Video KYC

Video KYC, short for video-based Know Your Customer, is a process used by Indian banks and financial technology companies to verify the identity of a new credit card applicant through a live video call, instead of requiring the applicant to physically visit a branch or meet a agent in person. It was introduced by the Reserve Bank of India as an alternative KYC method under certain conditions, and has become the primary onboarding channel for digital-first card issuers in India.

How video KYC works

To complete a video KYC for a credit card, you will need a smartphone or laptop with a working camera and a stable internet connection. The issuer’s app or website will guide you through the process: first, you enter your Aadhaar number or PAN, which is verified in real time against government databases. Then you join a live video call with a KYC verification executive who guides you through the next steps.

During the video call, you will be asked to show your original government-issued identity document — typically the PAN card or Aadhaar card — and your face to confirm you are the same person named on the document. You may be asked to perform simple actions such as blinking or tilting your head to confirm you are a live person and not a photograph or recording. The executive will verify the document details verbally and may ask you to read out an on-screen OTP or declaration.

Requirements for video KYC

The RBI’s video KYC guidelines require that the entire process is recorded and stored for audit purposes. You must be physically present in India at the time of the video call — the process cannot be completed from abroad. Your face must be clearly visible and well-lit, and the identity document must be held steady and in focus throughout the verification period. If the document is unreadable or the face match fails, the executive may ask you to retry or schedule a new appointment.

Some issuers also require a video KYC to be completed from the same device and phone number that is registered in your name, to reduce the risk of identity impersonation.

Advantages of video KYC

The primary advantage of video KYC is speed — the entire card application and verification process can be completed in under 30 minutes, and the card can be dispatched the same day in some cases. For customers in cities where the issuer has no branch, or for people with mobility limitations, video KYC removes the need to travel to a physical location. It also reduces the paperwork involved because the verification executive enters the data directly into the system.

Limitations and concerns

The main concern with video KYC is data privacy — you are sharing a live video of your face and your identity documents with a third-party vendor working on behalf of the bank. Ensure you are completing the video KYC through the official issuer app or website, and not through a link shared on social media or by an agent claiming to represent the bank. If the call disconnects before completion, do not share your documents or OTP with anyone who contacts you claiming to be from the bank — call the official customer service number yourself to verify.