DIN is a unique Director Identification number allotted to any person intending to be a Director or an existing director of a company by Indian Government. It is an 8-digit unique identification number which has a life time validity. DIN is specific to a person. That means a person can be a director in 2 or more companies, but he has to obtain only 1 DIN.

To file any applicable return or to submit an application or any information related to a company under any law, the director signing such return, application or information will need to mention his DIN underneath his signature.

Any person intending to become a director in an already existing company shall have to make an application in eForm number DIR-3 for allotment of DIN. Any changes in the particulars of the directors shall be filed in form DIR-6. All such documents are filed electronically using the Digital Signature (DSC) of that person.

Within one month of receiving DIN from the central government, the director has to intimate about his DIN to all companies where he is a director. The company will intimate ROC about DIN within 15 days from the date when the director intimates his DIN to the company. Failure of the director to intimate DIN to the company or failure of the company to intimate ROC about DIN will result in penalties.

The Central government may cancel the DIN due to the following reasons:

1. If a duplicate DIN has been issued to the director
2. DIN was obtained by fraudulent means
3. On the death of the concerned person
4. The person has been declared unsound mind by the court 5.The person has been adjudicated as insolvent

The director can also surrender the DIN in Form DIR-5. With the form, he has to submit a declaration that he has never been appointed as a director in the company and the said DIN has never been used for filing any document with any authority. Upon verifying the e-records, the central government will de-activate the DIN.

Note that, once a person is appointed as a director in any company as per the Companies Act 2013, he cannot relinquish his DIN in the future. Even if he doesn’t remain a director anymore in that company or in any other company, his DIN will exist as it is.