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Online Payment Aggregator License in India- An Overview

An online payment aggregator license is a framework that enables payment aggregators to act as intermediaries, bridging the gap between consumers and merchants through the acceptance of payment via digital modes on mobile phones.

Most common types of PAs include digital wallets, unified payment interface (UPI), bank transfers, and QR code payments. The license is approved and registered by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Schedule a consultation with Corpbiz experts to apply for the payment aggregator license, prepare legal documents, reply to the RBI queries, set up the mandatory IT structure, and comply with annual reporting obligations. No need to visit anywhere, just sit back and apply for the RBI payment aggregator license, and our experts will help you get the same within a desired timeline.

Payment Aggregator License in India
FSSAI License

What is a Payment Aggregator?

Acts as a third party, a payment aggregator is a platform that allows businesses and entrepreneurs to accept digital payments through QR code or UPI. They process the transactions via various sources and settle them into the merchant’s account.

Benefits of RBI Payment Aggregator License Registration

The benefits of RBI payment aggregator license registration include security, data protection, and seamless settlements.

Benefits of RBI Payment Aggregator License Registration
Enhanced Brand Identity

Enhanced Brand Identity

After obtaining the license, the entities can establish a distinct brand recognition in the market because customers trust a system that provides faster payment options with authentic permits.

Data Security

Data Security

Customer data is protected through various RBI-mandated IT infrastructure and mechanisms, which leads to fewer consumer complaints and data fraud. It is one of the advantages of securing a payment aggregator license.

Faster Payments

Faster Payments

Some Indian UPI payment companies, including Navi UPI, take around 10-15 seconds to complete a payment transaction.

Multiple Payment Options

Multiple Payment Options

The PA companies can obtain payment through multiple methods, including net banking, QR codes, mobile wallets, and UPI. It is one of the benefits of RBI payment aggregator license.

Live Tracking

Live Tracking

After obtaining a payment aggregator license registration, you can check the real-time updates on your transactions through the automated system support.

Fast Customer Onboarding

Fast Customer Onboarding

As opposed to traditional banking, this system allows businesses to onboard customers within a few seconds to minutes through their single platform. KYC is streamlined, and information is transparent.

Requirements of RBI Payment Aggregator License

The requirements of the RBI payment aggregator license are as follows:

    • The applicant must be a company incorporated under the Companies Act of 2013.
    • All directors and promoters must provide their individual fit and proper management declaration.
    • A net worth of INR 15 crore at the time of application to the RBI.
    • To keep the certification valid, the company must maintain a minimum of INR 25 crore towards the end of the 3rd fiscal year.
    • The applicant must comply with the RBI’s master directions and cybersecurity framework for PCI-DSS.
    • The entity must have an escrow/nodal bank account with an authorized commercial bank.
    • The company must establish a grievance and dispute resolution system as per the RBI’s Ombudsman Scheme, if any.
    • The applicant must appoint a nodal officer.
    • A chartered accountant should certify the entity’s total net worth.
    • Audited financial statements must be submitted for the last two years.
    • The entity’s director must have a valid director signature certificate and identification number (DIN).
    • The company must establish and implement an IT infrastructure in accordance with the RBI master directives.
    • KYC/AML policies must be established for customer onboarding and transaction monitoring.

Who is Eligible to Obtain a License for Payment Aggregator?

It must be noted that commercial banks don’t need a separate license to operate as a PA. In order to obtain a license for payment aggregator, entities must be:

  • An Indian-incorporated company, private or public (excluding LLPs)
  • Any online marketplace or e-commerce platform
  • A non-banking financial company (NBFC)
  • Online travel agencies and ticket booking platforms
  • Software companies
  • Third-party payment service providers
  • Digital wallet corporations
Eligible to Obtain a License for Payment Aggregator
Documents Required for Online Payment Aggregator License

Documents Required for Online Payment Aggregator License

The documents required for an online payment aggregator license are as follows:

  • A copy of the company incorporation certificate
  • Memorandum and Articles of Association
  • A resolution by the board
  • A business plan, including marketing strategy, technical infrastructure, and financial projections
  • Details of all the shareholders and share certificates
  • KYC documents of all directors and shareholders
  • Financial statements and audit reports of the last two years
  • A copy of the data privacy web policy
  • Organizational structure and workforce
  • A partnership agreement if partnering with a bank or NBFC
  • A registered business address
  • A copy of the PCI-DSS certificate
  • Company’s bank account details
  • PAN card of the entity and directors
  • A digital signature certificate (DSC) of all directors
  • Director identification number (DIN)
  • A CA-certified copy of the net worth

How to Obtain a License for Payment Aggregator with Corpbiz?

