Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)
Your legally valid electronic signature.
A Digital Signature Certificate is the electronic equivalent of a physical signature, issued by a licensed Certifying Authority and legally recognised under the Information Technology Act. It is required for company filings, e-tendering, and a long list of government portals.
- Government fee
- Included in the certificate price
- Timeline
- 1–2 working days with video verification
Get started with Digital Signature
Free eligibility check · No obligation
What Digital Signature is, and who it applies to
Since 2021, Class 3 is the only class of DSC issued for general use — Class 2 was discontinued. A Class 3 certificate involves stronger identity verification and is accepted across MCA filings, GST, income tax, EPFO, e-tendering, trademark filings and customs.
Certificates come in three types. A signing certificate is used to sign documents and forms, and covers most needs. An encryption certificate is used to encrypt data, and is required for certain e-tendering portals. A combo certificate does both, and is what most businesses buying for tender work should choose.
The certificate is stored on a physical USB cryptographic token meeting FIPS 140-2 Level 2 standards. This is a legal requirement, not an upsell — the private key must never leave the token. Anyone offering a DSC as a downloadable file rather than on a token is not issuing a valid certificate, and you should walk away.
Validity is one, two or three years. Longer terms cost less per year and save the re-verification effort. Renewal is a fresh issuance rather than an extension, so it is worth starting before the existing certificate expires — particularly if you have filings due.
Who needs Digital Signature
- Directors filing with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs
- Businesses filing GST returns where DSC is mandatory
- Companies and LLPs filing income tax returns
- Anyone participating in government e-tendering
- Importers and exporters filing with DGFT and customs
- Chartered accountants and professionals filing on behalf of clients
- Trademark and patent applicants
Why it matters
Legally valid
Recognised under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and admissible as evidence.
Required for filings
MCA, GST, income tax, EPFO, DGFT and e-tendering portals all require a valid DSC for certain submissions.
Fully paperless
Issued through Aadhaar-based video verification — no physical paperwork or courier delays.
Secure by design
The private key never leaves the FIPS-compliant hardware token, which is what makes the signature trustworthy.
Documents required
Scans on WhatsApp are fine. We check every document against the officer's checklist before filing.
For individuals
- PAN card
- Aadhaar card linked to an active mobile number
- Passport-size photograph
- Email address and mobile number for OTP verification
- Video verification — a short recording, done on your phone
For organisations
- Organisation PAN
- Certificate of Incorporation or registration proof
- GST registration certificate
- Authorisation letter for the applicant on company letterhead
- Applicant's PAN, Aadhaar and photograph
- Board resolution, where required
How we do it
- 1
Choose type and validity
We establish whether you need a signing, encryption or combo certificate, and for what term — based on what you will actually file.
- 2
Application and KYC
Details submitted to a licensed Certifying Authority with Aadhaar-based eKYC.
- 3
Video verification
A short video recording on your phone completes identity verification. It takes a couple of minutes.
- 4
Token download
The certificate is downloaded onto the USB cryptographic token, which is despatched to you or collected.
- 5
Setup support
We help you install the drivers and register the DSC on the portals you need it for — the step that generates most support calls.
What it costs
We do not publish a rate card, because the right fee depends on your entity type, turnover and how much of the groundwork is already done. Tell us what your business does and we will quote a fixed figure for your case — before you commit to anything.
We quote a fixed professional fee for your case before any work begins, and it excludes GST. Government fees, where applicable, are shown separately and paid directly to the department. Statutory fees and thresholds change by notification — we confirm the current position for your case before you commit.
Digital Signature — frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Class 2 and Class 3 DSC?
Class 2 was discontinued in 2021. Class 3 is now the only class issued for general use. It involves stronger identity verification and is accepted for all purposes that previously used Class 2, including MCA, GST and income tax filings.
Do I need a signing, encryption or combo certificate?
A signing certificate covers most needs — company filings, GST, income tax. Encryption is required by certain e-tendering portals. If you intend to participate in government tenders, get the combo, because discovering you need encryption mid-bid is an expensive problem.
Why do I need a physical USB token?
Because the law requires the private key to be stored in secure hardware meeting FIPS 140-2 Level 2. A DSC supplied as a downloadable file is not a validly issued certificate. If someone offers you one without a token, do not buy it.
How long does it take to get a DSC?
Usually one to two working days. Aadhaar-based video verification has removed the old paperwork and courier delays. The token then needs to physically reach you, which adds a day or two depending on location.
What happens when my DSC expires?
You obtain a fresh certificate — renewal is a new issuance rather than an extension. Start the process before expiry, particularly if you have filing deadlines, since an expired DSC will block a submission at exactly the wrong moment. The same token can usually be reused.
Can one DSC be used on multiple portals?
Yes. A single Class 3 certificate works across MCA, GST, income tax, EPFO, DGFT and e-tendering portals. Each portal requires a one-time registration of the DSC against your account, which we help with.
Digital Signature by city
Local fees, the specific authority handling your application and city-level timelines.
Ready to start your Digital Signature?
Send us a message and we will confirm what you need, what it costs and how long it takes — before you pay anything.
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