The GST certificate, officially Form GST REG-06, is issued only in digital form. The GST department does not send a printed copy by post. It is downloaded from the GST portal using the login credentials linked to that GSTIN.
This guide covers the gst registration certificate download pdf process from the GST portal, including how download gst certificate options work through the login page and through the public search tools, what the certificate contains, how a certificate can be looked up using a GST number or PAN without logging in, what remains restricted without login, validity rules by taxpayer type, display requirements, and fixes for common download issues.
What Is a GST Certificate (Form GST REG-06)?
A GST certificate confirms that a business is registered under the Goods and Services Tax system. It is generated automatically once a registration application is approved and is available as a digitally signed PDF on the GST portal.
The certificate contains the GSTIN, legal name, trade name (if any), business constitution (proprietorship, partnership, LLP, company, and so on), principal place of business, the effective date of registration, and the approving authority.
Under GST rules, the certificate must be displayed at the registered place of business. It is also commonly required for opening a current bank account, government tenders, and vendor or client onboarding.
GST Certificate vs GSTIN
A GSTIN is the 15-digit registration number. The GST certificate is the Form GST REG-06 document that contains the GSTIN along with the full set of registration details. The GSTIN alone is not a downloadable file; the certificate is the document that carries it.
The certificate is also referred to in short as the GST RC. A gst rc download and a gst registration download refer to the same process described in this guide: retrieving Form GST REG-06 from the GST portal.
Before You Start: What Is Required
- GSTIN (the 15-character number issued at registration)
- GST portal username and password
- Access to the registered mobile number or email, in case an OTP is required
- A PDF reader
If the password is forgotten, it can be reset using the “Forgot Password” link on the login page, using the registered mobile number or email.
How to Download GST Certificate from GST Portal (Step-by-Step)
The steps below cover how to download gst certificate in GST portal, how to download gst certificate from portal, and how to gst certificate download using a browser on desktop or mobile. Third-party pages advertising a www gst certificate download service or a shortcut for online gst certificate download do not have the authority to issue this document. Only www.gst.gov.in can generate a valid, digitally signed copy.
- Go to the official portal at www.gst.gov.in.
- Click Login. Enter the username, password, and captcha, then submit.
- On the dashboard, click Services in the top navigation bar.
- Hover over User Services, then click View/Download Certificates.
- A list of certificates issued for that GSTIN appears, generally in descending chronological order. Locate the Registration Certificate (Form GST REG-06).
- Click the download icon next to it.
- The certificate downloads as a PDF. Save it and verify that all details are correct.
This gst certificate pdf download, or gst certificate download pdf, is the only official process for how download gst certificate works, and it applies the same way whether logging in for the first time or downloading a repeat copy. Any authorized signatory on the account can complete the download. No digital signature certificate is required for this step.
GST Certificate Download by GST Number
The GSTIN is not entered as a search term to retrieve the certificate. It is tied to the login credentials for that account. Once logged in, the portal displays the certificate associated with that GSTIN directly under View/Download Certificates. This is the process referred to by the phrases “download GST certificate by GST number,” “download gst certificate with gst number,” and “gst certificate download with gst number.” All three describe the same login-based download, since the GSTIN identifies the account rather than functioning as a search field.
The same login path is also how to download gst registration certificate and download gst registration certificate requests are completed, since the registration certificate and the GST certificate refer to the same Form GST REG-06 document.
GST Certificate Download by PAN Number
The GST portal’s public Search Taxpayer tool includes a Search by PAN option. Entering a PAN returns a list of all GSTINs registered under that PAN, along with the status of each (active, cancelled, and so on) across the states where the business is registered.
This search does not return the Form GST REG-06 PDF. The full certificate is available only after logging in to the specific GSTIN’s account under User Services. The PAN search functions as a verification tool, not a document retrieval method.
How to Download GST Certificate Without Login
The GST portal’s public search tools operate without a login:
- Search Taxpayer by GSTIN/UIN or PAN: returns legal name, trade name, registration status, state, taxpayer type, and registration date.
These tools do not provide the signed PDF certificate. The certificate is available only under User Services after logging in with valid credentials for that GSTIN. If login access has been lost, resetting the password through the portal restores access to the certificate; the public search tools are not a substitute for it.
A gst certificate online download and a download gst certificate online request both refer to this same User Services process. There is no separate no-login pathway that produces the signed PDF.
What’s Inside the GST Registration Certificate
The certificate has three parts.
Part 1: The Main Certificate
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| GSTIN | 15-character registration number |
| Legal Name | Name as per PAN records |
| Trade Name | Commercial/brand name, if different from legal name |
| Constitution of Business | Proprietorship, partnership, LLP, company, HUF, etc. |
| Principal Place of Business | Main registered address |
| Date of Liability | Date liability to register arose |
| Period of Validity | Blank for regular taxpayers; a date for casual/NRTP registrations |
| Type of Registration | Regular, composition, casual taxable person, NRTP |
| Approving Authority | Officer or system-approval details |
| Date of Issue | Date the certificate was generated |
Annexure A: Additional Places of Business
Lists branches, warehouses, godowns, depots, or offices registered under the same GSTIN, beyond the principal address.
