Mutual fund KYC
Do your KYC once. Get it right the first time.
KYC is the identity check every mutual fund investor has to clear before the first rupee goes in. It takes about 20 minutes when the papers match. When they do not, it can sit "on hold" for weeks. This page covers what to keep ready, which route to pick, and the mistakes we see most often.
What KYC actually is
One record, kept by a registration agency, read by every fund house
When your KYC is done, your details sit with a KYC Registration Agency (KRA). Any fund house you invest with later reads that same record, so you do not repeat the process for every new fund. What matters is the status on that record, because it decides whether you can invest freely or only with fund houses you already hold.
Status names and rules as of 2026, check current rules before you invest.
| Status you see | What it means | Can you invest? |
|---|---|---|
| Validated | Details checked against official records like Aadhaar | Yes, with any fund house |
| Registered | Done with older documents, not re-checked yet | Only where you already hold units |
| On hold | Something did not match, often mobile, email or PAN link | No, until fixed |
| Rejected | Documents unclear or mismatched | No, KYC has to be redone |
The documents to keep on the table
Originals for the check, clear self-attested copies for the form. Keep the name spelt the same way on all of them.
PAN card
Compulsory. It must be linked to your Aadhaar, or it is treated as inoperative and the KYC stalls.
Address proof
Aadhaar is the easiest. Passport, voter ID or driving licence also work. Check it is not expired and the address is current.
Recent photograph
Passport size, plain background, face clearly visible. For video KYC a live photo is captured during the call.
Bank proof
A cancelled cheque or recent statement with your name printed. Redemptions are paid only to a bank account in your name.
Signature
Sign the way you sign on your bank records. A different style is one of the most common reasons a form comes back.
Your own mobile and email
Both must belong to you, not a spouse or parent. Fund houses send every transaction alert to them.
Extra for some investors: a minor invests through a guardian, whose KYC is also needed along with the child's birth certificate or passport. An NRI also needs an overseas address proof and a passport copy. See our NRI investing page for the full list.
Three ways to complete KYC
All three end in the same KRA record. Pick the one that fits how comfortable you are with a phone camera.
| Route | How it works | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aadhaar based online | Details pulled from Aadhaar on the official KRA or fund house page, verified with a code sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile | Anyone whose Aadhaar mobile number is active | Some fund houses cap fresh investment per year until full KYC is done |
| Video KYC | A short live video call: you show your original PAN, read out a code, and a photo is captured | Salaried people, NRIs in some cases, anyone who prefers not to meet | Poor light or a shaky camera is the main reason calls fail |
| In-person with paper form | We meet you, see the originals, witness your signature and submit the form with copies | Senior citizens, first-time investors, anyone with a name mismatch to sort out | Takes a few extra days for the courier and KRA update |
We never ask for a one-time code, PIN or password. There is no sign-in on this website. Any verification code goes only into the official KRA or fund house page you are on. If someone calls claiming to be from Vision Wealth and asks for one, do not share it.
Video KYC, step by step
What the 10-minute call looks like
Before the call
Sit near a window or a bright lamp. Keep your original PAN, a blank white paper and a blue or black pen within reach.
On the call
Allow camera and location access when the page asks. Hold the PAN steady in front of the camera, front side, for a few seconds.
Live check
You read out or write a code shown on screen, and a live photo is taken. Look straight at the camera, no cap or dark glasses.
After the call
The KRA updates your status, usually within 2 to 5 working days. We check it for you and tell you on WhatsApp when it shows Validated.
Nominee
Add a nominee the same day you do KYC
A nominee is the person who receives your units if something happens to you. Without one, your family has to produce legal papers such as a succession certificate, which can take months. Adding one takes two minutes.
You can either name nominees or sign a declaration that you are opting out. Leaving it blank is no longer an option for new folios.
Nomination rules as of 2026, check current rules.
- More than one nominee is allowed. Split the share in percentages that add up to exactly 100.
- Keep it consistent. Use the same nominees across your folios unless you have a reason not to.
- Minor as nominee? Name a guardian who will handle the units until the child turns 18.
- Joint holding is different. A joint holder is a co-owner today. A nominee only receives the units later.
- Update after life changes. Marriage, a child, or a nominee passing away are all reasons to revise it.
Seven reasons KYC gets rejected or put on hold
Almost all of them are small mismatches. Fix them before you submit and you save weeks.
Name spelt differently
"Ramesh K. Shah" on PAN, "Ramesh Kumar Shah" on Aadhaar, "R K Shah" at the bank.
Fix: match the PAN spelling everywhere, or correct the odd one out first.
PAN not linked to Aadhaar
The PAN is treated as inoperative and the KRA cannot validate the record.
Fix: complete the PAN Aadhaar link on the income tax portal, then retry.
Mobile or email of a family member
The same number shows against another investor's record.
Fix: use your own number and email, or mark the family relation where the form allows.
Blurry or cropped copies
Phone photos taken at an angle, with a thumb over the date of birth.
Fix: flat, well lit, all four corners visible, no flash glare.
Signature does not match
A quick initial on the form, a full signature at the bank.
Fix: sign the way your bank knows you.
Old address proof
An expired passport or a licence showing a house you left years ago.
Fix: use a current document, or update Aadhaar first.
Name changed after marriage
New surname on Aadhaar, maiden name still on PAN.
Fix: update PAN first, then submit a KYC change with the marriage certificate.
Already done KYC years ago?
When you need to update it
KYC does not expire, but the details on it can go out of date. Funds will not process some requests until the record matches.
What we do for you
- Check your current KYC status with just your PAN
- Spot name or signature mismatches before you submit
- Arrange an in-person or video KYC at a time that suits you
- Add nominees across all your folios in one go
- Tell you on WhatsApp the day it shows Validated
KYC help
Stuck on hold, or starting fresh?
Send three details. We reply on WhatsApp with what is missing and the quickest route for you. Please do not send Aadhaar or PAN images until we ask, and never share a verification code.
Is mutual fund KYC the same as my bank KYC?
No. Your bank keeps its own record. Mutual fund KYC sits with a KYC Registration Agency and is shared across fund houses. Some people already have it from a demat account or an earlier investment, so check your status before redoing it.
Can I start a SIP while KYC is pending?
Not usually. The fund house needs a Validated status, or Registered if you already hold its units. Fill the SIP form ready, and we submit it the day the status changes.
Do joint holders each need KYC?
Yes. Every holder and the guardian of a minor needs their own completed KYC with PAN. The nominee does not.
What is FATCA and why is it on the form?
It is a short declaration of your tax residence, country of birth and citizenship. Resident Indians usually tick India for all. NRIs and anyone with a foreign tax residence fill in more details.
My status says On hold. What now?
Most holds come from an unverified mobile or email, or a PAN not linked to Aadhaar. Fix that one item and re-verify. Send us your PAN on WhatsApp and we will tell you which one it is.
Once your KYC is done
The paperwork is the easy part. These pages cover what comes next.
KYC sorted? Your first SIP can start this week.
Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully. Past performance may or may not be sustained in future.