It is issued through the DGCA Pariksha portal. Applying is free and you can do it yourself; you do not need an agent, and you should be wary of anyone who offers to obtain one for a fee.
Step by step
Gather your documents first
Class 10 and Class 12 marksheets, Board Verification Certificate, a valid passport as primary identity, Aadhaar, plus a passport photograph and a signature scan at the sizes the portal specifies. Assembling these before you start saves a rejected submission.
Register on the Pariksha portal
Create a new candidate registration at pariksha.dgca.gov.in. Enter your name and date of birth exactly as they appear on your Class 10 marksheet, not as they appear on any other document.
Upload the academic documents
The Class 10 marksheet is mandatory for every applicant, because it is the document DGCA treats as authoritative for your name and date of birth.
Upload photograph and signature to spec
Both have size and format limits. An oversized file is a common and entirely avoidable reason for a submission to fail.
Submit and wait for verification
Where DigiLocker verification succeeds, the number can be issued almost immediately. The manual review route generally takes 15 to 30 days depending on document checking.
What catches people out
- Your name and date of birth must match the Class 10 marksheet exactly. A middle name present on one document and absent on another is the single most common cause of rejection, and it costs weeks.
- Apply before you need it. You can begin ground classes while the number is being processed, but you cannot book an examination without it, so students who wait until they feel exam-ready lose a cycle.
- The application is free. Treat any offer to secure a computer number for a fee with suspicion.
Questions
How long does a DGCA computer number take?
Where DigiLocker verification succeeds it can be issued almost immediately. The manual review route typically takes 15 to 30 days, depending on how quickly documents are verified.
Can I start ground classes before I have one?
Yes. Ground classes and the computer number application run in parallel, and starting both early is the efficient order. You only need the number in hand to book an examination.
Does a computer number expire?
It identifies you to DGCA for your examinations and licensing correspondence, so it stays with you. What does expire is the validity of individual cleared papers.
Do I need a passport to apply?
A valid passport is the primary identity document for the application, so obtaining one is worth starting early if you do not already hold it.
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