KYC stands for “Know Your Customer.” It is a mandatory verification process for any investor or trader who wants to invest in mutual funds, stocks, or other financial instruments in India. The idea: financial platforms must verify identity and address of every investor to comply with regulations and prevent misuse.
On Groww, KYC is necessary before you can start investing — whether in mutual funds, stocks, or demat-based investments. Without completing KYC, your account remains unverified and you may not be able to transact.
The good news: Groww’s KYC process is (mostly) digital and paperless — you don’t need to visit an office physically (unless there is a special case). (Groww Resources)
Also, Groww doesn’t charge any processing fees for KYC. (Groww)
In this blog, we will walk you through how to complete KYC on Groww, what documents you need, step-by-step process, typical waiting time, common issues, and tips to avoid delays.
What documents and information you need before starting KYC
Before you begin, ensure you have the following:
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Your PAN card (Permanent Account Number). This is mandatory. (Groww Resources)
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A valid proof of address / identity — for example, your Aadhaar Card (or valid Passport / Voter ID / Driver’s Licence / other acceptable identity proofs). (Groww Resources)
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For Aadhaar-based e‑KYC: the mobile number linked to Aadhaar must be active (to get OTP) for authentication. (Groww Resources)
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Bank account details (account number, IFSC) — Groww will ask for this to link your bank account. (equity indian Stock Market)
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Sometimes a live selfie or digital signature / e‑sign might be required (especially for demat account opening) as part of the verification. (Groww Resources)
If you are differently-abled and cannot sign in the traditional way, Groww accepts alternatives (e.g., thumb impression + eSign) in some cases. (Groww)
Step-by-Step: How to complete KYC on Groww
Here is a typical, step‑by‑step flow to complete your KYC on Groww — works mostly via the mobile app (or website).
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Download Groww app (or open website)
Start by installing the Groww app on your Android/iOS device or open the Groww website. (equity indian Stock Market) -
Register with email and mobile number
Provide your email ID and mobile number. Groww will send an OTP to verify your mobile. Enter OTP to verify. (equity indian Stock Market) -
Enter PAN details
Enter your PAN number; Groww uses PAN as a mandatory identity document. (equity indian Stock Market) -
Provide bank account details
Enter your bank account number and IFSC code so that Groww can link your bank account for future transactions (purchases, redemptions, etc.). (equity indian Stock Market) -
Start Aadhaar‑based e‑KYC (if Aadhaar is available and mobile is linked)
If your Aadhaar is linked to your mobile number, Groww will prompt you to authenticate through Aadhaar OTP. Enter Aadhaar number, receive OTP, and complete e‑sign. This verifies both identity and address (as per Aadhaar data). (vsetonlinesolution.com) -
Live selfie & IPV (In-person verification)
Some flows require you to click a “live selfie” or go through In-Person Verification (IPV) to prove liveness — important to prevent fraud. (Groww Resources) -
Digital Signature / e-Sign
After filling all details and uploading required documents, you may need to sign the account opening form using e‑sign (via Aadhaar OTP) or upload a handwritten signature. (Chittorgarh) -
Submit and wait for verification
Once you submit everything, Groww (or its broker backend) will verify your documents. If everything is correct, your account gets activated. Usually within a few hours, but in some cases 1–2 working days. (Groww) -
Check account status — if verified, you are good to invest
Once your KYC is complete and approved, you’ll get confirmation (often via email/app notification). Then you can start investing in mutual funds, stocks, etc. (Groww)
That’s the standard process — simple and fully online, provided you have Aadhaar with active mobile, PAN, bank account, and photo proof.
Typical Time / Charges / What to Expect
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No charges for KYC — Groww does not charge any fee to process your KYC. (Groww)
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Time to account activation — In many cases, account becomes active within a few hours after submission. In some cases, manual verification may take 1–2 working days. (Groww)
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Digital and paperless — Entire process can be completed online, without visiting any physical office — which is a big convenience. (Groww Resources)
Common Issues & Re-verification — What to Watch Out For
Even though Groww tries to make KYC smooth, some users face issues. Here are common problems and how to resolve them.
