Published on Sept 5, 2025Updated on Mar 26, 2026
The process of verifying identity in financial services has moved far beyond paperwork and in-person visits, evolving into a faster and more secure digital model. Video KYC, also known as video-based KYC, enables customers to complete their entire verification process online using a smartphone or computer. This has made it easier to open accounts or apply for products like credit cards and personal loans without leaving home. By combining convenience with compliance under RBI KYC norms, video KYC is quickly becoming the industry standard.
In this article, we explain the meaning of video KYC, how it works, its benefits, and why it offers a smarter alternative to traditional KYC methods.
Video KYC (video-based Know Your Customer) is a digital process that lets financial institutions verify your identity through a secure video call or audio-visual interaction. Instead of submitting physical copies of documents, you can simply show them to an authorised officer. The entire session is recorded for compliance, ensuring safety and transparency.
Key points to know about this method of online KYC check:
By enabling you to verify KYC online, it removes the need for multiple branch visits while still ensuring complete reliability.
KYC compliance is a regulatory requirement. Without completing it, you cannot access lending services such as personal loans. KYC ensures that institutions confirm your identity, prevent fraud, and maintain compliance with the law.
Here’s why completing KYC is essential:
Tip: Keeping your personal loan documentation up to date and accurate enhances the convenience of the online KYC verification process and helps speed up loan processing.
Video KYC offers multiple advantages over the traditional verification process. For both customers and financial institutions, the benefits are clear:
Tip: While documentation and KYC are essential, meeting the personal loan eligibility requirements is equally important. Reviewing them beforehand increases your chances of approval with more favourable terms.
To successfully complete the video KYC process, you typically need:
During the session, an authorised officer may ask you to answer basic questions or display original documents to confirm authenticity. These simple requirements make it convenient for customers to complete their KYC check online quickly and securely.
The video KYC process is designed to be simple and user-friendly. Here’s how it typically works (though exact steps may differ depending on lender policies):
This smooth process ensures that your application, such as for a personal loan, is not delayed by physical verification.
The difference between video KYC and traditional methods is as follows:
|
Aspect |
Traditional KYC |
Video KYC |
|
Process |
Requires physical visits to a lender branch. |
Allows you to verify KYC online from anywhere. |
|
Documentation |
Involves photocopies and multiple documents. |
Eliminates physical paperwork and reduces human error. |
|
Approval Time |
Approval times can take days or weeks. |
Approvals are much faster (subject to eligibility and documentation). |
Video KYC has changed the way lending institutions verify identities, making the process faster, safer, and far more convenient than ever before. For customers, it means no physical paperwork, minimal delays, and quick access to financial services like personal loans.
At SMFG India Credit, you can verify your identity and share address details easily through well-known methods such as CKYC, Offline Aadhaar XML-based KYC, or DigiLocker. With attractive personal loan interest rates starting at 13%* per annum, financing of up to INR 30 lakhs*, and flexible repayment tenures of up to 60 months, achieving your financial goals becomes simpler.
Estimate your monthly instalments using our personal loan EMI calculator and apply online today.
Important Note: This article is for general informational purposes only and may be subject to change from time to time. As product features, eligibility criteria, interest rates, charges, fees, tenures and other terms may be revised as per SMFG India Credit's policies, readers are advised to refer to the latest details from the respective product pages (please select from the top menu). For the latest loan charges, please visit Charges & Fees Link and for the latest Interest rates, please visit Interest Rate Rationale. Please note that final loan terms, disbursement process and eligibility criteria will depend on SMFG India Credit's policies at the time of loan application.
The content of this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute as, an offer or advise to avail any products or services from, or, a commitment to grant any loan by the company. It is not intended to create any rights or obligations against us. All content is provided "as is" without any warranty of any kind, either express or implied & we disclaim any warranty or representation, whatsoever, in regards to the content. Please refer to the Privacy Policy of the company to understand the use, processing and storage of your personal data.
Video KYC is a digital process that allows you to complete identity verification online. Instead of visiting a branch, you connect with an official via video call, show your PAN and Aadhaar, and verify KYC online quickly and securely.
Yes, video KYC is safe, provided you complete it only with a trusted and RBI-verified financial institution.
The purpose of video KYC is to simplify the KYC process, making it faster, paperless, and fully remote. It helps lenders verify customer identity online, comply with RBI KYC norms, and enable quick access to financial products like personal loans without delays.
During a video KYC, the officer may ask you to display your original PAN card, Aadhaar, or other valid ID proof. They may confirm your personal details, request you to read a statement, and perform a liveness check to verify your identity remotely.
You can use alternate methods; however, completing some form of KYC is mandatory to access financial services.
Yes, you generally need a physical PAN card for video KYC as part of identity verification. The official may ask you to hold it up during the video call. Some institutions also allow e-PAN, but physical PAN remains the most widely accepted.
Yes, video KYC is officially approved by the RBI. In 2020, the RBI permitted regulated entities like NBFCs to use video-based customer identification as part of KYC compliance. This ensures that video KYC is legally valid and completely secure.
No. Offline KYC requires a branch visit, submission of photocopies, and longer approval times. Video KYC, in contrast, lets you verify your identity online through a live video call, eliminating paperwork and speeding up the process.
While traditional KYC carried risks like document loss and delays, video KYC reduces these risks by being digital. However, users must ensure they only complete online KYC verification through official channels to avoid phishing or fraud.
The video KYC process involves a live video call with a KYC officer, during which you typically display your PAN card and Aadhaar. Additional checks, such as liveness detection and face matching, may also be conducted.
Aadhaar e-KYC is a paperless electronic KYC process where identity verification is done using Aadhaar details. With customer consent, UIDAI shares Aadhaar-based information securely with authorised institutions.
To verify the digital signature in your Aadhaar PDF, open the file in any Acrobat Reader. Click on the “Signature Panel” to confirm UIDAI’s signature validity. A green checkmark indicates a valid signature, ensuring the Aadhaar document is authentic and safe for KYC verification.
No, completing video KYC alone does not guarantee loan approval. While it fulfils the identity verification requirement, lenders also assess factors like income, credit score, and repayment capacity before sanctioning a loan. It’s recommended to use a personal loan eligibility calculator to estimate how much you may qualify for and strengthen your application accordingly.
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