MCA21 is the Ministry of Corporate Affairs’ e-governance system — the portal every Indian company and LLP uses to incorporate, file annual returns and record changes to its board. For most of two decades that meant the V2 portal. It does not any more, and if your last filing was on V2 the differences will catch you out.
Here is what moved to V3, when it happened, and what changed for the people using it.
The Migration Timeline
V3 did not arrive in one go. The Ministry moved services across in tranches over several years, which is why “is this on V2 or V3?” was a live question for so long.
| Stage | What happened |
|---|---|
| Early tranches | LLP forms, then company incorporation and DIN services, moved to V3 |
| 18 June 2025 | E-filing of the final batch of 38 company e-forms was disabled on V2 |
| 9 to 13 July 2025 | Maintenance window — V3 unavailable while the forms were migrated |
| 14 July 2025 | All 38 e-forms went live on V3; V2 ceased to be a filing platform |
| December 2025 | No-login public access to Company and LLP master data was switched off |
| 30 June 2026 | Date set for final decommissioning of the legacy V2 portal |
The practical upshot: there is one portal now. Every company and LLP form, including the annual filings AOC-4 and MGT-7, is submitted on V3.
What Actually Changed
Accounts did not carry over
V2 credentials do not work on V3. You register again with the same PAN. Your DIN, CIN and filing history are unaffected — only the login is new. V3 also splits users into a basic Registered User tier and a Business User tier with sub-roles for directors, professionals and company representatives, and the tier decides what you are allowed to file. Our MCA V3 login guide walks through registration for each.
Forms are filled in the browser
V2 worked on downloadable PDF forms you completed offline and uploaded. V3 forms are web-based: you fill them in the browser, save drafts server-side, and submit from there. Data validates as you go rather than failing at upload, which removes a familiar category of frustration and introduces a new one — a session that times out mid-form.
Master data access tightened
This is the change most people noticed without knowing why. Basic company master data — CIN, status, registered address, directors — was open to anyone. In December 2025 the Ministry disabled that no-login access on V3. The Institute of Company Secretaries of India has since made a formal representation asking for free public access to be restored, arguing that quick verification is essential for professionals, stakeholders and third parties running due diligence.
Whether the wall is up when you visit, the underlying filings remain public record. WeeDoo’s company search indexes them and stays free without an account.
The portal has been unstable under load
ICSI has made repeated representations to the Ministry about technical problems on V3 and has sought late-fee waivers where filings failed for portal-side reasons. If you file close to a deadline, keep challans and screenshots of any error — they are the evidence base for a waiver request.
What This Means for Your Filings
- Register on V3 before you need it. Deadline week is a bad time to discover your PAN name does not match the database.
- Check your user tier. A Registered User account cannot file AOC-4 or MGT-7. Upgrade to Business User first.
- Associate your DSC early. It must sit against the same PAN as the account.
- Do not rely on old V2 walkthroughs. Guides written before July 2025 describe forms and screens that no longer exist.
- File early in the day. Portal load concentrates around deadlines and business hours.
For which forms are due when, see our ROC filing guide and the annual compliance calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between MCA21 and MCA V3?
MCA21 is the name of the Ministry’s e-governance programme. V2 and V3 are versions of the portal that delivers it. “MCA V3” and “MCA21 V3” mean the same thing.
Can I still use the V2 portal?
Not for filing. E-filing of the last 38 forms ended on V2 on 18 June 2025, and final decommissioning of the legacy portal was set for 30 June 2026.
Do I need to re-register if I had a V2 account?
Yes. Create a new V3 account with the same PAN. One account per PAN and per email address.
Where did View Company Master Data go?
It exists on V3, but the open no-login route was disabled in December 2025 and ICSI has asked for it back. For a free alternative that needs no account, use company search or read our guide to MCA company master data.
Where That Leaves You
One portal, browser-based forms, a new account tied to your PAN, and a tighter gate on public data. Get the account and the DSC sorted outside deadline season, and use an independent source when all you need is to look a company up.
