How to Download Certificate of Incorporation from MCA: Free Step-by-Step Guide

Updated 23 September 2026 • 7 min read • Source: MCA21 Portal, Companies Act 2013

The Certificate of Incorporation (COI) is issued by the Registrar of Companies when a company is registered under the Companies Act 2013. If you have lost your original certificate, need a copy for bank account opening, or require it for international use, you can download a digital copy from the MCA21 portal for Rs 50. This guide covers the exact steps, what’s in the COI, and when you need a certified or apostilled copy.

Key Takeaways

Download COI from mca.gov.in for Rs 50 (one-time fee per download)
The downloaded PDF is digitally signed by ROC and legally valid without physical signature
Required for: bank account, GST registration, loan applications, government tenders
For overseas use, get a certified + apostilled copy from ROC + MEA
Your COI never changes — the same document proves registration throughout the company’s life

What Information Is Contained in a Certificate of Incorporation?

Field	Description
CIN	21-character Company Identification Number (unique to each company)
Company Name	As registered with ROC (including “Private Limited” or “Limited” suffix)
Date of Incorporation	The date when the company was officially registered
State of Incorporation	The ROC office (state) where the company is registered
Authorised Capital	Authorised share capital at the time of incorporation
ROC digital signature	Certificate is digitally signed by the Registrar — no physical stamp needed

How to Download Certificate of Incorporation from MCA in 6 Steps?

Go to mca.gov.in and log in to your MCA account (register if you don’t have one — it’s free). Use the email address linked to your company’s registration.

Go to MCA Services → View Public Documents (for anyone) or Company/LLP Master Data search. Search by your company name or CIN.

Click “View Documents” or “Get Documents” on the company page. You will see a list of available documents including the Certificate of Incorporation (INC-11).

Select the COI and pay Rs 50 — Pay via debit/credit card, net banking, or UPI. The payment is per document per download.

Download the PDF — After payment, the digitally signed COI PDF is available for immediate download. The PDF contains a QRCODE and digital signature of the ROC official.

Verify the document — Open in Adobe Reader. Go to the Signature panel to verify the ROC’s digital signature. The document is valid as-is for all domestic purposes (banks, GST, tenders).

Don’t Know Your CIN? Search the MCA public search tool at mca.gov.in/content/mca/global/en/mca/master-data/MDS.html. Enter your company name, state, and company type. The CIN appears in the results. Alternatively, check your GST registration certificate — the CIN is listed there too. See our CIN Certificate Download guide for more.

When Do You Need a Certified Copy of the COI?

The digitally signed PDF from MCA is accepted for most domestic purposes. However, some situations require a certified physical copy from the ROC or a notarised/apostilled copy for overseas use:

Situation	Document Required	Source
Bank account opening (India)	Digitally signed MCA PDF	Download from MCA for Rs 50
GST registration	Digitally signed MCA PDF	Download from MCA for Rs 50
Overseas bank account	Apostilled COI	Certified copy from ROC → MEA apostille
Foreign company registration	Apostilled or notarised COI	Certified copy from ROC → MEA apostille
Court proceedings	Certified copy from ROC	Apply at ROC office with Rs 50 fee + court fee

Does the Certificate of Incorporation Change When the Company Name Changes?

Yes — when a company changes its name, the ROC issues a new Certificate of Incorporation on change of name under Section 13/14 of the Companies Act. The original COI (showing the old name) remains part of the company’s history. The new COI shows the new name and the original date of incorporation (same date as always — the registration date never changes). For all current purposes, the latest COI (reflecting the current name) should be used. Both documents should be retained in company records.

What Should You Do If the COI Is Not Available for Download on MCA?

Some older companies (incorporated before 2006) may not have their COI digitised on the MCA portal. In this case:

Visit the concerned ROC office physically and apply for a certified copy of the COI
Pay the applicable ROC fee (Rs 50–250 depending on the document age)
The ROC will issue a certified copy with the Registrar’s physical signature and seal
Processing time: 1–5 working days at most ROC offices

Company Document Assistance: Need help downloading or certifying MCA documents? Tradeviser retrieves COIs, MOA, AOA, and other company documents from the MCA portal for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I download my Certificate of Incorporation from MCA?

Log in to mca.gov.in → Search company → View Documents → Select Certificate of Incorporation (INC-11) → Pay Rs 50 → Download the digitally signed PDF.

How much does it cost to download COI from MCA?

Rs 50 per document on the MCA portal. Finding the CIN and viewing the company master data is free. A physical certified copy from the ROC office costs Rs 50–250.

Is the MCA PDF of COI valid for bank account opening?

Yes — the digitally signed PDF from MCA is legally valid and accepted by banks, GST authorities, and government departments for all domestic purposes.

What if my COI is not available on MCA portal?

Older companies (pre-2006) may not be digitised. Visit the ROC office for the state where your company is registered and apply for a certified physical copy with the Registrar’s signature.

How is the COI different from the CIN?

The CIN (Company Identification Number) is a 21-character code that identifies your company. The COI is the official certificate document issued at incorporation — it contains the CIN along with other details like the incorporation date and authorised capital.