Business compliance
Udyam Registration (MSME Registration): Free Step-by-Step Guide on the Official Portal
Quick answer
Udyam registration is the government's free, online MSME registration. On udyamregistration.gov.in, choose "For New Entrepreneurs", verify your Aadhaar with an OTP, enter your PAN (your investment and turnover are fetched from ITR and GST records), fill in your business, bank and activity details, and submit with a final OTP. You get a permanent Udyam number at once and an e-certificate with a QR code. There is no renewal.
On this page
- Udyam registration at a glance
- Documents required for Udyam registration
- Whose Aadhaar and PAN to use
- How to apply for Udyam registration online, step by step
- How to download your Udyam certificate
- Micro, small or medium: how you're classified
- Benefits of Udyam registration
- No GST? Use the Udyam Assist Platform
- How to update or cancel Udyam registration
- Common Udyam registration errors and fixes
- Frequently asked questions
Udyam registration at a glance
- What it is
- The Ministry of MSME's official registration for micro, small and medium enterprises
- Official portal
- udyamregistration.gov.in only
- Fee
- Nil. Paperless and based on self-declaration
- Main documents
- Aadhaar (with linked mobile), PAN, and GSTIN where GST applies to you
- Time
- Usually one sitting; Udyam number on submission
- Validity
- Permanent. No renewal, but you must keep details updated
- Certificate
- E-certificate with a dynamic QR code
- Scale
- Over 4.77 crore Udyam registrations plus 1.99 crore on Udyam Assist (July 2024)
Sources: Udyam portal and SIDBI, listed at the end.
Documents required for Udyam registration
You need only your Aadhaar (with its linked mobile) and PAN, plus a GSTIN if GST applies to you. Nothing is uploaded. Keep these ready before you start:
-
Aadhaar number, with the mobile linked to it
OTPs go to this mobile; you can't finish without it.
-
PAN
Your own PAN for a proprietorship; the firm's or company's PAN for other entities.
-
GSTIN, if your business is required to have one
Not needed if GST doesn't apply to you.
-
Bank account number and IFSC of the business account
-
Business address, and address of each plant or unit
-
Date the business started (and date of incorporation, if any)
-
Number of employees (male, female, others)
-
Your main business activity, to pick the right NIC code
You can search by keyword on the portal.
Whose Aadhaar and PAN to use
Use the Aadhaar of the person who runs the business and the PAN of the business itself. For a proprietorship, both are the proprietor's own.
| Business type | Aadhaar of | PAN of |
|---|---|---|
| Proprietorship | Proprietor | Proprietor (personal) |
| Partnership firm | Managing partner | Firm |
| HUF | Karta | HUF |
| Company, LLP, cooperative, society or trust | Authorised signatory | Entity |
The name and date of birth or incorporation you enter must match the PAN record exactly, including initials.
How to apply for Udyam registration online, step by step
Open udyamregistration.gov.in and choose "For New Entrepreneurs who are not Registered yet as MSME". The form has six screens and a final OTP. Screen names may change slightly as the portal is updated.
-
Verify Aadhaar (screen 1)
Enter the Aadhaar number and the name exactly as on Aadhaar, give consent, and validate the OTP sent to the linked mobile.
-
Verify PAN (screen 2)
Select your organisation type, enter the PAN and allow the portal to use your ITR and GST data. Say whether you filed last year's ITR (a new business answers No) and whether you have a GSTIN.
Tip: answer "Yes" to GSTIN only if you actually hold one. Your investment and turnover are pulled from these records automatically.
-
Basic details (screen 3)
Confirm the PAN-linked name, then enter the enterprise name, mobile, email, social category, gender and whether you're specially abled.
Tip: use the owner's own mobile and email. A mobile already used on several registrations can be refused.
-
Official address (screen 4)
Enter the office address, PIN code, state, district and your District Industries Centre (DIC).
-
Plant or unit details (screen 5)
Add each plant, shop or unit with its address. Add every location; you can add more later.
-
Other details (screen 6)
Enter any previous registration (old Udyog Aadhaar or EM-II, else N/A), start date, bank details, major activity (manufacturing, services or trading), NIC codes and employee numbers. You can opt in to portals such as GeM and TReDS.
Tip: search NIC codes by keyword and click "Add Activity" after each one. Pick trading codes only if you actually buy and resell goods: trading registrations are recognised mainly for priority-sector loans.
-
Declare and submit
Tick the declaration, click "Submit & Get Final OTP", and enter the OTP. Your Udyam Registration Number (UDYAM-XX-00-0000000) appears immediately. Note it down.
The e-certificate is usually emailed within a few days. Old Udyog Aadhaar (UAM) holders should use "UAM migration to Udyam" on the same portal instead of a fresh registration.
How to download your Udyam certificate
Download it free from udyamregistration.gov.in with your Udyam number and an OTP sent to your registered mobile or email.
- On udyamregistration.gov.in, open Print / Verify › Print Udyam Certificate.
- Enter your Udyam number and registered mobile or email, choose how to get the OTP, and enter the code shown.
- Click Validate OTP & Login, then print or save the certificate as a PDF.
"Print" gives the shareable certificate; "Print with Annexure" also shows PAN and bank details, so share that version only where needed. Anyone can check a certificate using its QR code or the portal's verify option.
Micro, small or medium: how you're classified
Udyam classifies your business by both its investment in plant and machinery and its annual turnover. The portal works out your category from your ITR and GST data.
| Category | Investment up to | Turnover up to |
|---|---|---|
| Micro | ₹2.5 crore | ₹10 crore |
| Small | ₹25 crore | ₹100 crore |
| Medium | ₹125 crore | ₹500 crore |
Limits effective 1 April 2025. A business must be within both limits for a category.
