Glossary · Finance & banking
V-CIP / Video KYC meaning
Video KYC, or V-CIP, is a live video call in which an authorised official verifies a customer. Learn what RBI requires, how a call runs and the common mistakes.
How does a video KYC call work?
The customer usually starts online, gives consent, and books or joins a call. On the call, an authorised official of the bank, NBFC or insurer sees the customer live, asks questions, verifies identity details obtained through a route the Direction allows, such as offline Aadhaar verification, a CKYC record or an equivalent e-document, and captures the customer's face. The RBI Master Direction on KYC sets the standards: the interaction must be live and with informed consent, the application must include face liveness or spoof detection, and the official must be able to carry out a liveness check during the call. Equivalent e-documents, such as those issued through DigiLocker, can be used, and a clear image of the PAN card is captured unless an e-PAN is provided.
Behind the call, the lender also needs a secure environment, a recording of the session, a clear audit trail and a concurrent or subsequent review, so that someone other than the official can confirm the process was followed.
What does a video KYC session look like?
Illustrative example. A customer applies for a savings account at 9 pm on a phone. She uploads PAN details, and the chat offers a video slot the next morning. On the call, the official asks her to hold up her PAN card for a clear capture, and answer two questions about the application. The liveness check passes, her face matches the document photo, and the official approves. A reviewer later checks the recording before the account is fully activated.
Is video KYC the same as a selfie upload or e-KYC?
| Method | Live official? | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Video KYC (V-CIP) | Yes, on a live call | Full-KYC accounts and loans without a branch visit |
| Selfie with document upload | No | A supporting check; on its own it is not V-CIP |
| Aadhaar OTP e-KYC | No | Electronic identity fetch, often with limits on the account until full KYC |
What are the common video KYC mistakes?
- Recording a video and calling it V-CIP. A pre-recorded clip is not a live interaction with an official.
- Weak liveness controls. A face held up on another screen should not pass.
- Poor scheduling. Applicants who have to wait days for a slot often drop off before the call.
- No review step. The official's approval should be reviewed, especially for higher-risk customers.
Where does video KYC fit in onboarding?
Video KYC is one step. Documents still need reading, data still needs matching, and exceptions still need a person. With KYC automation software for banks and NBFCs, a video-KYC slot can be booked in the same WhatsApp or web conversation where documents were collected, and the hand-off sits alongside liveness and face match in the document layer. The digital KYC onboarding guide walks through the full journey, and the maker-checker exceptions playbook covers the review step.
V-CIP standards are amended from time to time; confirm the current requirements in the RBI Master Direction or with your compliance adviser.
Related terms
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Where this shows up in our work. AutoKYC: Documents read on WhatsApp, checked against your policy, exceptions to a person, maker-checker before the core. Book a 30-minute working session with an engineer.
Questions
What is the full form of V-CIP?
V-CIP stands for Video-based Customer Identification Process. It is RBI's term for video KYC, in which an authorised official of a regulated entity identifies a customer on a live, consent-based video call.
Is video KYC accepted as full KYC?
Yes, when it follows the RBI Master Direction's V-CIP standards. RBI treats a compliant V-CIP as equivalent to face-to-face customer identification, so it can be used to open full-KYC accounts.
What documents are needed for video KYC?
Customers usually need PAN or its details and an Officially Valid Document or its equivalent e-document, such as one from DigiLocker. The lender's own policy may ask for more, so check with the lender.