How to upload signature and photo for Zerodha

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This guide explains how to prepare and upload a photograph and specimen signature for a Zerodha account opening or KYC update, including the specific format, size, and quality requirements Zerodha accepts.

Step-by-step procedure

Step 1: Prepare the signature on paper

Take a clean, unlined sheet of white paper. Using a dark blue or black ballpoint or gel pen, sign your name exactly as you would sign a bank cheque or legal document. This signature becomes your specimen signature on file with Zerodha and the depository.

Guidelines for the signature:

  • Sign with your usual, consistent handwriting. Do not print your name in block letters; it must be a cursive or distinctive signature.
  • Sign at least twice on the paper and choose the clearest version to upload. Do not strike through or overwrite any version you intend to use.
  • The signature must fill at least 40-50% of the cropped image area. A very small signature floating on a large white background is often rejected.
  • Do not use pencil, light ink, or felt tip pens that bleed through paper.

Step 2: Photograph or scan the signature

Using a smartphone camera: Place the paper on a flat, well-lit surface. Hold the phone directly above the paper (not at an angle) to avoid trapezoidal distortion. Use the rear camera in good natural or artificial light. Avoid casting a shadow over the paper. Take the photograph in the highest available resolution.

Using a flatbed scanner: Scan at a minimum of 200 DPI, preferably 300 DPI. Save as JPEG or PNG.

Step 3: Crop and resize the signature image

Open the photograph in any image editor (even the built-in Photos app on Android or iOS). Crop the image to include only the signature and a small white margin on all sides. There is no need to include the entire sheet of paper.

After cropping, check the file size. Zerodha accepts signature images up to approximately 2 MB. Most smartphone photos are larger; compress or resize if needed. Accepted formats are JPEG (.jpg or .jpeg) and PNG (.png).

Step 4: Prepare the photograph

Zerodha requires a recent passport-size photograph that meets the following criteria:

  • Background: White or very light grey. Busy or dark backgrounds cause rejection.
  • Face: Full frontal face, looking directly at the camera. Eyes must be open and clearly visible. Sunglasses, caps, or head coverings (other than those worn for religious reasons) are not permitted.
  • Expression: Neutral expression with the mouth closed.
  • Lighting: Even lighting with no harsh shadows across the face.
  • Recency: The photograph must be a current likeness. Photographs more than three years old are likely to be questioned if the appearance has changed significantly.

If using a physical passport-size print, scan it or photograph it against a flat white surface. The digital file must be JPEG or PNG and under 5 MB. A resolution of 300-600 DPI is preferred for scanned prints.

If using a digital photograph taken on a smartphone, ensure the face takes up at least 70% of the frame. Crop to a roughly square or 3:4 (width:height) aspect ratio before uploading.

Step 5: Access the upload fields in Zerodha

During the online account opening flow at zerodha.com, the signature and photograph upload fields appear after the Aadhaar eKYC step is complete. In the KYC update flow on Console (zerodha-console), navigate to: Account > Profile > Update KYC to reach the upload fields.

Click or tap the upload area for the signature. A file picker opens; navigate to the saved signature file and select it. Repeat for the photograph.

On mobile, the file picker may offer options to use the camera directly. This is acceptable for the photograph but not recommended for the signature, as the camera-captured signature tends to have inconsistent lighting.

Step 6: Preview and submit

After each upload, Zerodha displays a thumbnail preview of the uploaded image. Verify:

  • Signature: The signature is dark, clear, and fully within the frame. No part of the signature is cut off.
  • Photograph: The face is clearly visible, well-lit, and centred. The background appears light.

If either preview looks blurry, cropped incorrectly, or has a dark background, click “Remove” or “Change” and upload a corrected file before proceeding.

Once both uploads are confirmed, a green tick or “Uploaded” status appears next to each field. Click Continue to proceed to the next step in the Zerodha KYC online flow.

References

  1. SEBI Circular on photograph and signature requirements for KYC (SEBI/HO/MIRSD/MIRSD-PoD-1/P/CIR/2023/37, 23 March 2023).
  2. CDSL Operating Instructions, Chapter 3: Client registration and KYC norms (revised 2024).
  3. Zerodha account opening help centre: support.zerodha.com (accessed May 2026).
  4. UIDAI Aadhaar eKYC data field specifications (uidai.gov.in, accessed May 2026).

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