request from the Registrar of Companies, adding 3 to 7 working days per cycle. Common issues include expired utility bills, name spelling mismatches between PAN and Aadhaar, and missing owner NOCs.
Q4: Is a rent agreement mandatory for the registered office?
A rent agreement is mandatory only if the registered office premises are rented. If the company owns the property, a sale deed and utility proof suffice instead, with no rent agreement required.
