To search a DIN number online:
- Go to mca.gov.in and open MCA Services → Master Data.
- Choose View Director Master Data to search with a DIN, or View Company/LLP Master Data to search with a company name or CIN.
- Enter the DIN (or company name / CIN) and the captcha, then click Submit.
- Read the result: the director's name and their companies, or the company's director list with each DIN.
It's free and needs no login. The MCA portal does not show a director's phone number or email.
A DIN number search tells you who a company director is, which companies they run, and whether their DIN is active. You can do it for free on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) portal in under a minute.
This guide shows you how to search a DIN, how to find a DIN when you only have a name or a company, how to check DIN status, and what to do when you need to actually reach the director.
What is a DIN number?
DIN stands for Director Identification Number. It's a unique 8-digit number that the Ministry of Corporate Affairs gives to every person who is, or wants to be, a director of a company in India.
A few simple facts to know:
- It's required by law. Under the Companies Act, 2013 (Sections 153 to 159), no one can be appointed as a director without a DIN.
- One person, one DIN. A director keeps the same DIN for every company they join, for life. Holding two DINs is not allowed.
- It works for LLPs too. Designated partners of an LLP use the same number. That's why you'll sometimes see it called DIN/DPIN.
- It's not the company's number. The company has its own 21-character CIN (Corporate Identification Number). DIN is for the person, CIN is for the company.
New directors usually get their DIN while the company is being registered (through the SPICe+ form). A person joining an existing company applies with form DIR-3.
How to search a DIN on the MCA portal
If you already have the 8-digit DIN, use the MCA's free Director Master Data search. It doesn't need a login.
Tip: The director list is the most useful part. One DIN can show you every company a person sits on, which is often more than their LinkedIn profile says.
How to find a director's DIN by name, company or CIN
Most people don't have the DIN to begin with. They have a name or a company. Here's how to get from there to the DIN.
By company name or CIN (most reliable)
- On mca.gov.in, go to MCA Services → Master Data → View Company/LLP Master Data.
- Type the company name (pick it from the list) or paste the CIN. Enter the captcha and click Submit.
- Scroll to Director/Signatory Details. Every current director is listed with their DIN, designation and appointment date.
By director name
The MCA portal has no general "search by director name" box. To find a DIN by name, you have two options:
- Start from the company. If you know any company the person runs, use the company search above.
- Use a company registry website. Free sites like ZaubaCorp and Tofler let you search people by name and show their DIN and directorships on a director page. See our ZaubaCorp guide and Tofler guide for a walkthrough.
Common names return many matches. Check the companies listed against what you already know before you use the DIN.
By PAN
The MCA doesn't offer a "find DIN from PAN" search. It only lets you verify that a DIN and a PAN belong to the same person, under MCA Services → DIN Services → Verify DIN-PAN Details.
How to check DIN status and KYC
A DIN search also shows whether the DIN is in good standing. On the MCA portal, use MCA Services → DIN Services → Enquire DIN Status and enter the DIN.
| DIN status | What it means |
|---|---|
| Approved | The DIN is active and the director's KYC is up to date. |
| Deactivated due to non-filing of DIR-3 KYC | The director missed their KYC filing. They can't sign company filings until they file KYC (with a fee) and the DIN is reactivated. |
| Disqualified | The director is barred from acting as a director for a period, usually under Section 164 (for example, when a company didn't file returns for years). |
| Surrendered | The person gave up the DIN and is no longer a director anywhere. |
DIR-3 KYC: what changed in 2026
Every DIN holder must keep their KYC (mobile, email and address) updated with the MCA through the DIR-3 KYC web form.
- Until March 2026, KYC had to be filed every year.
- From 31 March 2026, under the amended Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Rules, KYC is due once every three financial years, by 30 June. For directors whose KYC is already done, the next one is due by 30 June 2028.
- Changes in between: if a director's mobile, email or address changes, they must update it within 30 days.
If KYC is missed, the DIN is deactivated. Always check the status before you rely on a DIN for compliance or vendor checks.
What a DIN search won't show you (and how to get it)
The MCA collects every director's mobile number and email for KYC, but it does not make them public. A DIN search gives you a name and a list of companies, not a way to reach the person.
Company master data sometimes shows the company's registered email. That usually goes to an accountant or a shared inbox, not the director.
For B2B sales and business development, that's the gap. You know exactly who makes the decision. You just can't call them.
How CookLeads turns a DIN into a verified contact
CookLeads DIN to Contact takes a DIN and returns the director's verified mobile number, plus a work or secondary email when one is available. There are three ways to use it:
Paste an 8-digit DIN in the dashboard and click Start Enrichment. You'll see the name, designation, mobile and email.
Upload a CSV with a single din column, up to 1,000 DINs per file. See bulk enrichment.
The Chrome extension works on 6 company registry sites, including ZaubaCorp and Tofler. Reveal one director, or all directors on a company page at once.
How billing works:
- No Mobile, No Charge. You use 1 credit only when a mobile number is found. Email-only results are free.
- Zero Double-Charge. Opening the same director again within 12 months costs nothing.
- 5 free leads when you sign up. See pricing for plans.
Use these contacts for genuine B2B outreach only, and respect a director's request not to be contacted.
Who uses DIN search
- B2B sales teams use it to find the real decision-maker at Indian SMEs and family-run businesses, where the director is often the buyer and isn't active on LinkedIn.
- Procurement and vendor teams use it to check that a supplier's directors are real, active and not disqualified before signing.
- Lenders, NBFCs and investors use it to see a promoter's other companies before a deal.
- Founders and CAs use it to check their own DIN status and KYC due date.