How to fix a stuck 'pending verification' on Zerodha KYC

After submitting documents for a new Zerodha account, some applicants find their KYC status stuck on “Pending Verification” for longer than the normal 2 to 5 business-day window. In some cases, the application is silently rejected and the status never updates to “Rejected” in the portal.

Understanding the KYC pipeline, which involves Zerodha’s internal team, CKYC (Central KYC Registry), and UIDAI’s DigiLocker, helps identify where the delay has occurred and what action to take.

Conflict-of-interest disclosure. This guide is published by WebNotes Editorial Team for informational purposes only. WebNotes has no commercial relationship with Zerodha, CERSAI, UIDAI, or any KYC Registration Agency.

Prerequisites

• A submitted Zerodha account-opening application with an application reference number (visible in the signup portal or in the confirmation email from Zerodha).
• Access to the email address used during application (for status emails).
• Your PAN number (for CKYC lookup).
• Original documents ready for resubmission if needed (Aadhaar, PAN, cancelled cheque or bank statement, selfie photo, signature).

Step 1: Check your application status and any rejection email

Log in to signup.zerodha.com using the mobile number or email you registered with. The status panel shows the current state of each KYC step:

Also check the inbox for the email address used during signup. Zerodha sends rejection emails with the specific reason (e.g., “PAN not visible in document,” “Signature does not match,” “Photo is blurry”). Read this email carefully before taking any action.

Step 2: Identify and resolve the specific rejection or delay cause

Common causes of stuck or rejected KYC and their remedies:

Document image quality

The most common cause of rejection is a photograph or scan that is blurry, too dark, or has glare. Documents must be flat, well-lit, and clearly readable in all four corners.

Remedy. Retake the photograph in natural light. Avoid scanning documents through plastic pouches. Ensure all text, photograph (on the ID), and signature on the ID are legible.

Signature mismatch

Zerodha’s system compares the signature on your ID document (Aadhaar or PAN) with the signature captured in the application.

Remedy. Sign on plain white paper in blue or black ink. Photograph the signature without shadows. If your Aadhaar has an older signature that differs from your current signature, you may need to provide a self-declaration letter explaining the change.

Aadhaar not linked to mobile number

Zerodha’s e-KYC via OTP requires your Aadhaar to be linked to your registered mobile number in the UIDAI database. If the mobile number is not linked, OTP-based e-KYC fails silently.

Remedy. Visit the nearest Aadhaar enrolment centre to link your mobile number to your Aadhaar. Alternatively, use the offline Aadhaar XML or DigiLocker method that does not require OTP linkage.

PAN–Aadhaar mismatch

The name, date of birth, or other details on your PAN and Aadhaar do not match. The Income Tax Department’s PAN-Aadhaar linking also requires name consistency.

Remedy. Log in to the Income Tax portal (incometax.gov.in) and check the PAN-Aadhaar linking status. If there is a name mismatch, correct it at either the UIDAI portal (for Aadhaar name change) or the IT portal (for PAN name correction). After correction, wait for the update to propagate (typically 7 to 14 days) before retrying the Zerodha KYC.

In-person verification (IPV) not completed

Zerodha requires a brief video IPV (In-Person Verification) as part of the account-opening process. This is typically a selfie video or a short recorded clip where you state your name and the date. If the IPV was not submitted or the video was unclear, this step remains pending.

Remedy. Return to the signup portal. Navigate to the IPV step and re-record the video in a well-lit environment with clear audio.

Bank account verification failure

Zerodha verifies your bank account by sending a small test credit (penny drop) to the account number and IFSC you provided. If the account details are incorrect or the bank is not in the NPCI IFSC directory, this fails.

Remedy. Log in to the signup portal and re-enter the bank account number and IFSC from your cheque leaf or bank statement. Ensure the account is in your name (not a joint account where you are not the primary holder, which some banks reject).

Step 3: Use DigiLocker e-KYC if physical document upload fails

If repeated physical document uploads are being rejected, the signup portal may offer a DigiLocker option. DigiLocker fetches your Aadhaar data directly from UIDAI’s secure repository, bypassing the manual document-quality check. This route is faster (often 24 hours) and has a much lower rejection rate.

To use DigiLocker:

1. In the signup portal, select the DigiLocker option when prompted for Aadhaar.
2. You are redirected to DigiLocker’s consent page.
3. Authenticate with your Aadhaar number and UIDAI OTP.
4. Grant permission for Zerodha to access your Aadhaar e-document.
5. The portal auto-fills your name, date of birth, and address from the Aadhaar record.

DigiLocker KYC does not require a physical photograph or scan of your Aadhaar card. Only the PAN, bank account, and IPV steps remain manual.

Step 4: Check your CKYC record

The Central KYC Registry (CKYC), maintained by CERSAI, stores a unified KYC record for every individual who has completed KYC with any SEBI-registered intermediary (broker, mutual fund, bank, insurance company).

Check whether a CKYC record exists for your PAN by visiting cvlkra.com (KRA operated by CAMS). Enter your PAN number and check for a KYC record.

If a validated CKYC record exists, inform Zerodha support (Step 5) and request that they fetch the CKYC record directly instead of processing the physical documents again. This can resolve a stuck application within 1 to 2 business days.

Step 5: Raise a support ticket with Zerodha

If more than 5 business days have elapsed since your document submission and the status is still Pending Verification with no rejection email received:

1. Go to support.zerodha.com.
2. Raise a ticket under Account opening > KYC verification delay.
3. Provide: your application reference number, the registered mobile number, the date of document submission, and a description of the status shown.

Zerodha’s support team can check the internal status of your application, including whether it is stuck in the KYC agency queue.

What can go wrong

Resubmitted documents still rejected repeatedly. After three or more rejections of the same document type, request that the support agent review the document manually rather than through the automated verification system. Provide a clear, high-resolution photograph with all four corners of the ID visible.

Status shows Completed for all steps but account not activated. Sometimes a delay occurs between all steps completing and the Kite account credentials being issued. This is typically resolved within 1 business day. If it persists beyond 2 business days after all steps show Completed, raise a support ticket.

CKYC record exists but Zerodha cannot fetch it. CKYC record retrieval requires your PAN to exactly match the records in the CKYC database. A middle name difference or an initial versus full name can cause a mismatch. In such cases, full fresh KYC document verification is required.

Escalation path

1. First: Zerodha support at support.zerodha.com.
2. Second: Zerodha grievance officer (details at zerodha.com/support/grievance).
3. Third: If unresolved after 30 days, file a complaint on SEBI SCORES at scores.sebi.gov.in. KYC and account-opening grievances against SEBI-registered brokers fall under SEBI’s jurisdiction.
4. Fourth: For Aadhaar-specific issues (OTP not received, name mismatch), contact UIDAI at 1947 or uidai.gov.in.

Related guides

• How to open a Zerodha account
• How to open a Zerodha NRI account
• SEBI SCORES, investor grievance
• Zerodha grievance redressal

References

1. SEBI, “Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements for investors,” SEBI Master Circular, latest edition, sebi.gov.in.
2. CERSAI, “Central KYC Registry, investor guide,” cersai.org.in.
3. UIDAI, “Aadhaar paperless offline e-KYC,” uidai.gov.in.
4. Zerodha Support, “How to check your KYC status and resubmit documents,” support.zerodha.com.
5. SEBI, “Framework for Investor Grievance Redressal through SCORES,” sebi.gov.in.