UPI doesn’t need fresh paperwork. It uses the KYC documents you already gave your bank — Passport, Voter ID, Driving Licence, Aadhaar card for UPI, and PAN card for UPI (or Form 60). These serve as your proof of identity for UPI ID.
For instance, when creating a UPI ID on Paytm, the app automatically fetches your bank’s KYC details. If anything is missing, Paytm prompts you to verify in-app. That’s exactly how to submit documents for creating UPI ID on Paytm — quick and digital.
Read on to understand the complete list of required documents for UPI registration, how they’re used, and what special rules apply for NRIs.
Key Terms Explained
PSP (Payment Service Provider): Apps like Paytm that connect your bank account to UPI.
KYC (Know Your Customer): A process where banks verify your identity using valid documents such as Aadhaar, Passport, or Voter ID.
OVD (Officially Valid Document): Identity proofs recognised by RBI, like Passport, Aadhaar, Driving Licence, or Voter ID.
UPI ID: Your virtual payment address (like name@paytm) used to send or receive money through UPI.
Form 60: A document you submit if you don’t have a PAN card, mainly for tax compliance.
The Legal Framework: Why Documents Matter
To use UPI, your identity must be verified. RBI sets the rules for KYC (Know Your Customer) and decides which documents are valid, like Aadhaar, Passport, or Voter ID. Banks and PSPs (such as Paytm) follow these rules when linking your bank account to UPI. NPCI, which runs UPI, makes sure this process is followed by all apps.
In short: RBI sets the document rules, your bank checks them, and NPCI ensures UPI works only with KYC-compliant accounts.
What Documents Do I Need to Create a UPI ID?
RBI’s updated KYC guidance lists acceptable OVDs (any one of the following typically fulfils the OVD requirement for identity/address):
- Passport
- Driving licence
- Proof of possession of Aadhaar number (Aadhaar card / e-document)
- Voter’s Identity Card (EPIC)
- Job card issued under NREGA (signed by State officer)
- Letter issued by the National Population Register (NPR)
Banks/PSPs accept the equivalent e-document versions (for example, DigiLocker copies) as allowed under RBI rules. These OVDs serve as the primary ID proof for UPI and documents for UPI ID creation. Reserve Bank of India
Why “one OVD” is enough for UPI onboarding: UPI onboarding is an extension of your bank account KYC — if your bank account has valid KYC on record, the PSP uses that to link the account to UPI. NPCI’s user-onboarding guidance explains that any individual with a bank account and that account’s linked mobile number can onboard to UPI (subject to KYC). NPCI
Important Note on UPI Documentation
The RBI’s Officially Valid Documents (OVD) list is technically about KYC for opening or maintaining a bank account, not for generating a UPI ID directly. But here’s why it still matters:
- UPI IDs are not standalone accounts.
NPCI designed UPI as a layer built on top of your existing bank account. When you create a UPI ID on Paytm, you are only linking your already KYC-verified bank account to UPI. - No fresh documents are required just for UPI.
If your bank account is already KYC compliant (you’ve submitted one OVD + PAN/Form 60), you won’t be asked to resubmit documents when creating a UPI ID. - Why RBI’s OVD list is still relevant:
- To open a bank account (the foundation for UPI), you must provide KYC documents like Aadhaar, Passport, Voter ID, etc.
- NPCI clearly states: “Any customer with a bank account and a registered mobile number can create a UPI ID.”
This means your eligibility for UPI comes directly from your bank account’s KYC compliance.
PAN and Form 60 —Why Financial ID Matters
In addition to an OVD, PAN (Permanent Account Number) is required for financial compliance (tax reporting, higher-value transactions). If you do not have a PAN, you may submit Form 60 (as a statutory alternative).
Aadhaar: Is It Mandatory?
Short answer: No — Aadhaar is not mandatory to create a UPI ID. It is one of several acceptable OVDs. RBI allows proof of possession of Aadhaar as an OVD but does not prescribe Aadhaar as mandatory for general account opening or UPI onboarding. That said, Aadhaar-based e-KYC (Aadhaar OTP / e-KYC Setu) can simplify and speed up onboarding if you choose it.
