OPC Registration Process and Timeline: Step by Step, With Realistic Working Days (2026)
OPC registration usually takes 7 to 10 working days with Shunya for a standard filing, and independent filing sources put a clean application at roughly 7 to 15 working days. The clock runs from complete, matching documents, not from your first call. If it goes past 15 working days from complete documents, Shunya waives the ₹1,999 professional fee. See the OPC registration page.
How long does OPC registration take in India?
A clean OPC application typically takes about 7 to 15 working days from filing to Certificate of Incorporation, and Shunya's standard turnaround is 7 to 10 working days. Both figures are as of September 2026, and both assume your documents are complete and consistent.
Say Kabir, a freelance developer in Hyderabad, starts on a Monday and sends every document by Tuesday evening. His CA checks the name on Wednesday, files the name reservation, and files the incorporation application within the week. If the Registrar raises no query, he can expect the certificate in roughly a week and a half from the day he sent complete documents.
The two ranges differ because Shunya's 7 to 10 days is the typical case we plan for, while independent sources include applications that need a query or a resubmission. The honest reading: expect about two weeks to be safe, and about one and a half weeks if nothing goes wrong. Shunya waives the professional fee if it takes longer than 15 working days from the date you submit complete documents.
For the general case across all structures, see how long company registration takes in India.
What are the steps in the OPC registration process?
The OPC registration process has seven steps: consult and share documents, name check, DSC and DIN, drafting the MoA and AoA, paying stamp duty, filing SPICe+, and receiving your certificate. The MCA filing is one integrated form called SPICe+ (Simplified Proforma for Incorporating Company Electronically Plus).
| Step | What happens | Realistic working days | Who acts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Callback and documents | Free call, fee and state confirmed, you send documents | Day 0 to 1 | You and CA |
| 2. Name check and reservation | Name availability checked, then reserved in SPICe+ Part A | 1 to 3 | CA files, MCA approves |
| 3. DSC and DIN | Digital signature obtained; director ID allotted during incorporation | 1 to 2, overlaps with step 2 | CA arranges, you verify |
| 4. MoA and AoA | e-MoA and e-AoA prepared; nominee consent recorded | 1 | CA drafts, you review and sign |
| 5. Stamp duty | State duty confirmed and paid | Before Part B is filed | You approve; CA arranges payment |
| 6. SPICe+ Part B filing | CA certifies and files; Registrar examines | 5 to 10 | CA and MCA |
| 7. Certificate | Certificate of Incorporation, PAN, TAN delivered | On approval | CA delivers |
The reserved name stays valid for 20 days, so Part B must be filed within that window or the name lapses. Steps 2 to 5 run in parallel where possible.
Two things are worth knowing about step 6. The Registrar's examination is the longest single step, and it is outside anyone's control, including your CA's. And the nominee's consent is now recorded inside SPICe+ itself; the standalone INC-3 that older articles mention is no longer a separate step. Your nominee should be an Indian citizen who is not a minor and not already the nominee of another OPC.
Since the MCA reorganised its Registrar of Companies offices in early 2026, your file is mapped to a jurisdictional RoC after central processing. That affects which office holds your records, not the steps or the timeline above.
What do you do and what does the CA do?
You supply accurate documents and approvals; the CA handles every form, portal login and Registrar query. The split is deliberately lopsided so that your time is mostly a few short actions.
Your part
- Share the documents on the OPC checklist: PAN, Aadhaar, photo, nominee details, address proof and any owner NOC.
- Give two or three name options and confirm the authorised capital.
- Verify your DSC and review the MoA and AoA before they are signed.
- Approve the stamp duty amount your CA confirms for your state.
The CA's part
- Verify documents and check name availability
- Obtain the DSC and DIN, prepare the e-MoA and e-AoA
- File SPICe+ with AGILE-PRO-S, and answer any ROC or officer queries
- Deliver the Certificate of Incorporation, PAN and TAN
A practising Chartered Accountant reviews every filing, and the process is fully online with no office visit. The professional fee is a flat ₹1,999; see the OPC cost breakdown for stamp duty and other items.
Request a free callback and a CA will confirm your name, state and timeline within the hour.
Start OPC registration →What causes delays in OPC registration?
