Documents Required for Company Registration in India through MCA SPICe+
A company in India is incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013 by filing the prescribed incorporation application and linked forms electronically with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). The present incorporation system is built around SPICe+ (INC-32), together with the applicable electronic Memorandum of Association, Articles of Association, declarations and linked registration forms.
Current company incorporation process through SPICe+
Documents required to register a company in India
The exact document list depends on the proposed company's type, subscriber structure, directors, registered office and whether any subscriber is a foreign individual or foreign body corporate. The following documents are commonly required for SPICe+ incorporation.
| Document / information | Purpose | When required |
|---|---|---|
| Memorandum of Association (MoA) | Sets out the company's name, State of registered office, objects, liability and capital/subscription clauses. | Required for incorporation in the form applicable to the proposed company. |
| Articles of Association (AoA) | Contains the internal regulations governing management of the company. | Required for incorporation in the applicable electronic or attached form. |
| Identity proof of subscribers | Establishes the identity of persons subscribing to the MoA. | Required particularly where subscriber details are not fully authenticated through existing DIN-based records. |
| Residential address proof of subscribers | Establishes the current address of subscribers. | Required in the circumstances prescribed in SPICe+ and its instruction requirements. |
| Identity and address proof of proposed directors | Supports appointment and DIN-related incorporation particulars. | Required for proposed directors who do not already have the necessary authenticated DIN information. |
| Registered office address proof | Establishes the address from which the company will operate as its registered office. | Required where the registered office is declared at incorporation. |
| Utility bill | Supports verification of the registered office address. | Required as prescribed; it should correspond with the registered-office particulars and satisfy MCA requirements. |
| NOC / lease deed / rent agreement or other right-to-use document | Shows lawful permission to use the premises as the company's registered office. | Applicable according to ownership and occupancy of the premises. |
| Consent of nominee in OPC | Records the nominee for a One Person Company. | Required for incorporation of an OPC in the prescribed manner. |
| Corporate subscriber documents | Establishes authority of a body corporate to subscribe to the proposed company. | Resolution/authorisation and incorporation documents are required where applicable. |
Memorandum and Articles of Association
The Memorandum of Association is the constitutional document that states the company's fundamental characteristics, including its objects and capital structure where applicable. The Articles of Association contain the rules governing the company's internal administration and management.
For eligible incorporations, the MoA and AoA are filed electronically as linked forms with SPICe+. The commonly used electronic forms for ordinary companies are INC-33 (e-MoA) and INC-34 (e-AoA). Different electronic forms apply to a Section 8 company. In specified situations-such as particular foreign-subscriber cases or where the number/category of subscribers falls outside the electronic-form conditions-the signed MoA and AoA may instead have to be attached to SPICe+ in the manner prescribed by MCA.
Documents of subscribers and proposed directors
Subscriber and director details are entered in SPICe+ Part B. Where a subscriber or proposed director does not have a DIN, the prescribed identity proof and residential address proof must be provided. MCA guidance specifically cautions that PAN, identity proof and current residential address documentation must be properly attached where required.
Digital Signature Certificate
Electronic incorporation documents that require digital execution must be signed using valid Digital Signature Certificates (DSCs) of the relevant subscribers, directors and certifying professional, as applicable to the filing.
DIN for first directors
The SPICe+ incorporation process permits eligible proposed first directors who do not already hold a Director Identification Number (DIN) to apply for DIN through the incorporation form, subject to the limits and conditions prescribed by MCA.
Registered office documents
If the registered office is being declared at incorporation, the address entered in SPICe+ must correspond with the documentary proof. Depending on the premises, the incorporation filing commonly requires:
proof of the office address; a recent utility bill or other prescribed address evidence; and a No Objection Certificate, lease deed, rent agreement or other document establishing the company's right to use the premises, as applicable.
MCA specifically cautions against mismatch between the address stated in SPICe+ and the supporting documents. The name of the owner, address, NOC/lease documentation and utility-bill details should therefore be checked carefully before submission.
Declaration in Form INC-9
INC-9 contains the declaration by subscribers and first directors required for incorporation. Under the SPICe+ system, INC-9 is generated electronically in eligible cases. Where the prescribed electronic conditions are not satisfied, the declaration is submitted in the manner required by the current MCA incorporation process.
The earlier practice of relying on an incorporation declaration executed as old Form No. 1 under the Companies Act, 1956 is no longer the applicable procedure for a new incorporation under the Companies Act, 2013.
AGILE-PRO-S and integrated registrations
AGILE-PRO-S is a linked incorporation form used for the integrated registrations and services specified by MCA. According to MCA's incorporation guidance, the linked form covers registrations/services such as GSTIN where applied for, EPFO registration, ESIC registration, professional tax registration in the States for which the facility is integrated, opening of a bank account and Shops and Establishment registration where supported.
The applicability of individual registrations within AGILE-PRO-S should be determined according to the company's proposed activities, employees, location and the current MCA form configuration.
Company name approval
Name reservation is integrated with SPICe+ Part A. A separate physical "name approval letter in original", as referred to under older incorporation procedures, is not part of the current electronic incorporation document set. The approved name and application status are maintained electronically in the MCA system.
Power of attorney and authorisation
A general power of attorney from every subscriber merely to obtain the certificate of incorporation is not a standard universal attachment under the current SPICe+ process. However, appropriate corporate resolutions, authorisations, powers of attorney or representative documents may be necessary where a subscriber is a body corporate, a document is executed through an authorised representative, or another specific incorporation circumstance requires such authority.
Foreign subscribers and foreign directors
Additional authentication requirements apply where subscribers or directors are outside India. Depending on the country of residence and the applicable legal framework, identity documents, address documents, MoA/AoA signatures, corporate authorisations and other incorporation documents may require notarisation, apostille or consular authentication.
MCA guidance states that where a foreign subscriber falls within a case requiring manually signed MoA and AoA, the subscriber's signature and address must be notarised, apostilled or consularised as applicable. A foreign body corporate subscribing to the proposed company may also have to provide its certificate of incorporation and an authorising resolution.
Section 8 company and OPC: additional documents
One Person Company
An OPC requires nominee particulars and consent in the prescribed manner, together with identity and address documentation of the nominee where required.
Section 8 company
A company proposed to be registered under section 8 for charitable or other permitted non-profit objects is subject to additional incorporation documentation and declarations. The applicable e-MoA/e-AoA and declarations should be prepared in accordance with the current Companies (Incorporation) Rules and MCA webforms.
Filing fees and stamp duty
Statutory incorporation fees are calculated through the MCA filing system according to the applicable rules, authorised capital and incorporation particulars. Stamp duty on the incorporation documents is determined according to the applicable State or Union Territory and is ordinarily collected electronically through the MCA filing process where the facility is available.
Applicants should rely on the fee automatically calculated by the current MCA system rather than an old fixed fee quoted in a historical incorporation checklist.
Official MCA resources
Use the official Ministry of Corporate Affairs website for company incorporation, name reservation, SPICe+ filing, current instruction kits and statutory updates:
Ministry of Corporate Affairs
- official portal
Companies Act, 2013
- official MCA text
MCA FAQs
- SPICe+ and linked filings
This page provides general information on company incorporation in India. The precise document and filing requirements depend on the proposed company type, subscribers, directors, capital structure, registered office, foreign participation and current MCA requirements.