LLP Form 9 — consent to act as designated partner, step by step
Due: Filed inside FiLLiP at incorporation
LLP Form 9 is the written consent of an individual to act as a designated partner of an LLP, together with their declaration that they are not disqualified. On the MCA V3 portal it is not filed by itself: it appears as a linked form inside FiLLiP, completed immediately after the main incorporation details and before the conversion forms and AGILE-PRO-S. Every proposed designated partner gives their own consent. Where a designated partner is appointed after the LLP already exists, the same consent is given through Form 4 rather than Form 9.
Form 9 is not a standalone filing on the MCA V3 portal. You will not find it on the LLP e-Filing list, and there is no separate fee, SRN or deadline for it. It is a linked form completed inside FiLLiP during incorporation. For a designated partner appointed after incorporation, the consent is captured within Form 4 instead.
LLP Form 9 at a glance
| What it is | Consent to Act as Designated Partner |
|---|---|
| Governing law | Section 7 of the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008, read with Rule 7 and Rule 8 of the Limited Liability Partnership Rules, 2009 |
| Deadline | Completed as a linked form within FiLLiP; for a later appointment, consent is captured in Form 4 within 30 days |
| Processing mode | Filed as part of FiLLiP |
| Who signs | Digitally signed by each designated partner giving consent, using their DSC. |
| Who certifies | Certification is handled at the FiLLiP level rather than on Form 9 separately. |
| Late fee | No — no additional fee applies |
Who has to file LLP Form 9
- Every individual proposed as a designated partner of a new LLP, at the time of incorporation.
- The individual nominated to act on behalf of a body corporate that is a designated partner.
- An LLP must have at least two designated partners, and at least one must be resident in India — so a minimum of two consents is always required.
- For a designated partner appointed later, consent goes in Form 4, not Form 9.
When it is due
| At incorporation | Completed as a linked form within FiLLiP |
|---|---|
| Where the partner already has a DPIN | Form 9 is filed via linked filing to FiLLiP |
| Appointment after incorporation | Consent captured in Form 4, within 30 days of appointment |
| Separate deadline | None — Form 9 has no due date of its own |
Where to find it on the MCA portal
The exact path on MCA V3, in order:
MCA Services → LLP e-Filing → FiLLiP Incorporation of LLP → Proceed to Form 9
Before you start
Every one of these has to be true before the form will go through. Checking them first is what saves a cancelled SRN.
- The individual must not be disqualified from being appointed a designated partner.
- A DPIN where the person already holds one; FiLLiP can allot DPINs to proposed designated partners who do not.
- A valid DSC for each designated partner who will sign.
- Identity and address proof consistent with what is entered in FiLLiP — a mismatch between the consent and the proofs is a standard resubmission ground.
- At least one proposed designated partner must be resident in India, meaning present in India for not less than 182 days in the preceding year.
How to file LLP Form 9, step by step
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Start the incorporation in FiLLiP
Sign in at mca.gov.in, then MCA Services → LLP e-Filing → FiLLiP Incorporation of LLP. Form 9 does not appear anywhere on this menu as its own item, and that is expected.
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Fill the main FiLLiP application
Complete the LLP's proposed name, registered office, business activity, partner and designated partner details, and contribution. The form is validated and locked for editing before it hands you on to Form 9.
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Click Proceed to Form 9
Once FiLLiP validates, an action button takes you into Form 9. In MCA's own numbering of the FiLLiP flow this is step 7, sitting between the main application and the optional conversion forms.
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Complete a consent for each designated partner
Each proposed designated partner gives their consent to act, and declares that they are not disqualified. Where a body corporate is a designated partner, its nominated individual gives the consent. The details must match exactly what was entered in FiLLiP.
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Continue through the rest of the FiLLiP flow
After Form 9 you are offered Form 17 if you are converting a firm, or Form 18 if you are converting a company — both optional and shown only when the matching conversion type was selected. Then AGILE-PRO-S is mandatory, covering PAN, TAN and the related registrations.
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Submit the whole application together
FiLLiP and its linked forms are submitted as one application, generating a single SRN. Form 9 has no SRN, no fee and no acknowledgement of its own. Affix the DSC, upload the signed PDF, and pay the FiLLiP fee within the usual windows.
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For a later appointment, use Form 4 instead
Once the LLP exists, a new designated partner's consent is captured inside Form 4, filed within 30 days of the appointment, with the signed consent letter as an attachment. Do not go looking for Form 9 for this — it is not there.
Documents to attach
Mandatory
- Signed consent of each proposed designated partner to act as such.
- Proof of identity and address of each designated partner, consistent with FiLLiP.
Optional
- Board resolution of a body corporate nominating an individual to act as its designated partner.
File limits: Attachments are made within FiLLiP. PDF or JPG only, maximum 2 MB per file.
Government fee for LLP Form 9
Form 9 carries no fee of its own. It is covered by the fee payable on FiLLiP, which depends on the LLP's contribution. Where consent is given through Form 4 for a later appointment, the Form 4 fee applies.
Is there a late fee?
Form 9 has no separate deadline and therefore no late fee. Where consent is captured in Form 4 for an appointment after incorporation, that Form 4 must be filed within 30 days and carries the usual event-based additional fee if it is late.
Why LLP Form 9 gets rejected
These are the failures that actually stop filings, in rough order of how often they come up.
Looking for Form 9 as a standalone filing
It is not on the LLP e-Filing list and cannot be filed on its own. It is reached through FiLLiP.
Fewer than two designated partners
An LLP must have at least two, and at least one resident in India.
No resident designated partner
At least one designated partner must have been in India for not less than 182 days in the preceding year.
Consent details not matching FiLLiP
Names, DPINs and addresses in the consent must match the main form and the identity proofs exactly.
Using Form 9 for a post-incorporation appointment
Once the LLP exists, consent goes in Form 4 within 30 days.
Designated partner disqualified
The consent includes a declaration of non-disqualification, and a false declaration has consequences beyond the filing.
LLP Form 9 — frequently asked questions
Can I file LLP Form 9 separately?
No. On the MCA V3 portal Form 9 is not a standalone filing. It is a linked form completed inside FiLLiP at incorporation, and it does not appear on the LLP e-Filing list of forms.
Where is Form 9 in the FiLLiP process?
Immediately after the main FiLLiP application is filled and validated. MCA's own flow numbers it as step 7 — you click Proceed to Form 9, complete it, and then move on to the optional Form 17 or Form 18 and the mandatory AGILE-PRO-S.
What is the fee for LLP Form 9?
There is none. Form 9 has no separate fee, SRN or acknowledgement — it is covered by the FiLLiP filing and its fee.
How do I record consent for a designated partner appointed after incorporation?
Through Form 4, filed within 30 days of the appointment, with the signed consent letter attached. Form 9 is not used once the LLP already exists.
How many designated partners does an LLP need?
At least two, and at least one of them must be resident in India — meaning present in India for not less than 182 days during the immediately preceding year.
Does a designated partner need a DPIN before incorporation?
Not necessarily. FiLLiP can allot DPINs to proposed designated partners who do not already hold one. Where a proposed designated partner already has a DPIN, Form 9 is filed via linked filing to FiLLiP.
Checked against the Ministry of Corporate Affairs instruction kit for this web form and the Limited Liability Partnership Rules, 2009. MCA changes its forms and fees from time to time — confirm the current position on mca.gov.in before you file.