KYC Video KYC India VCIP SEBI video KYC RBI VCIP Aadhaar alternative

Video KYC (Video-based Customer Identification Process) in India

From WebNotes, a public knowledge base. Last updated 17 May 2026. Reading time ~13 min.

Video KYC, formally known as Video-based Customer Identification Process (VCIP), is a SEBI-and-RBI-permitted KYC mechanism in India that uses a real-time video call between a customer and an authorised representative to verify identity and complete the Know Your Customer (KYC) process. VCIP was introduced as an alternative to physical-document-based KYC and as a complement to Aadhaar -based e-KYC, particularly relevant for customers without active Aadhaar-linked mobile numbers, NRIs, foreign citizens, or customers preferring not to use Aadhaar OTP-based verification. The framework was formalised through SEBI Circular SEBI/HO/MIRSD/DOP/CIR/P/2020/73 dated 24 April 2020 and aligned RBI guidelines.

Video KYC has become the operational backup pathway for Indian mutual fund, brokerage, and banking KYC. Every SEBI-registered intermediary including PPFAS SelfInvest , Zerodha , and other aggregator platforms offers VCIP as the alternative to Aadhaar e-KYC. The VCIP framework typically involves a 15-30 minute scheduled video call where the investor presents documents to camera, completes a liveness check (head turning, blinking), and provides verbal consent.

Origin and regulatory framework

Pre-VCIP KYC landscape

Before formalisation of Video KYC, Indian financial-services KYC operated through:

Aadhaar e-KYC: For Indian residents with active Aadhaar.
Documentary KYC: Physical document submission, often requiring branch visits.
Limited remote alternatives: For investors without Aadhaar or unable to use Aadhaar OTP.

This created operational friction for substantial investor segments.

COVID-19 catalyst

The COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 triggered urgent regulatory action:

Physical KYC blocked: Pandemic restrictions prevented branch visits.
Aadhaar-based KYC alone insufficient: Many investors could not complete onboarding due to inactive Aadhaar-linked mobiles.
Industry needed digital alternative: To maintain continuity of customer onboarding.

In April 2020, SEBI and RBI moved quickly to formalise Video KYC as a regulatory framework.

SEBI 2020 VCIP framework

The SEBI Circular SEBI/HO/MIRSD/DOP/CIR/P/2020/73 dated 24 April 2020 formalised VCIP for SEBI-regulated intermediaries:

Real-time video call between customer and authorised representative.
Document verification on camera: PAN, address proof, and other documents.
Liveness check: To prevent recorded or photo-based fraud.
Recording and audit trail: Session recorded for compliance.
Geographic location verification: To prevent cross-border fraud.

RBI parallel framework

The RBI Master Direction on Know Your Customer was concurrently amended to permit VCIP for banking and NBFC KYC, with similar provisions.

Subsequent amendments

The framework has been periodically refined:

2021-2022: Operational guidelines refinement.
2023: Specific clarifications on liveness-check standards.
2024-2025: Continued evolution.

Operational framework

Pre-call preparation

Customer prepares:

Original documents: PAN, address proof (Aadhaar, passport, voter ID, etc.), cancelled cheque.
Stable internet connection: Required for video quality.
Front camera and microphone: On smartphone or computer.
Quiet, well-lit environment: For clear video.
White paper and pen: For signature capture.

Slot scheduling

Customer:

Initiates VCIP via the intermediary’s portal (e.g., PPFAS SelfInvest).
Schedules a slot from available windows (typically 9 AM to 6 PM IST, weekdays primarily).
Receives calendar invitation with secure meeting link.

Video call execution

The video call typically follows:

Customer joins meeting at scheduled time.
Authorised representative joins (typically a CAMS or KFin VCIP operator on behalf of the AMC).
Identity verification: Customer states name, DOB, PAN, address aloud for audio record.
Document verification: Customer holds each document to camera; representative captures still frames.
Liveness check: Customer performs prompted actions (turn head, blink, smile, repeat random word).
Signature capture: Customer signs prepared paper on camera.
Verbal consent: Customer confirms consent for recording and KYC submission.
Call ends with the representative confirming submission.