Annexure B: Persons in Charge
Lists the proprietor, partners, directors, karta, or trustees associated with the registration, depending on the business structure.
GSTIN Structure
| Position | Represents |
|---|---|
| Digits 1-2 | State code |
| Digits 3-12 | PAN of the registered person |
| Digit 13 | Entity number under that PAN |
| Digit 14 | Fixed as “Z” |
| Digit 15 | Check code |
A mismatch between the state code and the supplier’s declared location, or between digits 3-12 and the supplier’s PAN, is a basic check for verifying an invoice.
Validity of the GST Certificate by Taxpayer Type
| Taxpayer Type | Validity |
|---|---|
| Regular taxpayer | No fixed expiry; valid until cancelled or surrendered |
| Composition scheme taxpayer | No fixed expiry, while eligibility conditions are met |
| Casual taxable person | Period applied for, or 90 days, whichever is earlier (extendable) |
| Non-resident taxable person | Period applied for, or 90 days, whichever is earlier (extendable) |
Casual and non-resident taxable persons must file for an extension before the validity period ends to continue operating under the same registration.
Display Requirements
GST rules require the certificate to be displayed at the principal place of business and at every additional place of business listed in Annexure A. The GSTIN must also appear on the name board at the entry of each location.
Non-display can attract a general penalty of up to ₹25,000 under Section 125 of the CGST Act. Composition taxpayers must additionally display “composition taxable person” on their signboard and mention “composition taxable person, not eligible to collect tax on supplies” on every bill of supply.
When to Re-Download the Certificate
A fresh copy should be downloaded after:
- Approval of a core-field amendment (address change, new branch, change in partners/directors)
- A non-core amendment that has been updated on the portal
- Restoration of registration following suspension or cancellation
Amendments are filed through Form GST REG-14. Core-field changes (legal name, principal address, additional places of business, partners/directors) require officer approval, generally within 15 working days. Non-core changes are typically auto-approved. After approval, the previous certificate no longer reflects current details.
Common Download Issues and Fixes
| Issue | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate not listed under View/Download Certificates | Recently approved, not yet synced | Wait a few hours, clear cache, retry |
| Login not working | Incorrect credentials | Use Forgot Password / Forgot Username |
| Download icon greyed out | Amendment pending officer approval | Wait for approval, then retry |
| PDF downloads but won’t open | Browser or PDF reader issue | Redownload, open in a standard PDF reader |
| Certificate shows outdated address | Amendment not yet approved | Check REG-14 status |
| “No certificate available” message | GSTIN suspended or cancelled | Check status under Search Taxpayer |
| Download button unavailable for sub-user | Restricted account permissions | Log in using the primary authorized signatory account |
How to Verify Another Business’s GST Registration
- Go to www.gst.gov.in
- Click Search Taxpayer
- Select Search by GSTIN/UIN, or Search by PAN
- Enter the details and captcha
- Review the legal name, status, registration date, and taxpayer type
A status of cancelled or suspended, a legal name mismatch with the invoice, or a registration date after the invoice date are indicators that require further checking before an invoice is accepted or input tax credit is claimed on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to download my GST certificate if the password is forgotten? Use the “Forgot Password” link on the login page. A reset OTP is sent to the registered mobile number or email.
Where to download GST certificate if it does not appear under View/Download Certificates? This typically means the certificate was recently approved and has not yet synced. It generally appears within a few hours.
Can a GST certificate download online be done through a third-party website? No. Only the official GST portal issues the digitally signed certificate. Third-party sites cannot generate a legally valid copy.
Is the certificate downloaded again after amending business details? Yes. Each approved amendment generates an updated certificate, and the earlier version should be replaced.
Is the certificate valid without a physical signature? Yes. The certificate carries a digital signature generated by the GST system; no additional signature is required.
Can a GST number certificate belonging to another business be downloaded? No. Public search (Search Taxpayer) shows basic details such as legal name, status, and registration date for any GSTIN. It does not provide the downloadable certificate, which is accessible only to the registered account holder.
How to download GST certificate from GST portal on a mobile device? The same steps apply on a mobile browser: log in, then Services, User Services, View/Download Certificates.
Is there a fee for GST certificate download? No. Downloading the certificate from the official GST portal is free.
Is the certificate downloadable if the registration is suspended? The last-issued certificate generally remains downloadable but does not reflect the suspended status on its face. Live status should be checked via Search Taxpayer before the certificate is shared.
Conclusion
The GST certificate is downloaded from the GST portal under Services, User Services, View/Download Certificates, using the login credentials associated with the GSTIN. It contains the main certificate along with Annexure A (additional places of business) and Annexure B (persons in charge). Regular taxpayer certificates have no fixed expiry; casual and non-resident taxable person certificates are valid for a limited period and require extension. The certificate must be displayed at every registered place of business, and an updated copy should be downloaded after any approved amendment.
Also Read – GST Invoice Format in Excel Free Download India | GST Bill Format in Excel Free Download