Contact Corpbiz if you want to provide services like Paytm, PhonePe, etc, then you need to obtain a license for a payment aggregator. Understand the process below to secure a license for payment aggregator with Corpbiz:

Payment Aggregator Steps

Connect With Us

The first step starts with you connecting with us. Our consultant will discuss your business requirements during the 30-minute free consultation.

Check Your Eligibility

Only entities or entrepreneurs with an INR 15 crore net-worth can seek the RBI payment aggregator license. Only entities that have the bandwidth to achieve a net worth of INR 25 crore by the end of their third fiscal year are eligible for the license registration.

Register Your Company (if Applicable)

We’ll help you register your company under the Companies Act of 2013 if you haven’t already. For this, we’ll draft an MOA, AOA, the company’s charter, DIN, DSCs, and related documents.

Gather Documents

Our associates will assist you in assembling all the documents, including certification of registration, bylaws, audited financial statements, and net-worth declaration. We’ll help you prepare a business plan, a fit & proper statement for directors, and IT policies.

Establishment of IT Infrastructure

We’ll help you set up an RBI-approved IT infrastructure in accordance with cybersecurity, data protection, and information storage. You must also establish a fraud detection and risk-management system to prevent fraudulent transactions in real time.

Application Filing to the RBI

Once we’ve prepared all the documents and the mandatory policy framework, we’ll apply for the RBI payment aggregator license through their portal by filing the Form A under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act of 2007.

Reply to Queries

If the Reserve Bank of India has any questions regarding your application, then we’ll answer them promptly after obtaining your explicit consent. They may have questions regarding your documents, due diligence processes, or IT infrastructure.

Approval

If there are no further questions, the RBI will provide an in-principle approval for your application for a payment aggregator license for a period of six months. During this time, we’ll help you appoint a nodal officer, complete audits on data & cybersecurity, and other related requirements.

Final Registration

Once you’ve fulfilled the in-principle approval conditions, the RBI will issue the final certificate of registration. Currently, there are at least 30+ entities with the in-principal approval in India.

Types of Online Payment Aggregator Licenses

There are mainly two types of online payment aggregator licenses, as explained below:

Bank Payment Aggregator License

Bank Payment Aggregator License

Services are provided by banks. No additional license registration is required/mandated by the RBI.

State License

Third-Party Payment Aggregator License

A license is obtained by non-bank companies in India to operate as a payment aggregator. For legal operation in the country, these entities must acquire authorization from the Reserve Bank of India.

Categories of Payment Aggregators

As per the latest RBI regulatory framework, there are three main categories of payment aggregators as explained below:

  • Physical Point-of-Sale Payment Aggregators (PA-P)
    These PAs provide in-person payments for merchants at physical locations, including restaurants, malls, or any other related establishment, through POS terminals like swipe machines. This technology can accept payments through various methods, including credit and debit cards.
  • Cross Border Payment Aggregators (PA-CB)
    Under this category, a company engaged in import-export business (cross-border) can obtain a payment aggregator license (PA-CB). They can be further categorized as PA-CB-E for export, PA-CB-I for import, and PA-CB-E&I for both. The per transaction limit for imports is USD 3000 and for exports it is USD 10,000.
  • Payment Aggregator - Online (PA-O)
    This category facilitates online and remote payments. Mostly common among online marketplaces and e-commerce platforms, such as Myntra, Flipkart, and food delivery apps. Applications like PhonePe and Paytm are famous examples of PA-O aggregators in India.

Features of RBI Payment Aggregator License

The RBI payment aggregator license in India offers features like data security, faster customer onboarding, and RBI oversight:

RBI Payment Aggregator License
  • Only companies incorporated/registered under the Companies Act of 2013 in India are eligible to obtain the Payment Aggregator license.
  • The Reserve Bank of India is the only authority that can register a PA license under the Payments and Settlements Act of 2007.
  • A company or entrepreneurs must have at least INR 15 crore to obtain the permit.
  • Directors and promoters must meet the “fit and proper” requirement before applying for an online payment aggregator license from the RBI.
  • A nodal/escrow account must be set up with a commercial bank.
  • The RBI will cancel the license if the entity fails to maintain INR 25 crore by the end of the third financial year.
  • The authority mandates compliance with PCI-DSS and CERT-in cyber audits.
  • The license approval requires the establishment of machine learning and strong API protocols for the prevention of data breaches.
  • With a payment aggregator license, you can provide faster payment settlements within seconds, 24/7, anytime, anywhere.
  • All customer complaints are handled through a separate system on the PA’s payment applications.
  • Once the license is obtained from the RBI, KYC of both merchants and customers must be done as mandated by the competent authority.
  • The entity must disclose refunds and transaction failures as part of its annual reporting obligations.
  • Online payment aggregator license entities must have a risk-mitigation system to prevent fraud, transaction failures, and consumer disputes.
  • After obtaining the license, the company should file monthly, quarterly, and annual filings and audit reports.
  • The license is valid for a lifetime but can be revoked if the company engages in counter-terrorism financing, anti-money laundering, fraud, or has weak IT infrastructure.
  • The RBI Payment Aggregator license must be used for its prescribed purpose, acting as an intermediary between a merchant and a customer, not for loans or funding services.