The call typically lasts 15 to 30 minutes.

Post-call processing

After the call:

Recording stored: As part of the compliance audit trail.
Documents submitted to SEBI KRA: For registration in the cross-industry KYC system.
Account activation: Typically 2-3 business days after successful VCIP.

Specific technical requirements

Video quality

VCIP requires:

Minimum 480p video resolution: For clear document and face capture.
Stable bandwidth: Approximately 5 Mbps upload recommended.
No screen-recording from customer: Prevented by the VCIP platform.

Liveness check standards

Liveness check must include:

Real-time random prompts: Cannot be pre-recorded.
Visible face throughout: Cannot be photo-based.
Audio response in some prompts: Voice authentication element.

These standards prevent fraud attempts using recordings or photographs.

Geographic location

VCIP includes:

IP-based location verification: Confirms customer is in India.
For NRIs: Specific framework for overseas VCIP with additional verification.

Document standards

Documents must be:

Original (not photocopy): Specifically required.
Clearly visible in video: All four corners visible, text readable.
Match the customer’s stated identity: Name and other details consistent.

Industry implementation

Mutual fund VCIP

Mutual fund AMCs offer VCIP through:

AMC-direct portals: SelfInvest, MyCAMS, KFinKart.
Aggregator platforms: Groww, Kuvera, ET Money.

The operational implementation is typically through CAMS or KFin VCIP infrastructure.

Brokerage VCIP

Stock brokers offer VCIP:

Zerodha: Through the Kite onboarding flow.
ICICI Direct, HDFC Securities: Through their respective portals.
Angel One: Through Angel One onboarding.

The VCIP infrastructure is typically through specialised KYC-tech vendors.

Banking VCIP

Banks offer VCIP for:

Savings account opening: Increasingly common.
Loan KYC verification: For specific products.
Credit card application: In some cases.

Insurance VCIP

Insurance companies offer VCIP for:

Term insurance: Increasingly common.
Life insurance: For specific products.

VCIP versus Aadhaar e-KYC

Use case differentiation

Attribute	Aadhaar e-KYC	Video KYC (VCIP)
Speed	10-15 minutes typical	15-30 minutes (call) + 2-3 days processing
Prerequisite	Active Aadhaar-linked mobile	Original documents and scheduled time
Resident eligibility	Resident Indians with Aadhaar	Resident + NRI + foreign citizens (specific framework)
Operational friction	Lower (purely digital)	Higher (scheduled call)
Fraud resistance	High (UIDAI verification)	High (liveness check + recording)
Privacy	Aadhaar number transmitted	Documents shown but Aadhaar masking option

Use cases for each

Aadhaar e-KYC suitable for:

Resident Indian investors with active Aadhaar.
Quick, fully-digital onboarding preferred.
Most common use case.

VCIP suitable for:

Investors without active Aadhaar.
Investors whose Aadhaar mobile is inactive.
NRIs and foreign citizens.
Investors preferring not to use Aadhaar OTP.
Backup when Aadhaar e-KYC fails.

Investor experience considerations

Scheduling

VCIP slot scheduling can have:

Same-day slots: For walk-in scheduling.
Next-business-day slots: Typical.
Peak periods: Slower availability during ITR season or year-end.

Multiple attempts

If first VCIP fails:

Re-scheduling: Available without re-doing earlier steps.
Re-take guidance: Representative explains what needs improvement.
Multiple attempts permitted: Within reason.

Quality factors

Successful VCIP depends on:

Lighting: Bright natural daylight or well-lit room.
Internet stability: Avoid Wi-Fi interruptions.
Document presentation: Steady, flat, well-lit document presentation.
Audio clarity: Quiet environment.
Customer responsiveness: Following prompts attentively.