“e-KYC via Setu System
For faster onboarding, many PSPs use the e-KYC Setu system, an NPCI-approved layer that lets you verify identity digitally. Instead of uploading physical documents, users can complete KYC through Aadhaar OTP or biometric authentication. This makes submitting UPI KYC documents seamless while ensuring compliance with RBI rules and protecting Aadhaar details.”
NRIs and International Mobile Numbers
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) announced in 2022–23 that UPI is now enabled for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) with NRE/NRO accounts. This allows Indian banks and Payment Service Providers (PSPs) to onboard NRIs who hold international mobile numbers, provided those numbers are linked to their NRE/NRO bank accounts.
Key NPCI rules for NRIs:
- NRIs can register on UPI using their international mobile number, as long as their bank supports this feature.
- The linked bank account must be an NRE or NRO account with a participating bank in India.
- NPCI allows onboarding in a phased manner, with selected countries supported first, depending on the bank and PSP.
RBI’s role in KYC:
Even for NRIs, the KYC requirement doesn’t change. The underlying compliance is still governed by the Reserve Bank of India’s Master Direction on KYC. This means:
- You must provide Officially Valid Documents (OVDs) as identity proof. For NRIs, the passport is the most commonly used document.
- Banks may ask for additional documentation (such as visa, overseas address proof, or FATCA/CRS self-declaration) in line with RBI rules and anti-money laundering norms.
How Onboarding Works in Practice(NPCI + RBI combined)?
- The NRI downloads a UPI-enabled PSP app (like Paytm).
- The app verifies the international mobile number linked to the NRE/NRO account.
- The bank checks that the account is KYC-compliant as per RBI norms (passport + PAN/Form 60 + any other required documents).
- Once verified, the NRI can set a UPI PIN and start using UPI for payments and transfers, similar to resident users.
How It Works in Practice (Example: Creating a UPI ID on Paytm)
To understand how UPI onboarding actually works, let’s take Paytm as an example. The process Paytm follows is in line with NPCI’s UPI framework and RBI’s KYC rules:
- Download and open Paytm
- Start the UPI setup inside the Paytm app.
- NPCI requires that you already have a bank account linked with your mobile number. Paytm uses this mobile-bank linkage to fetch your eligible accounts.
- Link your bank account
- Paytm automatically detects your bank account linked to your registered SIM number.
- You can also manually choose your bank, and Paytm will confirm it with NPCI’s UPI system.
- Identity verification (KYC check)
- If your bank account already has RBI-mandated KYC (using Aadhaar, Passport, Voter ID, etc.), Paytm doesn’t need fresh documents.
- If additional details are needed, Paytm may prompt you to provide an Officially Valid Document (OVD) or use digital methods like Aadhaar OTP or DigiLocker.
- This is where your ID proof for UPI ID is confirmed.
- Provide PAN or Form 60
- Paytm, like all PSPs, may ask you to provide your PAN card for UPI compliance.
- If you don’t have PAN, you can submit Form 60, as allowed by RBI.
- This ensures your UPI ID is not just functional but also compliant for higher-value transactions.
- Set your UPI PIN
- Paytm will redirect you to your bank’s authentication system. Using your debit card details or OTP, you create a secure UPI PIN.
- From here, NPCI’s two-factor authentication applies: your Paytm app + UPI PIN together authorise payments.
How to Submit Documents for Creating UPI ID on Paytm?
You don’t need to upload fresh documents to create a UPI ID on Paytm. The app automatically fetches your bank KYC documents (like Aadhaar, Passport, Voter ID, PAN, or Form 60) linked with your account. If extra verification is needed, Paytm lets you complete it through e-KYC options such as Aadhaar OTP, all within the app itself.
In short, NPCI enables the infrastructure for NRIs with international numbers, but the RBI’s KYC framework ensures identity verification and compliance. Together, they make sure NRI users can participate in UPI without bypassing documentation rules. NPCI
So, while your Aadhaar card for UPI is among valid options as ID proof for UPI ID, you can choose a different OVD if preferred.
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