- Investment is the written-down value of plant, machinery or equipment at the end of the previous year. Land, buildings and furniture don't count.
- Turnover excludes export sales, so exporters can grow exports without moving up a category.
- The portal updates your category from your ITR and GST data, so you don't need to re-register as you grow.
Benefits of Udyam registration
Udyam registration opens up cheaper and collateral-free MSME loans, government schemes, protection from late payment and preferences in government tenders. Compare the schemes it unlocks on our government schemes page.
Easier, cheaper loans
MSE loans count as priority-sector lending, and banks shouldn't ask for collateral on micro and small enterprise loans up to ₹10 lakh. See our MSME loan guide.
Collateral-free schemes
Udyam is asked for in CGTMSE (up to ₹10 crore), most Mudra applications, including online on JanSamarth, and PMEGP.
Protection from late payment
Buyers must pay registered micro and small suppliers within the agreed period (up to 45 days), or owe compound interest at three times the RBI Bank Rate. Complain on MSME Samadhaan, and work out what you're owed with the delayed payment interest calculator.
Faster payment from big buyers
Under Section 43B(h), buyers can claim the tax deduction for payments to registered MSEs only once they've paid within the time limit.
Government tenders
Registered MSEs get preferences in public procurement, including EMD exemptions on many tenders, and can sign up for GeM from the Udyam form.
Lower fees and subsidies
Reduced trademark filing fees for small entities, plus access to ZED certification support and other MSME schemes.
No GST? Use the Udyam Assist Platform
Very small, informal businesses without GST registration, such as street vendors and home-based units, can register on the Udyam Assist Platform (UAP), launched in January 2023 and run by SIDBI.
- Registration is done with the help of a Designated Agency, such as your bank, NBFC, microfinance institution or a government department.
- The UAP certificate is treated on par with a Udyam certificate for priority-sector lending.
- Start from "UAP Registration" on the Udyam portal, or ask your bank branch.
How to update or cancel Udyam registration
Udyam never needs renewal, but you must update it when your details change. Log in with your Udyam number and an OTP to edit or cancel it.
- Update any change to address, ownership, activity or bank account.
- Log in via Update / Cancel Udyam Registration with your Udyam number and an OTP; add or remove NIC codes, units or details; then download a fresh certificate.
- One enterprise has one Udyam number. Add all activities and units to the same registration.
- Wrong or misleading self-declared information can lead to penalties under the MSMED Act and cancellation of the registration.
Common Udyam registration errors and fixes
Most Udyam errors come from a name or date that doesn't match Aadhaar or PAN, or an OTP going to an old mobile number. Here's how to fix each one:
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| OTP not received | Update your mobile with UIDAI, or get help at your District Industries Centre |
| Name rejected | Type the name exactly as on Aadhaar, including initials |
| PAN validation fails | Copy the name and date exactly from the PAN record |
| "PAN already used" | You're already registered: recover the number and use the update login |
| Mobile or email used too many times | Use the owner's own mobile and email |
| GSTIN not fetched | Continue without it if GST doesn't apply to you |
| Site asks for a fee | You're on a private lookalike site. Close it and type udyamregistration.gov.in |
Registered? See which MSME loans fit
Tell us about your business and what you need the money for, and a Kredway loan advisor calls you back to talk through the loans and schemes your Udyam registration opens up. We advise; we don't lend.
Frequently asked questions
Is Udyam registration free?
Yes, completely. It's done only on udyamregistration.gov.in, and the government says no fee is to be paid to anyone.
Are Udyam registration and MSME registration the same?
Yes. Udyam is the current official MSME registration. It replaced Udyog Aadhaar (UAM) and EM-II in July 2020.
What documents are required for Udyam registration?
Aadhaar with a linked mobile, PAN, GSTIN if GST applies to you, bank details, business address and your activity. Investment and turnover are fetched from ITR and GST records; no uploads are needed.
Who is eligible for Udyam registration?
Any proprietorship, partnership firm, HUF, company, LLP, cooperative, society or trust in manufacturing, services or trading, with investment up to ₹125 crore and turnover up to ₹500 crore.
How long does Udyam registration take?
Usually a single sitting. Your Udyam number appears as soon as you submit with the final OTP, and the e-certificate is emailed within a few days.
How do I find a lost Udyam number or verify a certificate?
On udyamregistration.gov.in, use "Forgot Udyam / UAM No." to recover your number with an OTP on your registered mobile or email. To check someone else's registration, use "Verify Udyam Registration Number" or scan the QR code on their certificate.
Is Udyam registration compulsory?
It isn't compulsory to run a business, but you need it to claim MSME benefits, including most MSME loans, CGTMSE, PMEGP, delayed-payment protection and tender preferences.
Can I register without GST?
Yes, if your business isn't required to register for GST. Very small informal units without GST can also use the Udyam Assist Platform through a bank or other designated agency.
Can traders get Udyam registration?
Yes. Retail and wholesale traders can register, but the registration is recognised mainly for priority-sector lending rather than all MSME benefits.
Does Udyam registration expire?
No. It's permanent with no renewal, but you must update changes, and your category updates automatically from your ITR and GST data.
Udyam registration kaise kare?
udyamregistration.gov.in par "For New Entrepreneurs" chunein. Aadhaar number daalkar OTP se verify karein, phir PAN daalein. Business ka naam, pata, bank details, NIC code aur employees bharein, aur final OTP se submit karein. Udyam number turant milta hai. Yeh bilkul free hai.