Licenses & Registrations
Digital Signature Certificate (DSC): Types, Uses & How to Get One
A Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) is the electronic equivalent of a handwritten signature, legally valid under the IT Act. It's mandatory for many official filings — company incorporation, ROC forms, GST, income tax (for companies/audits), e-tenders and EPFO.
Types of DSC
- Class 3: The current standard for almost all use cases — highest assurance, used for MCA, GST, income tax, tenders and trademark filings.
- DGFT DSC: A special variant used on the DGFT portal for import-export filings.
(Class 1 and Class 2 DSCs have been discontinued — Class 3 is now used everywhere.)
Where is a DSC required?
- Company & LLP incorporation and ROC filings (read our Pvt Ltd guide)
- GST registration and returns (for companies/LLPs)
- Income tax filing for companies and audit cases
- E-tenders and government procurement
- Trademark and patent filings
Documents required
- PAN card
- Aadhaar / ID proof
- Passport-size photo
- Mobile and email for OTP/video verification
The process
DSCs are issued by licensed Certifying Authorities. You apply, complete video + Aadhaar eKYC verification, and receive the certificate on a secure USB token. Validity is usually 1–3 years. Most DSCs are issued within hours once verification is complete.
FAQs
How long is a DSC valid? Typically 2 years, renewable.
Can one DSC be used for multiple portals? Yes — a Class 3 DSC works across MCA, GST, income tax and tenders.
Get a Class 3 DSC from Taxwapsi — fast issuance with full eKYC support.