Procedure for Registration of KYC (Know Your Client) Registration Agency (KRA)

Priya Gandhi

Priya Gandhi

Published on: Feb 10, 2026

Aakanksha Singhal

Updated on: Feb 10, 2026

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KYC Registration Agency (KRA) is a specialized company that acts as a central safe-keeper, for client identity (KYC) details, across the entire financial market. As of February 2026, there are six KYC Registration Agencies (KRAs) registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). For a company to become an official KRA, it must go through a formal process with the market regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), which is governed by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (KYC Registration Agency (KRA)) Regulations, 1994.

Applicable Provisions

Regulation 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 of SEBI (KYC (Know Your Client) Registration Agency) Regulations, 2011

Mandatory Requirements

1. NW of at least Rs. 25 crores on a continuous basis.
2. Applicant must:
   • Have sufficient organizational capabilities, technology, and systems
   • Be a “Fit and Proper Person”
   • Have adequate safeguards for maintaining data privacy and preventing unauthorized data sharing.
3. Applicant must be a WOS, of one of the following registered entities:
   • Recognized Stock Exchange with a nationwide trading network
   • Depository or any other intermediary registered with SEBI
   • SRO registered under SEBI (SRO) Regulations, 2004.

Procedure

1. Ensure Meeting Capital Adequacy and Net Worth Requirements:

   Applicant seeking registration as a KRA, must ensure a minimum NW of Rs. 25 crores, which must be maintained on an ongoing basis throughout the period of registration.

2. Filing of Application:

   Applicant must make an online application, to SEBI, in Form A (Application for Grant of Certificate of Registration), through SEBI Intermediary Portal, along with:

   • Supporting documents mentioned in the Schedule I, and
   • Prescribed non-refundable fee, as specified in Part A (Amount to be Paid as Fees) of the Schedule II, which must be paid using the method specified in Part B of the same Schedule.

   Note:

   • Weblink for making application: (https://siportal.sebi.gov.in)
   • User Manual for Registration is available at https://siportal.sebi.gov.in/intermediary/index.html
   • Applicants must pay the required fees via direct bank credit through the online SEBI Payment Gateway.
3. Regulatory Authority to Seek Clarifications:
   • SEBI can demand any additional information or clarification it deems necessary.
   • If requested by SEBI, the applicant (or its designated principal officer) must appear before the Board for a personal interview/representation.
   • SEBI can reject the application if it finds grounds to do so. However, the applicant will be given a fair chance to be heard before the rejection is finalized.
   • The rejection decision must be communicated to the applicant within 30 days.
4. Grant of Registration Certificate:
   • Once SEBI is satisfied the applicant is eligible, it will issue the Certificate of Registration in Form B.
   • The certificate is valid indefinitely unless it is later suspended or cancelled by SEBI.
5. Key Note Points for KRAs:

   KRA shall:

   • Abide by Code of Conduct as specified in Schedule III
   • Maintain, store, safeguard, and retrieve KYC records of investors in the securities market
   • Act as a central hub where an investor’s KYC data is stored once, eliminating the need for repetitive documentation when the investor moves between different SEBI-registered intermediaries like brokers or mutual funds
   • Independently validate the KYC records (such as PAN, name, and address) uploaded by intermediaries within prescribed timelines (typically 2 days for new clients using Aadhaar)
   • Disseminate any update or modification in a client’s KYC information must be disseminated by the KRA to all intermediaries currently servicing that client
   • Have electronic connectivity and interoperability with other KRAs to ensure a seamless, unified database across the entire market
   • Send a confirmation letter or electronic intimation to the client, upon successfully registering or updating their KYC details.

Abbreviations Used

• KRA – KYC Registration Agency
• KYC – Know Your Client
• SEBI – Securities and Exchange Board of India
• NW – Net Worth
• PAN – Permanent Account Number
• WOS – Wholly Owned Subsidiary
• SRO – Self-Regulatory Organization