Which documents are required to open a demat account?

The core requirements under SEBI’s KYC framework are proof of identity (PAN card is mandatory and non-negotiable, since PAN is the universal identifier for all securities market participation in India), proof of address (Aadhaar, passport, voter ID, or a recent utility bill are commonly accepted), a recent photograph, a cancelled cheque or bank statement to link and verify your bank account, and income proof in some cases, particularly for F&O segment activation, which typically requires the last six months of bank statements, salary slips, ITR, or a similar document showing financial capacity. Most brokers now do this entirely digitally through Aadhaar-based e-KYC and a video verification step called In-Person Verification (IPV), which can be completed from home instead of visiting a branch. You keep scanned or digital copies of PAN, Aadhaar, a cancelled cheque, and a recent bank statement ready before starting the account opening process, since incomplete documentation is the most common reason for delays.