How to complete video KYC for a PPFAS investment

From WebNotes, a public knowledge base. Last updated 17 May 2026. Reading time ~7 min. Level: Beginner.

Key facts

Time required	15 to 30 minutes for the live call; 2 to 3 business days for activation
Documents needed	Original PAN card, address-proof original (Aadhaar/passport/voter ID/driving licence), cancelled cheque or passbook
Cost	Free; PPFAS does not charge a KYC fee
When to use	Aadhaar-linked mobile number inactive, applicant without Aadhaar, OCI/PIO, or applicant preference

This guide covers the video KYC pathway on the PPFAS SelfInvest portal at selfinvest.ppfas.com. Video KYC, also called Video-based Customer Identification Process (VCIP) under SEBI and RBI norms, is the alternative to Aadhaar e-KYC for opening a PPFAS Mutual Fund investor account. This is the pathway to use when the Aadhaar-linked mobile number is inactive, when the applicant does not have Aadhaar, or when the applicant prefers not to share Aadhaar with the AMC. The end state is the same: a fully KYC-compliant SelfInvest account capable of transacting in all seven PPFAS schemes.

Prerequisites

A valid Permanent Account Number (PAN), linked with Aadhaar at the Income Tax portal (PAN-Aadhaar linkage is required even where video KYC is used in lieu of Aadhaar e-KYC, per the Finance Act 2023 mandate, unless the applicant is exempt as an NRI, foreign citizen, super-senior citizen aged 80 or above, or resident of Assam, Meghalaya, or Jammu and Kashmir).
Original physical documents: PAN card, one address proof (Aadhaar, passport, voter ID, or driving licence), and one cancelled cheque or bank passbook first page.
A smartphone or computer with a working front camera, microphone, and a stable internet connection (recommend at least 5 Mbps upload).
The applicant must be a resident Indian individual aged 18 years or above. NRI applicants and non-individual investors follow a documentary-KYC route rather than video KYC.
The session is conducted in English, Hindi, or one of the supported regional languages. Request a specific-language session at scheduling if needed.
A quiet, well-lit environment for the call. Bright daylight or a clear desk lamp behind the camera is sufficient.

Step-by-step procedure

Step 1: Select video KYC during SelfInvest registration

Begin the SelfInvest registration as covered in how to open a PPFAS SelfInvest direct-plan account up to the KYC-pathway-selection screen. Choose Video KYC instead of Aadhaar e-KYC. SelfInvest captures the following for scheduling:

Full name as on PAN.
PAN.
Date of birth.
Email address and mobile number (already verified via OTP).
Preferred language for the call.
Preferred slot window (morning or afternoon).

Submit. SelfInvest assigns a video-KYC tracking number and forwards the request to the KYC operations team, typically a CAMS or KFin Technologies VCIP operation acting on behalf of PPFAS as the AMC.

Step 2: Book a video-KYC slot

The scheduling screen displays available slots in IST, typically same-day if registered before noon, otherwise next-business-day. Slots are 30 minutes wide and run between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday (subject to seasonal variation). Confirm a slot. SelfInvest emails a calendar invitation containing:

The unique meeting link (typically a CAMS or KFin VCIP secure room URL).
The tracking number.
A checklist of documents and the device-readiness guidance.
A rescheduling link, valid up to 2 hours before the slot.

The mobile app version of SelfInvest places the same meeting link directly in the app’s notification feed.

Step 3: Prepare original documents

Have the originals ready alongside a clean white A4 sheet and a dark-ink pen. The documents the representative will inspect on camera are:

PAN card original: Required for every applicant.
Address-proof original: One of Aadhaar (preferred), passport, voter ID, driving licence, or other officially valid documents (OVD) accepted under SEBI guidelines.
Cancelled cheque or bank passbook first page: For bank-account verification of the registered savings or current account in the applicant’s name.
Photo identification consistency: The face on the PAN card or address proof should be visible enough to match against the live video feed.

Place each document face-up on the desk in advance. The call is brisker if there is no fumbling for paper during the session.

Step 4: Join the scheduled video call

Click the meeting link from the calendar invitation 5 minutes before the slot. The browser or app loads the secure VCIP room. Grant access when prompted for camera and microphone. The screen displays:

A self-view (the applicant’s own webcam feed).
A waiting message until the representative joins.
A connectivity indicator showing the upload quality.

If the connectivity indicator turns yellow or red, reposition closer to the Wi-Fi router or switch to mobile data. The representative typically joins within 2 minutes of the slot start.

Step 5: Confirm identity through live document verification

The representative opens with a verbal greeting, confirms the applicant’s stated name and tracking number, and then guides the document-verification sequence:

Hold the PAN card to the camera with all four corners visible. The representative captures one or more still frames.
Hold the address proof similarly. For Aadhaar, mask the first eight digits using a finger or paper strip (a SEBI-recommended privacy practice) unless the representative specifically asks for the unmasked Aadhaar; PPFAS’s VCIP flow typically operates on the masked-Aadhaar standard.
Hold the cancelled cheque or passbook with the account number, IFSC, and account holder name clearly visible.

State the following aloud at the representative’s prompt for the audio record:

Full name.
Date of birth.
Current residential address.
PAN.
Mobile number registered with SelfInvest.

The clarity of speech matters; a re-take is requested if any item is inaudible.