Operational Provisions & Governance Norms For Payment Aggregator License

Explore the following operational provisions & governance norms for the payment aggregator license:

  • All PA categories must open an escrow-nodal account with an RBI-scheduled commercial bank.
  • All settlements must be carried out within the prescribed timelines of the RBI, mostly by the next day or the second business day.
  • The funds in the escrow account shouldn’t be merged with the payment aggregator’s own capital. This rule doesn’t apply to RBI-permitted debits and credits.
  • Directors and promoters shouldn’t have any criminal records, pending legal disputes, or bankruptcy. They must be of sound mind and eligible to enter into legal contracts and agreements.
  • The company must obtain prior approval from the Reserve Bank of India if it seeks a change in control of the entity or shareholding pattern beyond the RBI limit.
  • The entity must have board-approved IT, grievance redressal, and KYC-AML policies.
  • Cross-border payment aggregators have a USD 3000 limit for imports and a USD 10,000 limit for exports per transaction.

Compliance After Obtaining Payment Aggregator License

Fulfil your compliance obligations after obtaining a payment aggregator license in India:

  • Fraud Monitoring
    We’ll help you implement upgraded systems for fraud detection and suspicious transactions to safeguard your client's interests and comply with the RBI.
  • Access Control and User Authentication
    Our IT experts will help update access control and user authentication protocols, improve secure password policies, and implement multi-factor verification to prevent unauthorized access.
  • Employee Training
    After obtaining the payment aggregator license, we’ll train your employees on KYC/AML frameworks to reduce human error and ensure RBI compliance.
  • Net-Worth Maintenance
    All licensed entities should maintain an INR 25 crore net-worth by the end of the 3rd fiscal year.
  • AML/KYC/CFT Due Diligence
    We’ll help conduct background checks for all merchants and customers in accordance with RBI master directions.
  • Report Filing Obligations
    Our compliance team will manage monthly, quarterly, and annual filings with the RBI, MCA, and tax departments on your behalf.
  • Cybersecurity Audits
    We’ll assist in conducting cybersecurity audits by authorized CERT-In auditors as per RBI guidelines.
  • Draft Web Policies
    Our legal associates will draft privacy policies to guide the use, sharing, and transfer of customers’ and merchants’ personal and non-personal data.
  • Customer Due Diligence
    We’ll ensure proper verification of each customer and merchant, including ID, address proof, PAN, and other relevant data, managed by our KYC compliance specialists.
  • Record Keeping
    We’ll assist in maintaining records on security measures, IT infrastructure, PCI-DSS compliance, and other RBI-mandated requirements for inspections.
  • Customer Redressal
    We’ll help appoint a nodal officer to monitor and take effective measures against consumer complaints.
  • Security Incident Reporting
    We’ll handle prompt reporting of security breaches, unauthorized access, data leaks, or fraudulent activities to the RBI.

Why Trust Corpbiz for Online Payment Aggregator License?

Remote Process

Remote Process

There’s no need to visit the RBI in person; we’ll take care of all the paperwork for you - just connect with us from anywhere, anytime.

No Hidden Charges

No Hidden Charges

Full transparency in pricing because there are no other exclusive or additional costs associated with her fee structure.

EMI Available

EMI Available

Now you can register stress-free and avail our services at the best interest rates with leading banks.

File Error Free

File Error Free

Take assistance from our compliance team, who will help you prepare and audit your periodic reports, financial statements, and relevant regulatory requirements.

Monitor Compliance Easy- Live Updates

Monitor Compliance Easy- Live Updates

We provide real-time updates on your applications as well as annual filing, so it’s easy for you to keep track of everything and avoid penalties.

Network of 500+ Lawyers, CAs, CS, & Statutory Auditors

Network of 500+ Lawyers, CAs, CS, & Statutory Auditors

We have over 500 legal professionals, including lawyers, accountants, and auditors, who will provide expert guidance throughout the application filing, from approval to compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions on Payment Aggregator License

A Payment aggregator license in India is a regulatory permit that entitles companies to provide digital payments between a merchant and a customer. It promotes India’s goal of a cashless economy objective.

Yes, the list of successful payment aggregators is as follows:
  • RazorPay
  • Paytm Payments Services Limited
  • PhonePe Payment Services Pvt. Ltd.
  • Bharatpe Services Pvt. Ltd
  • MobiKwik Payment Gateway Pvt. Ltd.

