The Director Identification Number (DIN) regime is currently in its introductory transition period.

It applies to a director of an Australian company, a registered Australian body or a registered foreign company under the Corporations Act 2001.

Company directors appointed between 1 November 2021 and 4 April 2022 who do not already have a DIN must apply for a DIN within 28 days of appointment.

From 5 April 2022 persons who become directors and who do not already have a DIN must apply for a DIN before appointment.

If a person was already a director of an Australian company before 31 October 2021 and has subsequently been, or will be, appointed as director of another Australian company, that person still has until 30 November 2022 to apply for a DIN.

You don’t need a director ID if you are:

• a company secretary but not a director
• acting as an external administrator of a company
• running a business as a sole trader or partnership
• referred to as a ‘director’ in your job title but have not been appointed as a director under the Corporations Act or the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006
• a director of a registered charity with an organisation type that is not registered with ASIC or ORIC to operate throughout Australia
• an officer of an unincorporated association, cooperative or incorporated association established under state or territory legislation, unless the organisation is also a registered Australian body.

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