Step 6: Complete the liveness check

The representative then runs a short liveness sequence to confirm the applicant is a live human and not a recording or photograph. Common liveness instructions are:

Turn the head left, then right.
Blink twice.
Smile.
Repeat a randomly chosen four-digit number, a short phrase, or a randomly chosen English word.

This is a standard component of the SEBI and RBI VCIP framework and is non-negotiable. The liveness sequence is typically under 30 seconds and is captured in the recording.

Step 7: Sign a specimen signature on white paper

Sign the prepared white sheet using a dark blue or black pen while on the call. The representative may ask the applicant to sign twice, once with the year written underneath, as is common in KYC operations. Hold the signature to the camera for capture. The signature thus captured is the legal specimen used by CAMS (as the RTA) for authenticating physical service requests later in the folio life cycle.

The representative reads out a standard SEBI-prescribed consent script covering:

Consent for the recording of the session.
Consent for sharing the KYC data with the SEBI KRA network.
Confirmation of the risk-profile responses (the representative may walk through the questionnaire on the call or confirm responses if submitted earlier).
A standard market-risk and conflict-of-interest disclosure.

Reply with a verbal Yes, I consent to each item. The representative confirms successful capture and ends the call. SelfInvest displays a VCIP Submitted status on the dashboard.

Step 9: Await account activation

The recorded VCIP session is reviewed internally by the PPFAS or CAMS/KFin compliance team. Successful sessions are submitted to the SEBI KYC Registration Agency. Activation timelines:

Routine VCIP without flag: 2 to 3 business days.
VCIP with re-take or follow-up clarification: Up to 5 business days.
VCIP routed for manual senior review (rare, e.g., unusual address): Up to 7 business days.

The activation email contains the SelfInvest folio number and login credentials. After activation, the investor can place a lump-sum purchase in PPFCF via the SelfInvest portal or start a PPFCF SIP immediately.

What can go wrong

Poor lighting or low-resolution camera: Backlit faces, dim rooms, or cameras under 480p resolution lead to document capture failure or liveness-check failure. Use natural daylight or a well-lit desk lamp positioned in front, not behind, the applicant.
Unstable internet connection: Frequent disconnections during the call trigger a re-schedule, not a partial pass. Move closer to the Wi-Fi access point or switch to a tethered mobile-data connection before scheduling.
Document held too close or at an angle: Each document must be held flat, fully within the frame, at a steady distance for at least 5 seconds. A slight tilt or shake is forgiven; a substantial blur causes re-take requests.
Name mismatch between PAN and the spoken or address-proof name: Stating the wrong middle name, abbreviating the surname, or showing an address proof in a maiden name when the PAN is in the married name causes the application to be flagged for manual review. Reconcile the name records at PAN or address-proof source before retrying.
Failure to mask Aadhaar: Although CAMS and KFin VCIP flows typically work with masked Aadhaar, some applicants forget to mask. Either the representative will guide the applicant on the call, or the application is processed under standard KRA storage norms. Privacy-sensitive applicants should mask in advance.
Slot missed by more than 10 minutes: The slot lapses and the applicant must re-schedule from the dashboard. There is no manual override.
Live-video feed mismatched against PAN photograph: Particularly relevant for applicants whose appearance has changed materially since the PAN card was issued (different facial hair, weight change, or eyewear). In doubt, hold the PAN very close to the face on the call so the representative can compare both side by side.
PAN-Aadhaar not linked: Even though video KYC is the chosen pathway, the underlying PAN must still be linked to Aadhaar under Finance Act 2023 unless the applicant qualifies for one of the statutory exemptions. An unlinked PAN is treated as inoperative and the application will be rejected during KRA processing.

How to open a PPFAS SelfInvest direct-plan account covers the upstream sign-up flow and the choice between Aadhaar e-KYC and video KYC
How to invest in PPFCF lump sum via SelfInvest portal is the typical first transaction after activation
How to start a PPFCF SIP via SelfInvest portal covers SIP and NACH mandate setup
How to add or update a nominee on a PPFAS folio covers the nominee step that can be deferred at sign-up but is mandatory before the first redemption
The reference article on the PPFAS SelfInvest portal covers the full portal architecture
The reference article on video KYC in India covers the broader SEBI and RBI VCIP framework

External references

References

PPFAS Mutual Fund, SelfInvest portal at selfinvest.ppfas.com, KYC-pathway selection (accessed May 2026).
SEBI Master Circular for Mutual Funds, 22 May 2024.
SEBI Circular on use of video-based KYC for SEBI-registered intermediaries, SEBI/HO/MIRSD/DOP/CIR/P/2020/73, dated 24 April 2020.
RBI Master Direction on Know Your Customer (KYC), DBR.AML.BC.No.81/14.01.001/2015-16, dated 25 February 2016 (with subsequent VCIP amendments).
SEBI KYC Registration Agency circular, SEBI/HO/MIRSD/MIRSD-PoD-1/P/CIR/2023/37, dated 23 March 2023.
CAMS Investor Services VCIP operational documentation.
KFin Technologies VCIP operational documentation.
Finance Act 2023, PAN-Aadhaar linkage mandate, with subsequent CBDT clarifications.
Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.
PPFAS investor desk FAQ at amc.ppfas.com/faqs/.

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Last reviewed: 17 May 2026
Conflicts of interest: WebNotes is independent. No relationship with any broker, registrar or bank named in this article.