The MCA21 portal at mca.gov.in allows anyone to download company documents like Certificate of Incorporation (Rs 50) and MOA, AOA, annual returns (Rs 25 each) instantly. A free MCA account is required; downloads are digitally signed PDFs legally valid for domestic use.
MCA Certificate Download: How to Get Company Documents from MCA21 Portal
The MCA21 portal at mca.gov.in is the central repository for all documents filed by Indian companies under the Companies Act 2013. Whether you need a Certificate of Incorporation for a bank account, the MOA for due diligence, annual returns for a loan application, or charge documents for a property transaction — they are all downloadable online within minutes for a nominal fee of Rs 25-50. This guide covers every document type, its fee, and the exact download process.
- Company master data (status, directors, CIN, capital) is free — no login needed
- Most filed documents cost Rs 25; Certificate of Incorporation costs Rs 50
- Downloads are instant PDFs with digital signature — legally valid for domestic use
- A free MCA account is required for document downloads; creation takes 5 minutes
- MCA V3 portal (2022 onwards) — older V2 guides may show a different interface
- What Documents Can You Download from MCA and Why Does the Portal Matter?
- How Do You Create an MCA Account to Access Downloadable Documents?
- How Do You Download a Certificate of Incorporation from MCA?
- What Other Company Documents Can You Download from the MCA Portal?
- What Are the MCA Document Download Fees and How Do You Pay?
- What Is the Difference Between Downloading and Filing on MCA?
- What Should You Do When MCA Document Download Fails or the Portal Is Down?
What Documents Can You Download from MCA and Why Does the Portal Matter?
Every document a company files with the Registrar of Companies (ROC) is stored on MCA21 and made publicly accessible via the “View Public Documents” service. This covers the entire lifecycle of a company — from incorporation to annual filings to winding up. For professionals, due diligence teams, bankers, and company owners, MCA is the single authoritative source for verified corporate documents.
The portal matters because it holds documents that companies themselves may have misplaced, and because any document downloaded from MCA carries a digital signature, making it court-admissible and accepted by all government agencies. You don’t need to contact the ROC office or wait for physical courier — everything is available online 24/7.
| Document Category | Key Documents | Who Needs It |
|---|---|---|
| Incorporation | Certificate of Incorporation (INC-11), MOA, AOA | Banks, GST registration, tenders, due diligence |
| Annual Filings | MGT-7 (Annual Return), AOC-4 (Financial Statements) | Lenders, investors, compliance verification |
| Charges | CHG-1, CHG-4, CHG-9 (loan/mortgage registrations) | Property buyers, lenders checking existing encumbrances |
| Changes | Name change (INC-24), Address change (INC-22), Director changes | Contract parties verifying current company details |
| Winding Up | STK-2 (strike off), liquidation orders | Creditors, courts, insolvency professionals |
How Do You Create an MCA Account to Access Downloadable Documents?
A free MCA account is required to download any document. The registration process on MCA V3 takes under 5 minutes with email + mobile OTP. No DSC is required for downloads.
How Do You Download a Certificate of Incorporation from MCA?
For companies incorporated after 2014, the COI is filed as Form INC-11. The process is identical for all documents — only the fee differs (Rs 50 for COI vs Rs 25 for most others).
- Log in to mca.gov.in
- Click MCA Services → View Public Documents
- Search by company name or CIN
- Find the “Incorporation” section in the document list
- Check the box next to INC-11 (Certificate of Incorporation)
- Add to Cart and pay Rs 50 via net banking, card, or UPI
- Download the digitally signed PDF — available immediately
What Other Company Documents Can You Download from the MCA Portal?
Beyond the COI, MCA holds every document ever filed by the company. Here is a reference list of the most useful documents and their form numbers.
| Document | Form No. | What It Shows | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Incorporation | INC-11 | CIN, company name, date of incorporation | Rs 50 |
| Memorandum of Association | MOA | Object clause, subscribers, capital structure | Rs 25 |
| Articles of Association | AOA | Internal governance, share transfer rules | Rs 25 |
| Annual Return | MGT-7 / MGT-7A | Shareholding, directors, AGM details | Rs 25 |
| Financial Statements | AOC-4 | Balance sheet, P&L, auditor report | Rs 25 |
| Charge Documents | CHG-1, CHG-4, CHG-9 | Loans secured against company assets | Rs 25 |
| Director Changes | DIR-12 | Board composition changes with dates | Rs 25 |
What Are the MCA Document Download Fees and How Do You Pay?
MCA document fees are payable through the NSDL payment gateway. You can add multiple documents to a single cart and pay in one transaction. Accepted modes: net banking (major banks), Visa/Mastercard/RuPay debit cards, credit cards, and UPI (GPay, PhonePe, BHIM).
| Document Type | Fee per Document | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Company master data | Free | No login required |
| Certificate of Incorporation | Rs 50 | Login required |
| All other company documents | Rs 25 each | Login required |
| Certified physical copy (GNL-2) | Varies | Via ROC office or online challan |
What Is the Difference Between Downloading and Filing on MCA?
Document download (reading public records) and MCA filing (submitting official documents) are entirely different functions with different requirements.
| Aspect | Document Download | MCA Filing |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Retrieve existing filed documents | Submit new documents to ROC |
| Who can do it | Anyone with a free MCA account | Directors/authorised professionals with DSC |
| DSC required? | No | Yes (Class 3 DSC) |
| Fee | Rs 25-50 per document | Rs 0 to Rs 10,000+ depending on form type |
What Should You Do When MCA Document Download Fails or the Portal Is Down?
The MCA21 portal experiences downtime during maintenance (typically Sunday nights). If a download fails after payment, do not pay again.
- Payment deducted but no download: Go to MCA Services → Transactions → View Transactions. Click the download icon beside the document.
- PDF not loading: Clear browser cache, disable ad blockers, use Chrome or Firefox.
- Portal is down: MCA maintenance is typically Sundays 12 AM-6 AM IST. Try again after a few hours.
- Document not available (very old company): Contact the ROC office directly or file Form GNL-2 for a certified physical copy.
- Payment failed but amount deducted: Call MCA helpdesk 1800-200-3009 or use the portal’s “Contact Us” form. Refunds processed in 7-10 business days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Log in to mca.gov.in → MCA Services → View Public Documents, search for the company, select the document, add to cart, pay Rs 25-50, and download the PDF instantly.
Certificate of Incorporation: Rs 50. All other documents: Rs 25 each. Company master data is free.
Only company master data is free and login-free. All document downloads require a free MCA account.
Downloads are instant after payment. If download fails, check your MCA transaction history to re-download without paying again.
Company master data only — status, CIN, directors, capital, filing dates. All actual filed documents require payment of Rs 25-50 each.
Related guides: MCA Online Company Verification • CIN Certificate Download • Company Registration in India
CA Madhusmita Padal is a Practicing Chartered Accountant with firms based in Odisha and Chennai. She specializes in taxation, company law, and auditing. She is passionate about simplifying complex concepts and making knowledge accessible to all.