What documents are needed for a personal loan?

What documents are needed for a personal loan?

Most lenders ask for a standard set of personal loan documents to verify your identity, age, income, and repayment capacity. While requirements may vary slightly by bank or NBFC, the core personal loan documents required remain largely the same.

Personal loan document checklist

Document category	Docs required for personal loan
Valid KYC documents	Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, Passport, Voter ID, Driving Licence
Date of birth proof	Passport, PAN (with DOB), Aadhaar (with DOB), Birth Certificate
Signature proof	PAN Card, Passport, Banker’s Verification
Proof of income	Salary slips / Bank statements / ITR / Financial statements
For balance transfer/takeover	Loan statement, foreclosure letter, repayment schedule
Other important documents	Filled application form, passport-size photographs, and self-attestation

*Note that this is an indicative personal loan documents list; lenders may request additional documents based on your profile.

Why are documents needed for a personal loan application?

The docs required for a personal loan play a crucial role in the loan approval process. These personal loan documents help lenders:

• Verify identity and prevent fraud
• Confirm address and contact details
• Check age eligibility
• Assess income and repayment capacity
• Evaluate employment or business stability
• Comply with RBI KYC guidelines
• Draft a legally binding personal loan agreement document
• Speed up loan processing and disbursal

Accurate and complete personal loan documents significantly improve chances of approval.

Personal loan documents required for salaried applicants

Salaried individuals must submit income and employment proof along with the standard KYC documents.

Document type	Details
Identity proof	PAN / Aadhaar / Passport / Driving Licence / Voter ID
Address proof	Aadhaar / Passport / Utility Bill / Driving Licence
Income proof	Last 2-3 months’ salary slips
Bank statements	Last 3-6 months showing salary credits
Employment proof	Appointment letter / Employment certificate
Photographs	Recent passport-size photos
Application form	Filled and signed personal loan form

Personal loan documents required for self-employed applicants

Self-employed professionals and freelancers need additional income and proof of business.

Document category	Documents needed
Identity & address proof	PAN / Aadhaar / Passport / Driving Licence
Business proof	GST certificate / Registration certificate
Income proof	ITR for the last 2-3 years
Financial statements	Profit & Loss & Balance Sheet
Bank statements	Business/personal account (last 6 months)
Photographs & form	Photos + signed application

Personal loan documents required for business owners

Business owners must submit comprehensive financial and business documentation.

Document category	Documents required
Identity proof	PAN / Aadhaar / Passport
Address proof	Aadhaar / Utility bills
Business proof	GST / Incorporation / Partnership deed
Financials	ITR, P&L, Balance Sheet (2-3 years)
Bank statements	Business account (last 6 months)
Signature proof	PAN / Passport
Photos & application	Passport photos + signed form

Personal loan documents required for contract employees and gig workers

Applicants working on contract or gig platforms need proof of continuous income.

Document type	Required documents
Identity proof	PAN / Aadhaar / Passport
Address proof	Aadhaar / Utility bills
Employment proof	Contract letter / Offer letter
Income proof	Bank statements showing income
Bank statements	Last 6 months
Signature proof	PAN / Passport
Photos & application	Passport photos + signed form

Personal loan documents required for retired applicants and pensioners

Retired individuals and pensioners must also submit proof of pension and age.

Document category	Documents required
Identity proof	PAN / Aadhaar / Passport
Address proof	Aadhaar / Utility bills
Age proof	PAN / Aadhaar / Passport
Pension proof	PPO / Pension slips
Bank statements	Pension account (last 3–6 months)
Signature proof	PAN / Passport
Photos & form	Passport photos + signed form

Personal loan documents required for NRIs (Non-Resident Indians)

In addition to the standard KYC documents, NRIs must also submit overseas identity, income, and residency proofs.

Document category	Typical documents required
Identity proof	Passport, PAN
NRI status proof	Visa, Work Permit, OCI/PIO
Overseas address proof	Utility bills / Bank statements
Indian address proof	Aadhaar / Passport (if available)
Income proof	Salary slips / Overseas bank credits
Bank statements	NRE/NRO accounts
Photos & application	Passport photos + signed form

Personal loan documents required for co-applicant-based cases (students, homemakers)

In cases where income is insufficient, such as for students and homemakers, lenders may request co-applicant documents.

Document category	Documents required
Identity proof	PAN / Aadhaar (both applicants)
Address proof	Utility bills / Aadhaar
Relationship proof	Consent or declaration
Income proof (co-applicant)	Salary slips / ITR
Bank statements	Last 3-6 months
Signature proof	PAN / Passport
Photos & form	Photos + signed application

Personal loan document requirements for online applications

For digital or app-based applications, docs required for a personal loan must be uploaded digitally. Here is a list of generic documents that every bank/lending agency asks for:

• Scanned KYC documents
• Income proof PDFs or images
• Bank statements in PDF format
• Clear passport-size photograph
• Digital consent and e-signature

Scanned documents: File format and size guidelines

Most lenders accept:

• Formats: PDF, JPG, PNG
• File size: 100 KB – 2 MB per file
• Documents must be clear, readable and complete
• Blurred or cropped files may cause rejection

eKYC and video KYC requirements (if applicable)

Many financial lenders now offer eKYC or video KYC, where:

• Aadhaar-based verification is done digitally
• Live video confirms identity
• PAN is validated electronically

This reduces paperwork and speeds up approval.

Common mistakes to avoid while submitting personal loan documents

Avoid these common errors with personal loan documents while submitting your application:

• Submitting incomplete documents
• Using expired or invalid proofs
• Name or DOB mismatch across documents
• Uploading unclear or blurred scans
• Incorrect income details
• Not disclosing existing loans or EMIs
• Missing self-attestation
• Ignoring lender-specific requirements