How to convert physical shares to demat via Zerodha
Physical share certificates are paper documents that evidence ownership of shares in a company. Since the introduction of the Depositories Act 1996 and subsequent SEBI regulations, all trading of listed securities must be in demat (electronic) form. Physical certificates can still be held as evidence of ownership, but they cannot be sold on stock exchanges until they are converted to demat form.
SEBI’s LODR Regulations (Regulation 40) and SEBI Circular SEBI/HO/MIRSD/MIRSD_RTAMB/P/CIR/2022/8, 25 January 2022, effectively mandate that all transfers of listed equity shares occur only in demat form. Holders of physical certificates are not compelled to dematerialise, but their ability to transact is severely restricted.
This guide covers the process of converting physical share certificates to demat form through Zerodha, which holds all client demat accounts at CDSL.
Step 1: Identify the share certificate details and the company’s RTA
Pick up the physical share certificate and note:
| Detail | Where to find it |
|---|---|
| Company name | Printed prominently on the certificate |
| ISIN | May be printed on the certificate; if not, find it on BSEIndia or NSEIndia by searching the company name |
| Folio number | Top of the certificate |
| Certificate number(s) | Numbered field on the certificate |
| Distinctive number range | The “from” and “to” range identifying the specific shares |
| Number of shares | Stated on the certificate |
| RTA (Registrar) | Back of the certificate, company’s website, or BSEIndia company page > Key Contacts |
Major RTAs in India include KFintech (formerly Karvy), CAMS (for MF-linked companies), Link Intime India, and Bigshare Services. The RTA verifies the authenticity of physical certificates before dematerialisation.
Step 2: Obtain the DRF from Zerodha
A Dematerialisation Request Form (DRF) is the formal instruction from the beneficial owner (you) to the DP (Zerodha) to initiate the dematerialisation process. Zerodha’s DRF includes its DP ID and BO ID fields pre-filled or has fields for you to enter them.
Request the DRF by:
- Raising a support ticket at support.zerodha.com (category: Demat > Dematerialisation)
- Downloading from support.zerodha.com if the form is publicly available
Zerodha will also inform you of the current dematerialisation charges (Rs 50 + GST per certificate as of recent reports; confirm the current rate with Zerodha at the time of submission).
Step 3: Deface the physical certificates
Before submitting the certificates, write clearly across the face of each physical certificate:
SURRENDERED FOR DEMATERIALISATION
Write this in ink, clearly, without obscuring the certificate number, folio number, distinctive number range, or the company name. This defacement prevents the same certificate from being fraudulently resubmitted. Defacement is a CDSL/SEBI requirement for all physical certificates submitted for dematerialisation.
If the certificate has more than one share (which is standard), ensure the defacement is on each certificate in the set.
Step 4: Fill and sign the DRF
Fill in the DRF carefully:
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| BO ID (Demat account number) | Your 16-digit Zerodha CDSL BO ID |
| DP ID | 12081600 (Zerodha’s CDSL DP ID) |
| ISIN | 12-character ISIN of the company |
| Company name | As printed on the certificate |
| Folio number | As on the certificate |
| Certificate number(s) | Each certificate number, listed separately |
| Distinctive number (from–to) | As on each certificate |
| Number of shares (per certificate) | As on each certificate |
| Total number of shares | Sum across all certificates |
Signatures: All holders whose names appear on the physical certificate must sign the DRF in the same order as they appear on the certificate. If the certificate is a joint holding (e.g., holder 1 + holder 2), both must sign. The signatures must match the company’s register of members for that folio.
Step 5: Submit the DRF and defaced certificates to Zerodha
By courier only (physical certificates cannot be submitted by email):
Address the parcel to:
Zerodha Broking Limited – DP Desk
#153/154, 4th Cross, Dollars Colony
J.P. Nagar 4th Phase
Bengaluru – 560 078
Include in the parcel:
- Original completed and signed DRF
- All original defaced physical share certificates
- Photocopy of your PAN card (self-attested)
Use tracked courier (registered post or speed post with tracking, or a reputable courier company). Retain the tracking receipt. Original share certificates are irreplaceable; their loss in transit creates significant legal and financial complications.
Zerodha acknowledges receipt of the DRF package by email within two to three business days.
Step 6: CDSL and RTA processing
After receipt, Zerodha:
- Enters the DRF details into the CDSL system, which generates a Dematerialisation Request Number (DRN).
- Physically forwards the original share certificates to the company’s RTA.
- CDSL places a temporary freeze on the BO account for the specific ISIN (to prevent duplicate claims) during processing.
The RTA verifies:
- Certificate authenticity (anti-counterfeiting checks)
- Signature match against the company’s register of members
- Folio and distinctive number accuracy
- That the certificates are not reported stolen or lost
If the RTA approves the request, it confirms to CDSL, which credits the dematerialised shares to the Zerodha BO account.
The process from RTA submission to credit typically takes 15–30 calendar days.
Step 7: Confirmation and portfolio update
Zerodha emails a confirmation when the shares are credited to the demat account. Log in to Console and check Portfolio > Holdings to verify the credit. The shares appear in the same quantity as the total on the submitted certificates.
You can sell or transfer the dematerialised shares from the next trading session.
Rejected or objected DRF
If the RTA raises an objection (incorrect folio, signature mismatch, certificate reported stolen, or details not matching), Zerodha receives a rejection memo and returns the original certificates to you with the objection details. Common steps for resolution:
- Signature mismatch with company register: Contact the RTA directly with identity documents and a written request for signature update in the company’s folio.
- Name mismatch: Submit a name-change application to the RTA with the relevant identity documents (marriage certificate, gazette notification).
- Incorrect certificate details on DRF: Correct the DRF and resubmit with the same certificates.
Related guides
- How to dematerialise mutual fund SoA holdings
- How to do a transmission of shares (death of holder)
- How to transfer shares from another broker to Zerodha (CDSL Easiest)
- How to request a CMR / CML from Zerodha
- CDSL
- SEBI
References
- Depositories Act, 1996, Section 6 (dematerialisation of securities).
- SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, Regulation 40 (prohibition on physical transfer of listed securities).
- SEBI Circular SEBI/HO/MIRSD/MIRSD_RTAMB/P/CIR/2022/8, 25 January 2022, Mandatory dematerialisation of listed securities.
- CDSL Operating Instructions, OI-00-008, Dematerialisation of Securities.
- Zerodha Support, “How to dematerialise physical share certificates”, support.zerodha.com (accessed May 2026).
WebNotes Editorial Team prepares factual how-to guides based on publicly available regulatory documents and broker disclosures. WebNotes is not affiliated with Zerodha Broking Limited. Procedures and charges are subject to change; verify current requirements at support.zerodha.com before acting.