Limitations

Operational constraints

VCIP has constraints:

Time-bound scheduling: Cannot complete instantly.
Internet dependency: Connectivity issues can delay.
Document availability: Customer needs originals on hand.
Limited languages: Most VCIP in English or Hindi; regional-language support varies.

Operational hours

VCIP typically:

Business hours: 9 AM to 6 PM IST.
Weekday focus: Saturday in some cases; rare Sunday.
Holiday closures: National holidays affect availability.

Geographic limitations

Specific challenges for:

Rural areas with limited connectivity.
Areas with poor camera and microphone availability.
NRIs in time-zones far from India.

Re-take risks

VCIP failures can occur due to:

Poor lighting.
Unstable internet.
Document presentation issues.
Audio quality problems.
Name-mismatch issues.

Each failure typically requires fresh scheduling.

Tax and regulatory implications

SEBI KRA integration

Successful VCIP results in:

Registration with SEBI KRA: Cross-industry KYC database.
Validation across intermediaries: KYC is portable to other SEBI-registered firms.

PMLA compliance

VCIP frameworks comply with Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) requirements:

PEP (Politically Exposed Person) screening.
Sanctions screening.
Source of funds verification.

FATCA/CRS for NRI

For NRI VCIP, additional FATCA/CRS-related declarations are required.

Industry development

Pre-2020 emergence

Before COVID-19 formalisation:

Limited use: Some industry pilots.
Regulatory uncertainty: Specific framework absent.
Operational fragmentation: Different intermediaries used different approaches.

Post-2020 mainstreaming

The 2020 framework drove:

Substantial industry adoption: All major intermediaries integrated VCIP.
Operational standardisation: Common VCIP infrastructure providers emerged.
Customer awareness: VCIP became a recognised pathway.

Technology providers

VCIP technology is provided by:

CAMS VCIP: For CAMS-serviced AMCs (including PPFAS).
KFin VCIP: For KFin-serviced AMCs.
Bank-specific VCIP: For banking applications.
Specialised VCIP vendors: Third-party providers serving multiple industries.

Comparison with international video-KYC frameworks

US BSA video-verification

US Bank Secrecy Act framework permits video-based verification within specific safeguards.

European AML6 framework

EU’s AML6 framework includes video-based verification provisions.

India versus global

India’s VCIP framework is comparatively:

Detailed and prescriptive: Specific liveness-check and recording requirements.
Aligned with global best practices.
Continually refined based on industry experience.

Future development

AI-assisted VCIP

Industry trends include:

AI-based document verification: Automated some manual steps.
AI-based liveness detection: Beyond manual prompts.
Automated voice analysis: For speech-based authentication.

Self-service VCIP

Some providers are developing:

Self-service VCIP: Without live representative interaction.
24x7 availability: Removing scheduling constraints.

Multi-language and regional expansion

Continued investment in:

Regional-language VCIP: For non-English/Hindi speakers.
Rural-connectivity-optimised VCIP: For lower bandwidth.

External references

References

SEBI Circular on Video-based Customer Identification Process (VCIP) for SEBI-registered intermediaries, SEBI/HO/MIRSD/DOP/CIR/P/2020/73, dated 24 April 2020.
RBI Master Direction on Know Your Customer, DBR.AML.BC.No.81/14.01.001/2015-16, dated 25 February 2016 (with subsequent VCIP amendments).
SEBI Master Circular for Mutual Funds, 22 May 2024.
SEBI (Mutual Funds) Regulations, 1996.
Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.
UIDAI Aadhaar Authentication Regulations, 2016.
CAMS Investor Services VCIP operational documentation.
KFin Technologies VCIP operational documentation.
PPFAS Mutual Fund SelfInvest VCIP flow documentation.
Industry press archive of VCIP adoption coverage.
AMFI Industry Best Practices on VCIP.
International references: US BSA, EU AML6.
SEBI Investor Charter for Mutual Funds, 2021.
CFA Institute Standards on customer identification.
SEBI Annual Reports on KYC framework.

Reviewed and published by

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.

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