How to get a MCA certificate of incorporation (India company extract)
Free, official, source-cited — updated 2026-06.
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How do I get an official company extract in India?
An official India MCA certificate of incorporation is issued by MCA at https://www.mca.gov.in. Free public search covers most verification needs; a paid certified MCA certificate of incorporation is normally only required for banking, tenders, court filings or notarised transactions.
Step-by-step
- 1
Confirm the entity first
Search by name or registration number and confirm you have the right legal entity before paying for anything.
- 2
Decide whether you need a certified copy
For internal due diligence, the free public record is usually sufficient. Certified extracts are for banks, tender submissions, courts and notaries.
- 3
Request the extract from MCA
Extracts are issued by the register itself at https://www.mca.gov.in. Third parties cannot issue a certified document.
https://www.mca.gov.in - 4
Check the issue date
Most counterparties require an extract issued within the last three months, so request it close to when you need to submit it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a paid extract to verify a India company?
Usually not. The free public record from MCA confirms legal name, registration number, status and registered address. A certified extract is only needed when a bank, court or tender explicitly requires one.
What does a India company extract contain?
Typically the legal name, registration number, incorporation date, registered address, entity type and current status — the same core fields visible in the free record, but issued as an official document.
Can a third-party site issue an official extract?
No. Only MCA can issue a certified extract for India. Third-party tools help you find and monitor the record, not certify it.
What is a CIN number?
CIN (Corporate Identity Number) is a 21-character alphanumeric code assigned to every company registered with MCA. It encodes the listing status (U/L), industry code, state, year of incorporation, ownership type, and a serial number. Example: U72200KA2004PTC035747.
People also ask about get an official company extract in India
The exact questions searchers type into Google — answered from the primary source.
Is the India company register free to search?
Yes. Basic company lookups on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) are free — you can search by company name or registration number, view legal status, registered address and (usually) directors at no cost. Some jurisdictions charge a small fee only for downloading full filed documents.
What is the official India business registry?
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) is the official public register of companies incorporated in India. It is operated by the government and is the primary source cited on this page — https://www.mca.gov.in.
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