Other Compliance · All India
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)
A Class 3 DSC is required to sign most statutory registrations and filings on government portals.
Where a DSC is needed
- EPF and ESI registration and authorised signatory registration
- Shram Suvidha filings
- MCA company filings
- GST registration in some cases
- Income tax filings for certain assessees
- E-tendering, where a signing certificate is mandated
Obtaining a DSC
- 1Choose the certificate type — signing, or signing plus encryption.
- 2Complete the application with PAN, Aadhaar, photograph and address proof.
- 3Complete video verification and mobile or email OTP verification.
- 4Download the certificate to a FIPS-compliant USB token.
- 5Register the DSC on the relevant government portal against the authorised signatory.
Custody and renewal
The token belongs to the individual signatory and should not be shared. Track the expiry date — a DSC expiring mid-filing is a common cause of missed deadlines, and renewal requires a fresh verification.
Frequently asked questions
- How long is a DSC valid?
- Certificates are typically issued for one, two or three years, after which they must be renewed with fresh verification.
- Can one DSC be used for all filings?
- A single Class 3 signing certificate of the authorised signatory can generally be registered across multiple portals, subject to each portal's registration process.
Sources & references
Last Updated: 2026-09-06
Information is based on applicable laws, rules, notifications and government sources and should be verified for the latest amendments.
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