If you need the company registration number in India for a bank application, vendor verification, contract or MCA filing, start with the company’s Corporate Identity Number (CIN). It is a 21-character identifier issued by the Registrar of Companies (RoC). You can look it up using the company's registered name on the official Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) website Official ↗.
There is one important distinction: people often call the full CIN a company registration number, but the six-digit RoC registration number is only the final portion of the CIN. This guide shows how to find both, understand the format and check whether the company is active.
Want to check a company right now? Visit MCA's official portal Official ↗, open MCA Services, then look for Find CIN or View Company/LLP Master Data. Search by the registered legal name and review the record. Portal labels may change.
How to find a company registration number in India online
Find and verify a CIN on MCA
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Open the official MCA website
Use mca.gov.in Official ↗ rather than an unofficial database or a sponsored search result.
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Open company search
Look under MCA Services for Find CIN or the company/LLP master-data search. Choose company, not LLP, when appropriate.
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Enter the registered company name
Use the full legal name if known, including Private Limited or Limited. Some portal journeys support partial-name or registration-number searches.
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Select the matching legal entity
Compare similar names carefully. Complete any captcha, sign-in or additional verification shown by the portal.
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Record and confirm the CIN
Check the 21-character CIN against company status, registered office, incorporation date and other available master-data fields.
You can also find the CIN on a company's Certificate of Incorporation and many of its statutory business documents. If a company has changed its name, a search using the current registered name is safer than relying on old paperwork. MCA's MCA21 help guide Official ↗ documents its Find CIN search by name or RoC registration number; the live interface may differ.
What if you only know part of the company name?
Search for the distinctive words in the business name, then compare the results against the address and incorporation details you already know. Avoid assuming that two similarly named firms are the same entity. If a supplier's invoice uses a trade name rather than its legal name, ask for the registered legal name or a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation.
What can you verify using the CIN?
MCA master data can help you check whether the named entity exists in the register and review information such as company status, registered office, incorporation date and capital details when displayed. An 'Active' status does not certify a company's financial health, honesty or ability to pay. For a significant transaction, you may need further checks on filings, charges, contracts and relevant licences.
What is a company registration number (CIN)?
CIN stands for Corporate Identity Number (also described in MCA materials as Corporate Identification Number). It is an alphanumeric company identifier assigned on incorporation and used in MCA filings and public records. The full CIN contains 21 characters; it is not a 21-digit number because it includes letters.
A private limited company, public company, One Person Company or applicable Section 8 company receives a CIN. An LLP instead receives an LLPIN, while a sole proprietorship does not receive a company CIN merely by starting business.
CIN number format in India: 21-character example
Consider this fictional example, not an actual registered company:
U12345MH2026PTC123456
| Part of CIN | Example | Length | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
Listing indicator | U | 1 | U generally denotes unlisted; L denotes listed |
Industry code | 12345 | 5 | Industry classification code used in the identifier |
State code | MH | 2 | State code, here Maharashtra |
Incorporation year | 2026 | 4 | Year encoded in the CIN |
Company category code | PTC | 3 | PTC commonly indicates private company; PLC indicates public company |
RoC registration number | 123456 | 6 | Serial registration-number component |
One CIN = 1 + 5 + 2 + 4 + 3 + 6 = 21 characters. The illustration explains the structure only; do not use it to verify an actual business. Use the current MCA master-data record for authoritative company details.
Understand the two numbers
Full company CIN
21 characters
Letters and digits identifying the company
RoC registration number
6 digits
Final six characters within a typical CIN
Company name
Not necessarily unique in conversation
Check the complete registered legal name
Is the company registration number the last six digits of CIN?
If a form specifically requests RoC registration number, it generally means the six-digit serial component. If it asks for CIN, provide the full 21-character identifier. Where a bank or vendor says only "company registration number," check the required format rather than assuming the answer.
Can two companies have the same company registration number?
Two companies should not have the same complete CIN at the same point in time. But the six-digit registration component alone is not sufficient to identify a company nationwide; consider the full CIN and the appropriate RoC jurisdiction.
Where can I find my own company's CIN?
- Certificate of Incorporation: Your most direct original incorporation record.
- MCA master data: Search the company's current legal name or known CIN.
