How to complete Zerodha KYC online

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This guide walks through the online KYC (Know Your Customer) process for opening an individual Zerodha account, covering every verification step from PAN entry to the final Aadhaar e-sign of account documents.

Step-by-step procedure

Step 1: Begin the sign-up process

Navigate to zerodha.com or open the Zerodha Kite app. Click or tap Sign up. Enter the 10-digit mobile number to which Zerodha will send a one-time password. Enter the OTP and proceed to the account type selection screen. Choose “Individual” as the account type.

Step 2: Enter PAN and date of birth

Enter the 10-character PAN exactly as printed on the PAN card (4 letters, 5 digits, 1 letter, all capitals). Enter the date of birth in DD/MM/YYYY format as it appears on the PAN card. Zerodha validates these against the Income Tax Department’s PAN database. If validation fails, the error message will indicate whether the PAN is inactive, already linked to another Zerodha account, or mismatched with the date of birth. See how to verify PAN and Aadhaar with Zerodha for troubleshooting PAN validation errors.

Step 3: Pay the account opening fee

Zerodha charges a one-time, non-refundable account opening fee of Rs 200. Pay via:

  • UPI: Enter a UPI ID (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, or any UPI-enabled app). The Rs 200 debit is initiated immediately. Approve the payment request in the UPI app.
  • Net banking: Redirected to the bank’s net banking portal. Log in and authorise the payment.
  • Debit card: Enter card number, expiry date, and CVV. OTP from the bank is required for 3D Secure authentication.

After successful payment, Zerodha unlocks the Aadhaar eKYC step.

Step 4: Aadhaar eKYC via OTP

Enter the 12-digit Aadhaar number. Zerodha initiates an OTP request through the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) API. An OTP is sent to the mobile number that was registered with UIDAI at the time of Aadhaar enrolment. Enter the OTP within the validity window (typically 10 minutes).

Upon successful OTP entry, UIDAI returns the following data to Zerodha:

  • Full name as per Aadhaar records.
  • Date of birth as per Aadhaar records.
  • Address (house number, street, district, state, pin code).
  • Photograph from Aadhaar (used to pre-fill the profile photograph field).

Important: If the Aadhaar mobile number is not active or is not the same number used to begin sign-up, the OTP will go to the Aadhaar-registered number, not the sign-up number. Ensure both are accessible. If the Aadhaar mobile number is inactive, update it at the nearest Aadhaar Seva Kendra before attempting eKYC.

Step 5: Verify personal details

After the UIDAI data is fetched, Zerodha displays the pre-filled details on screen. Review the name, date of birth, and address carefully. Minor corrections (abbreviation differences, punctuation) can be made in the editable fields. However, the name must ultimately match the PAN card name for the account to be approved without additional verification. If there is a significant name mismatch between Aadhaar and PAN (different spellings, missing middle name), contact Zerodha support before proceeding.

Step 6: Upload photograph and signature

Upload:

  • Photograph: A recent passport-size photograph with a white or light background, in JPEG or PNG format, under 5 MB. The face should be clearly visible and centred.
  • Signature: Sign on a clean white sheet of paper with a dark pen (blue or black). Photograph or scan the signature and upload in JPEG or PNG format. The signature must not be a printed or typed name.

Both uploads are required before proceeding. See the detailed guide on how to upload signature and photo for Zerodha for specific formatting requirements and common upload errors.

Step 7: Complete video IPV (in-person verification)

SEBI mandates in-person verification for all new broker-client relationships. Zerodha fulfils this through a short video call. The process is:

  1. On the IPV screen, tap or click “Start verification.”
  2. Allow the browser or app access to the camera and microphone.
  3. Hold the physical PAN card clearly in front of the camera so all details are legible.
  4. Follow any on-screen prompts (blink, move head, or speak a phrase) to confirm liveness.
  5. The session is recorded and reviewed by Zerodha’s team.

The video IPV typically takes 1-2 minutes. See the detailed step-by-step at how to do Zerodha IPV via video.

Step 8: Bank account verification via penny drop

Enter the savings account number and 11-character IFSC code. Zerodha uses the Zerodha penny-drop verification mechanism: a Re 1 credit is sent to the account. If the account number, IFSC, and account holder name match the Zerodha records (using the name fetched from Aadhaar), the verification is automatic.

If penny-drop fails (account not found, name mismatch, or bank API timeout), upload an alternative:

  • Cancelled cheque with the account holder’s name pre-printed.
  • Bank statement (first page, showing account number and holder’s name).
  • Bank passbook (first page).

Step 9: e-sign account documents via Aadhaar

The final KYC step is the electronic signature of the broker-client agreement and the depository participant (DP) agreement. Zerodha displays the documents for review. After reviewing:

  1. Click “Proceed to e-sign.”
  2. Enter the Aadhaar number and request an OTP (sent to the Aadhaar-registered mobile number).
  3. Enter the OTP to authenticate.
  4. The e-sign is applied to the documents using the Aadhaar-based electronic signature infrastructure.

This electronic signature has legal standing equivalent to a physical signature under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the subsequent amendments for Aadhaar-based e-sign. The signed documents are stored by Zerodha and a copy is sent to the registered email address.

After this step, KYC is complete. Account activation typically takes a few hours to one business day; some accounts are activated within minutes.

References

  1. SEBI Circular on use of Aadhaar for KYC (SEBI/HO/MIRSD/DOP/CIR/P/2019/107, 24 September 2019).
  2. UIDAI, Aadhaar-based eKYC API specification, version 2.5 (uidai.gov.in, accessed May 2026).
  3. Information Technology Act, 2000, Section 3A and Schedule II (electronic signature standards).
  4. SEBI KYC Registration Agency (KRA) circular (SEBI/HO/MIRSD/MIRSD-PoD-1/P/CIR/2023/37, 23 March 2023).
  5. Zerodha account opening flow: zerodha.com/open-account (accessed May 2026).

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WebNotes Editorial Team

The WebNotes Editorial Team covers Indian capital markets, payments infrastructure and retail investor procedures. Every article is fact-checked against primary sources, principally SEBI circulars and master directions, NPCI specifications and the official support documentation published by the intermediary in question. Drafts go through a second-pair-of-eyes review and a separate compliance read before publication, and revisions are tracked against the SEBI and NPCI rule changes referenced in the methodology section.

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