🔹 Aadhaar / PAN Mismatch or Mobile Not Linked
If your Aadhaar is not linked to the mobile number you provided, e‑KYC may fail. In such cases, Groww might ask you to print and courier a signed account opening form — which delays the process. (Chittorgarh)
🔹 Poor Quality Documents / Cropped Photos / Signature Issues
Documents must be clear, complete, and not cropped or screenshots. Blurry scans or incomplete photos may be rejected. (Groww Resources)
🔹 Delay in Backend / Manual Verification
Even after submission, verification may take time (sometimes more than 1–2 days), depending on workload. If you don’t get activation within 2 working days, Groww suggests contacting support. (Groww)
🔹 Re‑KYC or Re‑verification Notices
Because of regulatory norms (updated by SEBI and KRAs), sometimes you may be asked to re-verify your KYC — especially if documents (like Aadhaar) need fresh validation, or if you change contact details. (Groww)
If your KYC is not “validated” (just “registered” or “verified”), you may need to redo KYC to invest with a new mutual fund house or after certain compliance changes. (Growwmf)
Tips for Smooth KYC — Best Practices
To avoid delays or rejection, follow these tips:
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Use clear, high-resolution photos/scans of PAN, Aadhaar (or other identity proof).
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Ensure your Aadhaar card’s mobile number is active — because OTP will come there.
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Fill all details exactly as on Aadhar/PAN (name, address, date of birth). Any mismatch can cause rejection.
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Keep your bank account ready — account number, IFSC code, and ensure it’s active.
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If asked for selfie or e‑signature: follow instructions carefully; avoid dark/blurred photos.
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If Aadhaar is not linked with your mobile — consider linking first, or be ready for courier + manual sign‑up (if Groww gives that option).
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After submission, wait patiently; in most cases activation happens within a day or two. If delay persists beyond 2–3 days — reach out to Groww support.
What Changed Recently? (KYC Norms and Validation)
Due to updated compliance requirements from regulatory bodies (SEBI + KRAs), there is increasing emphasis on Aadhaar‑based KYC for “validation.” (Growwmf)
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If your KYC was previously done with non‑Aadhaar identity proofs (like passport, voter ID, etc.), you might be asked to re‑submit using Aadhaar or other “Officially Valid Documents (OVDs).” (Growwmf)
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Once Aadhaar‑based e‑KYC & validation is successful (PAN + Aadhaar + mobile/email verification), your KYC status becomes “Validated.” This ensures smooth investing across multiple fund houses without repeating KYC. (Growwmf)
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If your KYC status is “Registered” (not validated), you may face limitations — for example, some new investments may not be allowed until KYC validated. (Growwmf)
Because of this, even existing users might need to re‑verify or update their KYC (if Aadhaar linkage was missing earlier).
When KYC Goes Wrong — What to Do
Despite following all steps, sometimes KYC is marked incomplete, or pending, or even rejected. Here are steps to handle that:
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Recheck your submitted documents — ensure no image is cropped, blurred or cut.
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Verify that Aadhaar is correctly entered, and mobile number linked to Aadhaar is used for OTP.
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Check your email and mobile (the one linked) for any messages from Groww — maybe they need additional documents.
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If delay goes beyond 2‑3 working days, use the “Contact Us” / customer support option on Groww to raise a ticket. (Groww)
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As a fallback (if Aadhaar‑link not possible), you may need to print, sign & courier the account opening form (if Groww gives you that option) — but this adds time. (Chittorgarh)
Final Thoughts — Is Groww’s KYC Process Good for Beginners?
Yes — for most users, Groww’s KYC process is simple, digital, paperless, and fast. If you have Aadhaar, PAN and a valid mobile number, you can complete it within minutes or a few hours. No fees — which makes it beginner-friendly.
However, due to newer compliance norms, it's important to ensure your Aadhaar is linked to mobile, documents are clear, and you enter details carefully. If you skip these precautions, you may face delays or re‑verification requests.
In short: for a beginner investor aiming to start mutual funds or stock investments, Groww’s KYC is among the easiest in India.