Whether you’re planning to start a business, dealing with vendors or employers, or just want to verify if a company is legitimate, one important step is knowing how to check a company registration number — also known as Corporate Identification Number (CIN) in India. This detailed guide will walk you through every method available — online and offline — in a simple and engaging way.

🧠 What Is a Company Registration Number (CIN)?

Before we begin with the steps, let’s quickly understand what a company registration number is.

The Company Registration Number in India is officially called the Corporate Identification Number (CIN). It is a 21-digit unique alphanumeric number issued by the Registrar of Companies (RoC) when a company is incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013. This unique number gives identity to the company and is mandatory to display on all official documents.

📌 Why Do You Need to Check a Company Registration Number?

Checking a company’s registration number is useful for many reasons:

✔ Verify if a company is legally registered
✔ Avoid fraud and fake companies
✔ Know company details like directors, address, status, incorporation year
✔ Use it for legal and compliance checks
✔ Important when entering into contracts or business deals

Now let’s see how to check the company registration number.

🖥️ 1. Online Methods to Check Company Registration Number

The easiest and most common way to check a company registration number in India is online. There are government and private tools where anyone can search using the company name, registration number, or status.

⛳ A. Via MCA (Ministry of Corporate Affairs) Official Portal

The Registrar of Companies (RoC) under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) maintains the official database of all registered companies in India.

▶ Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Open Browser
   Go to the official MCA portal: www.mca.gov.in
2. Find MCA Services
   On the homepage, click on “MCA Services.”
3. Select ‘Find CIN/GLN/LLPIN’
   Under Company Services, click “Find CIN.” This opens the search page for companies.
4. Choose Search Option
   You can search by:
   • Company Name
   • Registration Number
   • Inactive CIN
   • Old Company Name
5. Enter Details
   Type the company name (even partial) and click Search.
6. View Results
   The system will show you the company’s CIN, registration status, date of incorporation, registered office address, and other useful details.

📌 Tip: Try different spellings or part of the name if the full name doesn’t appear.

📊 B. Search Through Third-Party Free Tools

Besides the MCA site, there are free tools on trusted websites (like RegisterKaro) where you can get similar details in an easier format:

🔍 Visit a site like RegisterKaro and enter the company name or CIN — it will show:

• CIN
• Company status
• Directors
• Registered office address
• Incorporation year

These tools fetch the same data from the MCA database.

👉 These tools are user-friendly and easy for beginners, but official MCA source is always stronger because it’s the government database.

📱 C. Using Mobile Apps & YouTube Tutorials

There are many video tutorials and mobile apps that guide how to use the official MCA website to find a CIN. One such video by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs shows how to check CIN by company name step-by-step.

🏢 2. Offline Ways to Check Company Registration Number

Not everyone may have quick internet access, or sometimes you may want to check details without using a computer.

Here are reliable offline methods:

🧾 A. Certificate of Incorporation

Every registered company in India gets a Certificate of Incorporation from the Registrar of Companies at the time of formation.

📌 Where to find CIN on it:
The CIN is printed clearly on the top of the Certificate of Incorporation — usually below the company name.

If someone gives you a copy of this certificate, you can directly read the CIN from there.

🗂️ B. Company Documents & Official Letters

Every company is legally required to mention its CIN on all official documents, including:
✔ Letterheads
✔ Invoices
✔ Contracts
✔ Annual reports
✔ Public notices

So even if someone gives you a copy of these documents, you can locate the CIN easily if it’s a registered company.

🕵️‍♂️ C. Ask the Company Directly

If the company is legitimate, you can simply ask them to provide their Company Registration Number (CIN) and a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation.

A genuine company normally won’t hesitate because this number is public information.

📍 3. Common Mistakes to Avoid When Checking CIN

To make sure you get the correct company registration number, avoid these errors:

❌ Searching with a wrong company name
❌ Using non-official sites that may show outdated or incorrect data
❌ Relying only on social media or screenshots
❌ Forgetting that companies often change names — so you might need to try older names too

Always check the official MCA portal first — it’s the most trustworthy source.

🧩 4. What If the Company Is Not Showing Up?

Sometimes, you search on the MCA portal and nothing appears. Here’s what could be the reason:

⚠ Company name may be entered incorrectly
⚠ You are searching under “Active / Free text” instead of “Inactive or Old names”
⚠ Company is very new and not yet updated (it may take a few days)

If you still cannot find it, the company might not be registered at all, which is a red flag when dealing with vendors or employers.

🧠 5. Why Company Registration Number Matters for Everyone

Even if you’re not a business owner, skills to check a company registration number are incredibly useful:

🔎 Consumers — before buying products or services
📈 Investors — before investing money
📃 Job Seekers — before joining a company
🛠 Professionals — to verify authenticity before any partnership

It protects you from fake firms, scams, and fraud in daily life.

🧾 6. Quick Summary — How to Check Company Registration Number

✅ Online

✔ MCA official website
✔ Third-party verification tools
✔ Mobile apps / video tutorials

🖨 Offline

✔ Certificate of Incorporation
✔ Company documents (invoices, letters)
✔ Ask the company directly

🧠 Important Terms You Should Know

🏁 Final Thoughts

Checking a company registration number online or offline is one of the most powerful steps you can take to stay informed, safe, and smart in business dealings.

Whether you’re planning to do business, investing money, or just verifying a company’s authenticity, mastering these simple steps can protect you from scams and fraud.