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Private limited company incorporation (SPICe+): documents, fees and how to apply online and offline

Gives the business its own legal identity, limited liability and the structure investors and DPIIT recognition expect.

Issued byMinistry of Corporate Affairs (Registrar of Companies)
Government feeNo MCA filing fee for authorised capital up to Rs 15 lakh; State stamp duty on MoA / AoA is calculated by the portal. DSC and any professional fee extra.
Usual timeUsually 3 to 10 working days
ValidityPermanent; annual returns (AOC-4, MGT-7) and an auditor are compulsory.
Apply on the official portalApplying is free of agents; pay only the government fee shown on the portal.
Open the portal

How to apply online, step by step

  1. Get a Class 3 DSC for every proposed director.
  2. Register on the MCA portal and open SPICe+ (INC-32).
  3. Part A: reserve the company name (or go straight to Part B with the name).
  4. Part B: enter directors, registered office and capital; attach the office address proof; e-MoA (INC-33) and e-AoA (INC-34) are filed with it.
  5. AGILE-PRO-S (INC-35) in the same filing also asks for GST (optional), EPFO, ESIC, Professional Tax (some States) and a bank account.
  6. Sign with the DSCs, pay stamp duty, submit; the Certificate of Incorporation arrives with CIN, PAN and TAN.

How to apply offline (in person)

  1. There is no paper filing: incorporation is only online. A company secretary or chartered accountant can file it for you after checking your original documents in person.

Documents required for Private limited company incorporation (SPICe+), and how to get each

PAN card of each founder / director / partner

Get it online

  1. Instant e-PAN: on the Income Tax e-filing portal choose 'Instant e-PAN', enter Aadhaar and the OTP; the e-PAN PDF arrives in minutes, free.
  2. Or apply on Protean (NSDL) or UTIITSL with Form 49A for a printed card.

Get it in person

  1. Fill Form 49A at a PAN centre (Protean / UTIITSL facilitation centre), attach ID, address and date of birth proof and a photo, pay the fee; the card is posted to you.

Fee: Instant e-PAN free; printed card about Rs 107 (Indian address) · Time: Minutes (e-PAN); about 2 weeks (printed card) · Official site

Aadhaar of each founder (linked to a working mobile number)

Get it online

  1. Already enrolled: download e-Aadhaar from myAadhaar (uidai.gov.in) with the OTP; update the address online with a proof.

Get it in person

  1. Enrol, or update the mobile number or biometrics, at an Aadhaar Seva Kendra or bank / post office enrolment centre.

Fee: Enrolment free; updates Rs 50 to Rs 100 · Time: Download instantly; updates up to about 30 days · Official site

Recent passport-size photographs (and a scanned copy)

Get it online

  1. Scan or photograph against a plain light background; keep a JPEG under 100 KB for portal uploads.

Get it in person

  1. Any photo studio; ask for both prints and a soft copy.

Fee: Nominal · Time: Same day

Address proof of each founder (bank statement, utility bill, passport or voter ID)

Get it online

  1. Download the latest bank statement or electricity / phone bill (not older than 2 months) from the bank or utility portal.

Get it in person

  1. Ask the bank branch for a stamped statement, or use the printed utility bill.

Fee: Free · Time: Same day

Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) of each director or designated partner

Get it online

  1. Buy from a licensed Certifying Authority (for example eMudhra, (n)Code, Capricorn, Sify) on its website.
  2. Complete Aadhaar e-KYC or PAN-based KYC and a short video verification.
  3. Download the DSC to a USB token (crypto token) and install its driver.

Get it in person

  1. Visit an authorised DSC agent with PAN, Aadhaar and a photo; the agent completes KYC and hands over the token.

Fee: Set by the Certifying Authority (commonly Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,500 including the token) · Time: Same day to 2 days · Official site

Proof of the business address: rent agreement or ownership papers, owner's NOC, and a recent utility bill

Get it online

  1. Rented premises: buy an e-stamp paper for the rent agreement online (SHCIL e-stamping in most States) and get it signed by both sides; some States register leave-and-licence agreements online.
  2. Get a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the owner allowing business use of the address.
  3. Download the latest electricity, water or gas bill of the premises (not older than 2 months).

Get it in person

  1. Buy stamp paper from a licensed vendor or the sub-registrar's office, draft the agreement, sign before witnesses and notarise it (register it at the sub-registrar's office if the State requires).
  2. Ask the owner for a signed NOC and a copy of the property tax receipt or utility bill.

Fee: Stamp duty as per the State; notary fee nominal · Time: 1 to 3 days · Official site

Questions people ask

How much does Private limited company incorporation (SPICe+) cost?

No MCA filing fee for authorised capital up to Rs 15 lakh; State stamp duty on MoA / AoA is calculated by the portal. DSC and any professional fee extra.

How long does Private limited company incorporation (SPICe+) take?

Usually 3 to 10 working days

Who issues Private limited company incorporation (SPICe+)?

Ministry of Corporate Affairs (Registrar of Companies)

Can I apply for Private limited company incorporation (SPICe+) without an agent?

Yes. Every step above can be done by the founder on the official portal or at the office; agents and consultants are optional.

Official source: https://www.mca.gov.in/. Rules and fees change; the official page is the authority. Checked October 2026.

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