Digital Signature Certificates (DSC)
Types of Digital Signatures:
Class 1 Digital Signature: used to authenticate email communications and not used for any statutory authentication purpose. As on date, this class of DSC is obsolete.
Class 2 Digital Signature: used to authenticate electronic documents with Registrar of Companies, Income Tax, Goods and Service Tax (GST), Provident Funds, etc. till Dec 2020. As on date, this class of DSC is obsolete.
Class 3 Digital Signature: used for e-tendering and to authenticate electronic documents with Registrar of Companies, Income Tax, Goods and Service Tax (GST), Provident Funds, etc. . Again this can be procured for Individuals and organizations with a sign only or with sign & Encryption Option.
IEC (DGFT) Digital Signature: This is now a Class 3 Organization signing only DSC, where your organization’s IEC shall be linked with the DSC. Used by Export and Import Organizations (EXIM organizations) to authenticate documents electronically on the DGFT website.
The Information Technology Act, 2000
The Information Technology Act, 2000 provides the legislative backup to the digital signatures based on asymmetric cryptosystems.
The Office of Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA) is the Regulatory Authority in India that regulates issue and sues Certificate only to Certifying Authorities(CAs). Information Technology Act has established the Controller of Certifying Authorities(CCA) to license and regulate the working of Certifying Authorities. The Certifying Authorities (CAs) issue digital signature certificates for the electronic authentication of users.
Documents required for Class 3 Digital Signature (Individual)
Now the Digital Signature Certificate is issued via a paperless issue process for which the following documents and details are required:
(1) If the Applicant is Indian Citizen
(a) Either Residing in India or Residing Outside India (but have Aadhaar Card & Mobile is Linked with Aadhaar Number to receive OTP)
- Permanent Account Number (PAN) Card of the applicant (clear scanned copy).
- Aadhaar Card of the applicant (clear scanned copy).
- Mobile Number linked with applicant’s Aadhaar number.
- Email ID of the applicant.
- Permanent Account Number (PAN) Card of the applicant (clear scanned copy).
- Aadhaar Card of the applicant (clear scanned copy), if available.
- Mobile Number.
- Email ID of the applicant.
- Colour Photo (Passport Size) of the applicant (clear scanned copy).
- Driving License or Voter’s ID or Passport of applicant (clear scanned copy)
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- Passport copy of the applicant (clear scanned copy) – Mandatory
- Indian Permanent Account Number (PAN) Card of the applicant (clear scanned copy), if available.
- Driving License or Bank Statement of applicant (clear scanned copy) as address proof.
- Mobile Number (Foregin Country)
- Email ID of the applicant.
- Colour Photo (Passport Size) of the applicant (clear scanned copy).
Documents required for Class 3 Digital Signature (Organization)
Now the Digital Signature Certificate is issued via a paperless issue process for which the following documents and details are required:
| Documents | Proprietorship Firm | Partnership Firm | Private or Public Company | LLP | Society/Trust |
| Applicants Details: | |||||
| Photo (Passport Size Colour) – Clear Scanned | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| PAN – Clear Scanned | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| Aadhaar – Clear Scanned | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| Mobile Number (Linked with Applicant’s Aadhaar) | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| Authorization letter/ Board Resolution – with Entity seal | Required, if the Applicant is not a Proprietor | Authorization letter required if the Applicant is Partner, if the applicant is other than Partner then Board Resolution is Required. | Authorization letter required if the Applicant is Director, if the applicant is other than Director then Board Resolution is Required. | Authorization letter required if the Applicant is Partner, if the applicant is other than Partner then Board Resolution is Required. | Authorization letter required if the Applicant is Trustee, if the applicant is other than trustee then Board Resolution is Required. |
| Authorizing person: | |||||
| PAN – clear scanned (The Authorization letter must be certified by a Partner/director/Trustee i.e. other than the applicant, hence his/her PAN is required) | Required, if the Applicant is not a Proprietor | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| To Download the Authorisation Letter/ Board Resolution – Click the Link | |||||
| Organization documents: | |||||
| Latest GSTR-3B | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| Latest Bank Statement (Required where the entity has not registered under GST | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| IEC Certificate (Required only when the DSC applied is for DGFT/IEC filing purposes) | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| Partnership Deed | Not Applicable | Required | Not Applicable | Required | Not Applicable |
| List of Directors | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Required | Not Applicable | Not Applicable |
| Society/Trust Deed | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Required |
| Note 1: | |||||
| Instruction for verification of DSC application: | |||||
| During the application process, The applicant needs to provide OTP received to his mobile number. | |||||
| And further click two links received in their email: | |||||
| a) Link 1 : For email verification, upon clicking the link received in their email, the email address will be verified. | |||||
| b) Link 2 : For video verification, upon clicking the link received in their email, the applicant will be directed to the video verification screen. They must click the record button and recite the statement displayed at the top of the screen. After reading the statement, the applicant must display their original PAN card, original Aadhaar card, and the original signed authorization letter/Board Resolution with the company rubber seal affixed. | |||||
| Note 2: | |||||
| If the email address provided by the applicant is already associated with another Digital Signature Certificate (DSC), the application cannot proceed. In such cases, an alternative email address must be provided. | |||||
