Every person who holds a Director Identification Number (DIN) has to confirm their details with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs once a year. The exercise is called DIR-3 KYC. It attaches to the individual who holds the DIN, not to a company, and it applies even if that person is not currently a director on any board.
Who, and by when
Anyone who was allotted a DIN on or before 31 March of a financial year completes the KYC for that year. The annual due date is 30 September. The obligation does not depend on whether the DIN is in active use; once allotted, it has to be kept current each year.
e-form or web-based?
There are two routes, and which one applies depends on whether anything has changed since the last KYC.
DIR-3 KYC — the e-form
The e-form is used the first time a DIN holder does the KYC, and in any later year where details have changed — for example a new mobile number, email address or residential address. It is filed with supporting documents and certified by a professional.
DIR-3 KYC-WEB — the web service
The web-based service is used in later years when nothing has changed since the last KYC. The holder simply re-confirms the details already on record by verifying the registered mobile and email through OTP — no fresh form, no documents.
In practice the rule of thumb is straightforward: use the e-form when something is new or has changed, and the web service to re-confirm an unchanged record.
If the date is missed
A DIN that has not been KYC'd by the due date is marked "Deactivated due to non-filing of DIR-3 KYC". A deactivated DIN cannot be used to sign filings or to be appointed against, which can hold up a company's own paperwork. It is reactivated by completing the pending KYC and paying a late fee of ₹5,000.
In short
DIR-3 KYC is a once-a-year confirmation of a director's own details, due 30 September. The e-form covers the first year and any change; the web service re-confirms an unchanged record in between. Letting it lapse deactivates the DIN and adds a ₹5,000 reactivation fee.
This note is general information about a routine filing, not advice on any particular person or company. Which route applies, and what has to be confirmed, depends on the individual's record and on the rules in force, so the position should be checked for each DIN holder before filing. More notes are on the Insights page, and the office's details are on the contact page.