Go Digital. Get DSC Registration.

A Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) is the electronic equivalent of a physical certificate, such as a driving licence or passport. It serves as proof of an individual’s identity for specific purposes. For instance, just as a passport identifies a citizen, a DSC can be presented electronically to verify identity, access online services, or digitally sign documents.

You can apply for Digital Signature Registration online via several websites such as LegalWiz.in that provide legally valid Digital Signature Certificates issued exclusively through the Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA), Government of India, and licensed Certifying Authorities (CA) such as eMudhra, NIC, TCS, MTNL, and n-code.

A Certifying Authority is a trusted organization responsible for issuing, renewing, and revoking Digital Signature Certificates. As defined by the Information Technology Act of 2000, a Certifying Authority is licensed to issue DSCs.

In the context of the booming e-commerce sector, the adoption of digital signatures has become essential, with many government forms mandating that they be signed digitally by authorized individuals. Consequently, both individuals and organizations must secure a digital signature certificate. A DSC serves to confirm the identity of its holder, functioning similarly to identification documents like a PAN card or passport, thereby enabling the holder to validate their identity.

Generally, it can take upto a week to register DSC as Certifying Authorities take between three to seven days to issue a DSC.

A Digital Signature Certificate is crucial for electronically verifying your identity. It enhances security for online transactions, ensuring the privacy of exchanged information. DSCs can encrypt data so that only the intended recipient can access it and can also digitally sign information to confirm its integrity during transmission.

A digital signature certificate is a legally recognized tool that allows for the digital signing of various documents. It is applicable for filing income tax returns, participating in e-tenders, and completing various regulatory filings for businesses.

There were originally several types of dsc  available. There were 3 DSC classes. The different types of DSC were:

• Class 1: This type would only verifies the name and email address of individuals.
• Class 2: This was  used by companies and other entities for filing tax returns. A Class 2 DSC verifies the identity of a person against a trusted database.
• Class 3: This was used by individuals or entities that need to sign forms online on government portals, such as company registration or EPF registration forms, and is also used for participating in online auctions or tenders. It is the most secure type of digital signature certificate.

Note: Currently only DSC Class III continue to be valid. It has replaced the other DSC classes.

The validity period of a DSC is determined by the Certifying Authorities, which can issue certificates valid for up to 3 years, depending on the class of DSC obtained. Holders must be aware of their certificate’s validity to prevent any business disruptions.

If you’re wondering how to check DSC validity, all you need to do is view your DSC, the validity is mentioned on it.

Yes, a digital signature certificate can be renewed! Renewal must be done under the same name; otherwise, it will be treated as a new application. Changes to postal addresses and contact details are permitted. If renewal is not completed in time, a new DSC must be applied for.

A digital signature is a secure electronic key that validates the authenticity and integrity of a message or digital document. In contrast, a digital certificate is issued by a trusted third party (CA) to confirm the identity of the certificate holder. Essentially, while a digital signature secures data during transmission, the digital certificate links the signature to the entity.

Yes, individuals can hold different digital signature certificates for personal and professional use. For varying document authorizations, an individual can apply for a Class 3 DSC, which is the highest level of security available.

No, acquiring a DSC involves fees charged by the Certifying Authority.

A person can have up to two DSCs linked to a single email address—one for personal use and another for professional purposes. Additionally, a third DSC can be obtained using a different email address.

Select the ‘User Type’ based on your need for a Digital Signature Certificate, whether for personal, corporate, or governmental purposes.

Choose a certificate type based on your requirements. There are options for certificates that allow only digital signing of documents and emails, or for encrypting documents and emails.

Selecting a token type depends on how you want to download digital signature certificate:

• Soft Token: If you wish to download digital signature certificate to your local machine for use on that specific device only.
• USB Token: If you wish to download digital signature certificate to a USB token or smart card, allowing use across multiple machines.

Yes, Digital Signature Certificates are recognized as legally valid via the Information Technology Act of 2000.

If you have several authorized signatories, you must obtain a separate Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) for each authorized signatory.