Documents required for GST registration
Quick answer: For GST registration you need the PAN and Aadhaar of the proprietor/partners/directors, proof of business address (electricity bill + rent agreement and NOC if rented), photos, and the constitution document for firms and companies. Bank account details come after registration — within 30 days of the grant, or before your first GSTR-1, whichever is earlier. Apply free on gst.gov.in.
🪪 Of the proprietor / partners / directors
- PAN card (business PAN for firms/companies)
- Aadhaar card
- Passport-size photograph
- Authorised signatory's letter / board resolution (multi-member entities)
🏢 Constitution proof — by business type
The portal decides this from the constitution you pick. Maximum 1 MB, JPEG or PDF.
- Proprietorship — nothing to attach
- Hindu Undivided Family — nothing to attach
- Partnership — partnership deed, or any proof substantiating constitution
- Private or Public Limited Company — certificate of incorporation
- Limited Liability Partnership — certificate of incorporation
- Society, club, trust or AOP — trust deed, or registration certificate
- Public sector undertaking, unlimited company — certificate of incorporation
- Government department, local authority, statutory body — any proof substantiating constitution
- Foreign company or foreign LLP — certificate for establishment
🏠 Premises proof — by how you hold it
This is where applications most often come back. What you need depends on the nature of possession:
- Owned — any one of: property tax receipt · municipal khata copy · electricity bill · legal ownership document
- Leased or rented — the rent or lease agreement and any one of the documents above
- Leased or rented, with no agreement — an affidavit saying so, and a document showing you occupy the premises, such as an electricity bill
- Consent or shared premises — a consent letter and any one of the documents above
- In a Special Economic Zone — the documents or certificates the Government of India issues for it
Several documents? Combine them into one file and upload it under "Others" → "Legal Ownership document", as GSTN's manual says.
📏 The exact file limits
Most rejected uploads fail on size, not content — a phone photo is several megabytes and the portal is strict:
- Photographs — JPEG only, maximum 100 KB. One for every promoter or partner entered.
- Authorised signatory — photo, board resolution with acceptance letter, and letter of authorisation. JPEG or PDF, 100 KB each.
- Place of business proof — property tax receipt, municipal khata copy, electricity bill, consent letter, or a government-issued document. JPEG or PDF, 100 KB. This one catches people out: it is the same 100 KB as a photograph, not 1 MB.
- Rent or lease agreement — the exception in that group. JPEG or PDF, up to 1 MB, which is what a multi-page agreement needs.
- Constitution documents — JPEG or PDF, up to 1 MB.
Bank account details are not part of the application. Under rule 10A of the CGST Rules you add them on the portal after registration is granted — within 30 days, or before you file your first GSTR-1, whichever comes first.
Companies and LLPs also need a DSC (digital signature certificate) to sign the application; other constitutions can use EVC.
Good to know
Registration is free on gst.gov.in — beware of paid "agents" for what is a free process. Upload sizes are small, and most of them are 100 KB, not 1 MB — only constitution proofs and the rent or lease agreement get the full megabyte. Compress files to fit. Requirements differ by business type; confirm on the portal.
Frequently asked questions
What documents are required for GST registration of a company?
A certificate of incorporation as constitution proof, the PAN and Aadhaar of the directors, a photograph and authorisation proof for the authorised signatory and premises proof; bank account details are added after registration. Companies and LLPs also need a DSC.
What address proof works for GST registration?
For owned premises, any one of a property tax receipt, municipal khata copy, electricity bill or legal ownership document. For rented or leased premises you need the agreement as well as one of those.
What documents does a proprietor need for GST?
PAN, Aadhaar, a photo and business address proof (bill + rent agreement/NOC if rented) — the simplest case of all business types.
Is GST registration free?
Yes — applying on gst.gov.in is free. Professional help is optional, not a government fee.
What file sizes does the GST portal accept?
Mostly 100 KB — photographs, the authorised signatory papers and place-of-business proof (electricity bill, property tax receipt, khata copy) all have to fit in 100 KB. Only constitution documents and the rent or lease agreement get the full 1 MB. Compress PDFs and images to fit before uploading.
General information, not legal or tax advice — and ToolGalli is not affiliated with any government department or bank. Requirements change; verify on the official source.