The key reasons for registering as a payment aggregator are as follows:
  • It is a user-friendly payment processing system that saves time for both customers and merchants.
  • The system allows a smooth fund settlement process between the merchant and consumers.
  • It promotes cashless transactions, especially for small businesses, through its single platform process.
  • The license supports the low-cost setup because merchants just need to sign up with a simple fee, attracting entrepreneurs and MSMEs in India.

Basis Payment Aggregator Payment Gateway
Function A PA collects payments from various merchants. Responsible for transferring data between parties.
Do I need a merchant account? Not required by every individual merchant. Every merchant must setup an individual account.
Specific Role Acts as an intermediary to settle payments between a customer and merchant. It is an interface to process transactions.
Regulated by The Reserve Bank of India The Reserve Bank of India
Main Activities Collection, settlement, and transfer of funds into merchants’ account. Verification of card, transactions, and encryption data.

The list of documentation requirements for PA license by RBI is as follows:
  • Certificate of incorporation
  • MOA & AOA
  • PAN of the entity and directors
  • A board resolution authorizing the application process
  • List of all shareholders and their certificates
  • Director's Signature Certificate for all directors
  • Director Identification Number
  • Latest passport-size photograph
  • Address proof of the registered company, including lease or rental agreement
  • Declaration on “fit and proper status” of promoters and directors
  • Audited financial statements of last three years
  • CA-certified net-worth certificate
  • Bank account details of the company (escrow)
  • List of foreign direct investments (if any)
  • Business plan with organizational structure
  • Risk-management protocol, KYC-AML policies, fraud detection system, IT infrastructure, customer grievance mechanism
  • Draft privacy and refund policies
  • Valid PCI-DSS certification and statutory audit reports
  • Draft disaster recovery policy
  • API documentation and payment transaction flow diagram
  • Agreements with third-party technical partners

The step-by-step procedure to register for a payment aggregator with the RBI is as follows:
  • Drafting of MOA and AOA
  • Obtaining a director signature certificate (DSC) and a director identification number (DIN)
  • Registration of the company (if not done already)
  • Set up the IT infrastructure for secure transactions between customers and merchants
  • Application to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
  • Examination of the application by the competent authority
  • Acceptance through an in-principal approval
  • Final grant of license to operate as a payment aggregator

Entities seeking the PA license permit must have at least INR 15 crore as net-worth at the time of application.

The mandatory requirements for a PA license in India are as follows:
  • A company registered under the Companies Act of 2013 in India.
  • Net-worth of INR 15 crore at the time of application to the RBI.
  • A business plan with financial projections.
  • IT infrastructure diagram flow.
  • Compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS).
  • A system for regular audits and incident reporting.
  • An authentic framework for merchant and customer onboarding/KYC.
  • Appointment of a nodal officer.
  • Establishment of a dispute management system.
  • Opening of an escrow bank account.

The primary challenges of the license registration are:
  • Compliance with the RBI.
  • Management of fraud detection.
  • Constant monitoring of PCI-DSS compliance.
  • Partnering with a reliable IT company.
  • Cybersecurity risks.
Obtaining services and assistance from Corpbiz can help reduce your chances of the above-mentioned risks.

Once you’ve obtained the permit, you should maintain at least INR 25 crore by the end of the 3rd year of operating (end of the fiscal year) as a payment aggregator.

You have the option to make a fresh application or send a counterstatement, addressing the deficiencies in the rejected one.

No, the payment aggregator license is only valid for merchants within the Indian territory. You should obtain a payment aggregator-cross border (PA-CB) license to facilitate transactions for foreign merchants.

They earn revenue by charging fees or commission on each processed transaction. Other services include immediate settlement and fraud detection system add-ons (not to be confused with fraud detection tools implemented on their own systems).

The system framework for a PA license in India includes:
  • Fraud detection tools
  • Data security system: firewalls, encryption, data masking, user-access control, endpoint security
  • Risk-mitigation system
  • System and cybersecurity audit via CERT-in auditors
  • Data storage in accordance with payment system operators (PSOs)
  • Security and IT policies
  • Vendor risk and outsourcing management agreements
  • Bi-annual vulnerability assessment/penetration test (VAPT) reporting

The average schedule for final approval by the Reserve Bank of India for the license is 3 to 6 months, depending on the authority’s examination of documents.

About the Author


NE
Neha Dawra

Legal Researcher

Written by Neha Dawra. Last updated on Jun 14 2026, 11:57 PM

Neha Dawra has 4+ years of experience in legal research and intellectual property advisory. Her expertise lies in analyzing IP laws, drafting structured legal content, and simplifying complex registration procedures into clear, simple insights.

 

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