- MCA filing records: Certain statutory forms and acknowledgement materials include the CIN.
- Company correspondence: Section 12(3)(c) requires the CIN to be printed on specified company documents, including business letters and billheads.
Do not confuse your CIN with your Director Identification Number (DIN). DIN identifies a director, while CIN identifies the incorporated company.
CIN vs LLPIN vs GSTIN vs PAN vs Udyam registration
| Identifier | Mainly identifies | Typical format | Issuing framework |
|---|---|---|---|
CIN | Registered company | 21 alphanumeric characters | MCA / RoC |
LLPIN | Limited liability partnership | 7 characters, often AAA-1234 | MCA / RoC |
GSTIN | GST-registered taxpayer | 15 characters | GST registration system |
PAN | Income-tax assessee | 10 alphanumeric characters | Income Tax Department |
Udyam Registration Number | Registered MSME | UDYAM-XX-00-0000000 | Ministry of MSME |
A business may have more than one of these identifiers at the same time. For example, an incorporated company can have a CIN, PAN, GSTIN and Udyam registration if it meets the conditions. These numbers are not interchangeable.
How does a new company get a registration number in India?
The RoC allots the CIN as part of incorporating a company through the MCA's applicable incorporation process, including SPICe+ for eligible company formations. There is no need to apply separately for a second CIN after receiving the Certificate of Incorporation.
Generally, the business first settles its proposed structure, prepares director and shareholder details, arranges a registered office, completes the required digital signatures and incorporates through MCA. The final documents and costs depend on the company type, authorised capital, stamp duty and filing circumstances.
If you're planning to incorporate, see TaxQue's private limited company registration service or OPC registration service. You can also compare private and public companies before deciding.
Does a company's CIN ever change?
Although the CIN identifies a continuing legal entity, some components may be updated following a registered change, including changes involving listing status, state of registered office or company classification. Do not treat an older CIN printed on a document as conclusive without checking the current MCA record.
A change in company name alone does not automatically create a new company. Verify both the old and current names with the Registrar's records when assessing historical contracts.
Where is a company required to display its CIN?
Section 12(3)(c) of the Companies Act, 2013 requires prescribed corporate details, including CIN, on specified documents. Companies should review the exact provision and applicable amendments when designing their letterheads, business letters, billheads, notices and other official publications.
Verifying registration is not the same as approving a business. A matching CIN is an essential identity check, but should be combined with commercial due diligence for large orders, loans and investments.
Common CIN search problems and what to do
| Problem | Practical next step |
|---|---|
| No company found | Check spelling, legal suffix and any recent name change; retry using distinctive words |
| Several companies have similar names | Compare registered office, CIN, date of incorporation and other identifying details |
| CIN on invoice differs from MCA | Ask the vendor for an explanation and updated incorporation records before relying on the invoice |
| Only GSTIN is available | Ask for the legal name; GSTIN and CIN are different identifiers |
| Company shows inactive or struck-off status | Examine the current MCA record and obtain specialist advice before entering a significant transaction |
| Portal not responding | Retry the official MCA portal later; avoid submitting sensitive documents to third-party search pages |
Company registration number in India: a practical verification checklist
- ○ I have the complete legal name of the company.
- ○ I checked its 21-character CIN on the official MCA website.
- ○ I confirmed the RoC registration-number component where required.
- ○ I compared its status and registered office with the documents provided.
- ○ I checked relevant filings or professional advice where the transaction carries meaningful risk.
The bottom line
For a company incorporated in India, the Corporate Identity Number (CIN) is the standard identification reference most people mean when they ask for the company registration number. The full CIN is 21 characters; the RoC serial registration number is a six-digit portion of it. You can find and verify the CIN using the official MCA services without relying on an unofficial lookup site.
For a new incorporation, TaxQue can assist with company registration and related compliance paperwork. If you are simply verifying another business, begin with the official MCA website Official ↗ and use the complete legal name.
Explore company registration assistance
Official references
- Ministry of Corporate Affairs Official ↗ — official company search and master-data services.
- MCA21 online help: finding a CIN Official ↗ — official search instructions; menus can vary on the current portal.
- Companies Act, 2013 on India Code — legal framework, including Section 12.