The most common delays are a name rejection, mismatched documents, and Registrar queries on the address or nominee. Most of these are avoidable, and all of them can be caught before filing.
- Name rejected. A name too close to an existing company or trademark, or using a restricted word, sends you back to Part A. Give several options.
- Name mismatch across PAN, Aadhaar and DSC. The single most common cause of a query.
- Stale address proof or missing NOC. A utility bill older than about 60 days, or a rented address with no owner NOC.
- Address inconsistency between SPICe+ and AGILE-PRO-S.
- Nominee issues. Consent missing, or the nominee already named in another OPC.
- Defective or expired DSC.
- Slow responses from you. A query left open for days is the one delay you fully control.
Keep the first-week rhythm simple: send documents, reply within a few hours to any question from your CA, and approve the stamp duty promptly. Founders who do this usually stay at the short end of the range.
The system allows a limited number of resubmissions after a query (reported as two for SPICe+), so one careful application beats several fast ones. Each cycle adds several working days.
Can OPC registration be done faster than 7 working days?
Realistically no: the name approval and the Registrar's examination of SPICe+ Part B are steps you cannot speed up, and they alone take most of the time. Anyone promising a certificate in two or three days is describing an unusually smooth case, not a standard one.
What you can control is your side of the clock. Send complete, matching documents on day one. Keep your phone and email open during the first week. Choose a name that is easy to clear. Decide your nominee before you start. Those four choices are what make the difference between 7 and 15 working days.
Also plan for what comes after the certificate. Opening a current account, appointing the first auditor and filing the declaration of commencement of business (INC-20A, within 180 days of incorporation) all follow. A summary of these is in OPC annual compliance and filings.
Should you start your OPC registration with Shunya?
If you want a CA to run the timeline for you, Shunya's flat ₹1,999 professional fee, 7 to 10 working days standard turnaround and fee waiver beyond 15 working days give you a clear commitment on both cost and time. Stamp duty and any government fee are extra, at actual cost, and confirmed before you pay.
If you want to do it yourself, that is possible with the right professional certification; compare both routes in OPC registration with a CA vs DIY. And if you are unsure OPC is the right structure, see Private Limited vs LLP vs OPC first.
To begin, request a free callback on the OPC page; a CA calls within the hour. You can also WhatsApp or call +91 80809 18797.
How many days does OPC registration take?
Shunya's standard turnaround is 7 to 10 working days, and independent filing sources put a clean application at roughly 7 to 15 working days as of September 2026. The clock runs from complete, matching documents. If it takes longer than 15 working days from that date, Shunya waives the ₹1,999 professional fee.
What is the first step in OPC registration?
The first step is a short consultation and sharing your documents: PAN, Aadhaar, photo, nominee details and address proof. Your CA then checks name availability and reserves the name in SPICe+ Part A. The reserved name is valid for 20 days, within which the incorporation application must be filed.
Is any physical visit or paperwork needed?
No. Shunya's OPC process is fully online and CA-assisted, with no office visit. You share documents digitally, sign electronically using the DSC your CA arranges, and receive the Certificate of Incorporation, PAN and TAN online.
What happens if the Registrar raises a query?
The CA responds to the Registrar's query, usually by correcting a document or detail and resubmitting. Reported limits allow a small number of resubmissions, and each round can add several working days. That is why documents are verified before filing, so queries are rare.
What can I do after receiving the Certificate of Incorporation?
After incorporation you typically open a current account, appoint the first auditor, and file the declaration of commencement of business within 180 days. Annual filings and the mandatory audit follow. Ask your CA on the callback about post-incorporation help, because these are outside the registration fee.
Does the 15 working day fee waiver apply to all delays?
The waiver applies if registration takes longer than 15 working days from the date you submit complete documents. Delay caused by missing or mismatched documents is different, because the clock starts from complete documents. Confirm the exact terms with your CA on the callback before you start.
This article is for general information only. For your specific situation, consult a practicing CA.
Ready to register your OPC?
Request a free callback or pay the ₹1,999 professional fee online and a CA starts your filing. Government fees and stamp duty are billed separately at actual cost.
Professional fee ₹1,999. Government fees and state stamp duty are billed separately. Turnaround is 7–10 working days; the professional fee is waived if it takes longer than 15 working days from the date you submit complete documents.