Collection of all the relevant documents to register a Public Limited Company is essential to guarantee the registration process of the company in line with the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013. With proper documentation, approval from the Registrar of Companies can be obtained in time without facing any delay in the registration process.
A Public Limited Company is an organization that has the right to raise funds from the general masses through shares while enjoying the advantage of limited liability. To incorporate a Public Limited Company, certain documents are to be provided by promoters/directors to ROC.
What Is a Public Limited Company in India?
Public Limited Company (PLC) is an organization in which shares can be issued to the general public, and it is mostly governed by the Companies Act, 2013 along with the MCA and SEBI rules for listed companies.
The main difference between a Public Limited Company and Private Limited Company is that the former has a minimum of 7 members and 3 directors, while the latter has a maximum of 50 members and 2 directors.
List Of Required Documents To Register A Public Limited Company Registration
The registration is done entirely online via the SPICe+ (Simplified Proforma for Incorporating Company Electronically Plus) form on the MCA21 portal. Documents fall into four categories.
1. Identity Proof of Directors & Shareholders
Accepted documents:
- PAN Card (mandatory for Indian nationals)
- Passport (mandatory for foreign nationals)
- Aadhaar Card
- Voter ID
- Driving License
2. Address Proof of Directors & Shareholders
(Should usually be less than 2 months old)
Accepted documents:
- Bank Statement
- Electricity Bill
- Mobile Bill
- Telephone Bill
- Gas Bill
3. Registered Office Address Proof
Required documents:
- Electricity Bill / Water Bill / Property Tax Receipt
- Rent Agreement (if rented property)
- No Objection Certificate (NOC) from property owner
- Sale Deed (if owned property)
4. Passport Size Photographs
- Recent passport-size photos of all directors
5. Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)
- Required for all proposed directors
6. Director Identification Number (DIN)
- Required for all directors
7. Memorandum of Association (MOA)
Includes:
- Company objectives
- Business activities
- Authorized capital details
8. Articles of Association (AOA)
Defines:
- Internal management rules
- Shareholding rules
- Director powers & responsibilities
9. Company Name Approval Documents
- Proposed company names
- Trademark check (recommended)
10. Incorporation Forms
Main MCA forms include:
- SPICe+ Part A & B
- AGILE-PRO
- e-MOA (INC-33)
- e-AOA (INC-34)
- INC-9 declaration
11. Additional Documents for Foreign Directors/NRIs
- Notarized & apostilled passport
- Overseas address proof
- Visa/residence proof (if applicable)
Eligibility Requirements Before You Start
Before the document collection process, it is important to ascertain that your intended company satisfies the following criteria:
- 7+ shareholders (no cap on maximum number)
- 3+ directors (one director has to be an Indian resident; this means that he/she should have been physically present in India for at least 182 days during the preceding year)
- Paid up capital of ₹5 lakh or above (according to MCA)
- Distinct company name sanctioned by MCA and ending with “Limited”
Post-Incorporation Documents to Keep Ready
Once the Certificate of Incorporation (CoI) is issued with CIN, PAN, and TAN, you’ll need these within a set timeline:
| Document | Form | Deadline |
| Declaration of Commencement of Business | INC-20A | Within 180 days of incorporation |
| Appointment of Statutory Auditor | ADT-1 | Within 30 days of incorporation |
| Bank Current Account Opening | — | Within 180 days |
| DIN KYC (annual) | DIR-3 KYC | Every year |
Step-by-Step Registration Process (Quick Overview)
Registering a Public Limited Company in India involves several legal and procedural steps under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). Here is a quick overview of the complete registration process:
- Obtain DSC for all proposed directors (1–3 working days)
- Reserve company name via SPICe+ Part A (approved for 20 days)
- Draft MOA and AOA with help from a CS/CA
- File SPICe+ Part B with all documents attached
- Pay government fees (calculated on authorized capital — zero fee for capital up to ₹15 lakh)
- Receive Certificate of Incorporation with PAN, TAN, and CIN from MCA (typically within 7–15 working days)
Advantages of Registering a Public Limited Company
There are various advantages of registering Public Limited Companies for businesses that plan to operate on a long-term basis and in a big way.
- Easy Capital Raising: One can easily raise money through a Public Limited Company by selling shares.
- Limited Liabilities: Only the money invested is at stake for shareholders.
- High Business Credibility: Public companies are usually trusted by banks and investors.
- Easier Expansion of the Business: Availability of huge funds makes rapid growth possible.
- Transfer of Shares: Share transfer is easy in case of any company.
- Separate Legal Entity: A company exists separately from its members.
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Common Mistakes That Lead to Rejection
- Utility bills older than 2 months for office address proof
- Mismatch between the name on PAN card and other identity documents
- Missing NOC from the property owner
- Foreign national documents not apostilled
- Personal email IDs of directors not provided (using CA’s email instead)
Public vs. Private Limited Company: Key Document Differences
There are a few important differences between Pvt Ltd and public Ltd company registration documents.
| Requirement | Public Limited Company | Private Limited Company |
| Minimum Directors | 3 | 2 |
| Minimum Shareholders | 7 | 2 |
| Minimum Paid-up Capital | ₹5 lakh | No minimum |
| Name ends with | “Limited” | “Private Limited” |
| Shares offered to public | Yes | No |
Final Word
Registering a Public Limited Company in India has become significantly more straightforward since the introduction of the SPICe+ form — what once required running between offices and filing multiple applications separately is now a single integrated process on the MCA portal.
The key to a smooth registration is simple: get your documents right the first time. Pay special attention to the age of utility bills, the consistency of names across documents, NOC for the registered office, and proper apostilling for any foreign national involved.
Once you have everything in order, the SPICe+ process is genuinely efficient. Most companies with clean documentation receive their Certificate of Incorporation within two weeks.
FAQs
Q1: Can a foreign national be a director in an Indian Public Limited Company?
A foreign national can be a director, provided that he has his passport (apostilled/notarized), proof of foreign address, DSC, and DIN. But there should be one Indian resident director in the company.
Q2: Is a physical office mandatory for registration?
Yes, an office address in India is mandatory for registration. It may not necessarily be an operational office but even a CA’s office or any office with NOC will do the job.
Q3: How long does it take to register a Public Limited Company in India?
Typically 7–15 working days after all documents are submitted via SPICe+, assuming no resubmission is required.
Q4: What is the government fee for public limited company registration?
It is calculated based on authorized capital. Companies with authorized capital up to ₹15 lakh pay zero MCA filing fees. Beyond that, fees are tiered as per MCA’s fee schedule.
Q5: Is GST registration mandatory during incorporation?
No. GST registration via the AGILE-PRO form linked to SPICe+ is optional at the time of incorporation. It becomes mandatory only once your turnover crosses the prescribed threshold.
Q6: Can the MOA and AOA be customized?
Yes. While standard templates are available as eMOA and eAOA through SPICe+, you can upload a custom MOA/AOA if your company has a complex structure. This is recommended when done through a Company Secretary (CS).
Q7: What happens if a document is rejected by the ROC?
You can resubmit the SPICe+ form up to twice in case of rejection. An SRN (Service Request Number) is issued at the time of submission, which is used to track and resubmit.
