Documents Required for Public Limited Company Registration in India (2026 Checklist)
Public limited company registration needs identity and address documents for at least 3 directors and 7 subscribers, a photograph and DSC for each signer, registered office proof, an approved name ending in "Limited", and a public-company MOA and AOA. As of September 2026, a CA prepares the MOA/AOA and SPICe+ filing, so your job is to collect and match the personal documents.
What documents are required to register a public limited company?
To register a public limited company you need identity, address and photo documents for every director and subscriber, proof of the registered office, an approved company name and a memorandum and articles drafted for a public company. The volume is higher than for a private company because the minimum is 3 directors and 7 members.
Take Meera, a founder in Bengaluru, as an illustration. She has five co-founders ready to sign, and assumes seven names will be easy to find. Two relatives have to send scanned PAN cards and address proof from another city, and one cofounder's Aadhaar carries a different spelling from his PAN. Her real timeline is set by those seven sets of paperwork, not by the filing itself. The example is invented, but the pattern is common.
The checklist below lists what each person and the company must provide. Your CA prepares the MOA, the AOA and the SPICe+ form; you supply the source documents.
Public limited company registration documents checklist
The checklist has three groups: documents for each director, documents for each subscriber, and documents for the company itself. As of September 2026, these are the items filing sources and the live process most commonly require; your CA confirms the exact set for your case.
| Document | Who provides it | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| PAN card | Every director and subscriber | Name and date of birth must match Aadhaar exactly |
| Aadhaar card | Every director and subscriber | Mobile number linked, so OTP verification works |
| Passport-size photograph | Every director and subscriber | Recent, clear, plain background |
| Address proof | Every director and subscriber | Current address; ask your CA which document is accepted |
| Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) | Directors and subscribers who sign | Must match the PAN details; billed separately by the issuer |
| DIN (Director Identification Number) | Each director | Allotted through the incorporation form for new directors; the CA applies for it |
| Registered office proof | Company | Utility bill not older than 2 months, or rent agreement |
| Owner NOC | Company, if premises are not owned by a director | No-objection letter from the property owner |
| Proposed company name | Company | Must end in "Limited"; keep two or three alternatives ready |
| MOA and AOA | Prepared by your CA | Public-company drafting; e-signed by subscribers |
DSC and other third-party charges are billed separately from Shunya's professional fee of ₹1,999; your CA explains them on your callback.
Which documents do the 3 directors need?
A public limited company needs at least 3 directors, each an individual with a DIN, and each provides PAN, Aadhaar, a photograph, address proof and a DSC. At least one director must have stayed in India for 182 days or more in the previous financial year.
The DIN is the director's unique ID with the MCA. Through the incorporation form, up to three fresh DINs can be allotted in one go; if you have more than three new directors, additional DINs need a separate application. Your CA handles that sequencing so a fourth director does not stall the filing.
If a director is a foreign national or a non-resident Indian, the identity and address documents differ and may need attestation. That is general information only: your CA tells you the exact list on the callback. For the full list of who can be a director and what the law requires, read our guide to public limited company requirements.
Share your directors and subscribers on a free callback and a CA tells you exactly what to collect before filing.
Start Public Limited registration →Which documents do the 7 shareholders (subscribers) need?
A public limited company needs at least 7 subscribers to the memorandum, and each provides the same PAN, Aadhaar, photograph and address proof, plus a DSC to sign electronically. There is no upper limit on the number of shareholders.
Subscribers are the people who sign the MOA and agree to take shares at incorporation. Their signatures on the e-MOA and e-AOA are given by DSC, so a subscriber without a DSC cannot sign. List every subscriber separately with the number of shares each will take; a mismatch between that list and the capital structure is a common reason for a query from the Registrar.
Because seven people must all supply clear documents, start collecting on day one. Collecting from seven inboxes is usually the slowest part of the whole process, ahead of the ROC review itself. Our general documents guide covers the common set across company types.
What registered office proof does a public company need?
A public company needs proof of a registered office in India: a recent utility bill plus, if the premises are rented, a rent agreement, and a no-objection letter from the owner if the property is not owned by a director. A public company cannot use an address outside India.
The utility bill (electricity, for instance) should not be older than two months. If the premises belong to a director's family member, the NOC from that owner is still needed. The address on the proof should match the address you declare in the form.
The registered office also decides which state's stamp duty applies and which Registrar of Companies handles your filings, so choose it deliberately. Our registered office requirements guide explains the rules, which are the same in principle for public companies.
What do the name, MOA and AOA need to contain?
A public company's name must end in "Limited", not "Private Limited", and its MOA and AOA must be drafted for a public company. The objects clause states what the business will do, and the articles state how it is run.
A Public Limited MOA and AOA differ from a private company's in important ways. The articles drop the restriction on transferring shares and the 200-member cap, because a public company's shares are freely transferable. Copying a private-company template is a real trap: the filing may pass a basic check but leave you with articles that conflict with the structure you chose.
Keep your objects clause consistent with the business activity code you select in the form. An objects clause that does not match the activity code is a known cause of query notes. For name rules and how the Registrar approves names, read our guide on name availability and approval.
What mismatches get a public company filing rejected?
Filings are most often rejected or queried because of mismatches between documents, not because a document is missing. If the Registrar rejects a filing, you generally get 15 days to correct it and resubmit.
- Name or date-of-birth differences between PAN, Aadhaar and DIN records, even a single spelling variation.
- A DSC that does not match the PAN details of the person signing.
- Address proof older than two months, or an address that differs from the one declared.
- A missing owner NOC for rented or borrowed premises.
- A name too similar to an existing company or trademark.
- An objects clause that does not fit the activity code selected in the form.
Before your filing, your CA cross-checks each of these. To begin, you can request a free callback on the public limited company registration page or pay the professional fee online; either way a practising CA reviews the set before it is filed. You can also call or WhatsApp +91 80809 18797.
What documents are required for public limited company registration?
PAN, Aadhaar, a photograph, address proof and a DSC for every director and subscriber, plus registered office proof, an approved name ending in Limited, and a public-company MOA and AOA. Your CA prepares the MOA, AOA and the SPICe+ filing from your documents.
How many directors and shareholders are needed to register a public company?
At least 3 directors and 7 shareholders (subscribers). There is no maximum number of shareholders. At least one director must have stayed in India for 182 days or more in the previous financial year.
Is a DSC mandatory for a public limited company?
Yes, directors and subscribers sign the incorporation documents electronically with a Digital Signature Certificate, so each signer needs one. The DSC issuer's charge is billed separately from Shunya's professional fee, and your CA guides you through getting one.
What proof of registered office is accepted?
A recent utility bill, not older than two months, together with a rent agreement if the premises are rented, and a no-objection letter from the owner if it is not owned by a director. The address must be in India and match your form.
Can a public company use the same MOA and AOA as a private company?
No. A public company's articles drop share-transfer restrictions and the 200-member cap, and its name ends in Limited. Using a private template can leave you with articles that conflict with your structure, so the MOA and AOA should be drafted for a public company.
What happens if a document does not match?
The Registrar can reject or query the filing. You typically get 15 days to correct and resubmit. The most common causes are name or date-of-birth differences across PAN, Aadhaar and DIN, an old address proof, a missing owner NOC, or a name that is too similar to an existing one.
This article is for general information only. For your specific situation, consult a practicing CA.
Ready to register your Public Limited?
Request a free callback or pay the ₹1,999 professional fee online and a CA starts your filing. Government fees and other statutory costs are billed separately at actual cost.
Professional fee ₹1,999. Government fees, statutory costs and any third-party charges are billed separately; your CA walks you through them on your callback.