Prepaid card how-to guides
Apply, complete KYC, load, link UPI, freeze, close and get refunds after expiry — step by step, with official issuer links only. We never list unofficial reload sellers.
From application to refund
- Choose a licensed issuer. A bank or an RBI-authorised non-bank PPI. Check authorisation on the RBI website before you hand over any documents.
- Apply on the official site. Use the issuer's own website or app. Never share KYC documents through third-party lead forms.
- Complete KYC. Full-KYC needs Aadhaar/PAN and address proof; Small PPI uses minimum-detail KYC. Gift and transit PPIs need little or none.
- Load value. UPI, net banking or cash — within RBI limits (cash load capped at ₹10,000/month for Full-KYC).
- Use it. Pay at merchants, online, on UPI (Full-KYC) or abroad (forex cards). Watch your limits and fees.
- Freeze if lost. Block the card in-app or via the helpline immediately, then follow the issuer's replacement process.
- Close & refund. Close the card before expiry, and claim "back to source" refunds for any remaining balance.
Pro tip: keep the complaint number and transaction references for every load and refund. You'll need them for the grievance path if something goes wrong.
Expired balance & inactivity: the high-intent guides
My prepaid card expired with a balance — what now?
- Check the expiry notice. Issuers must notify before expiry. Find the notice date and the refund window.
- Contact the issuer before the deadline. Refunds are "back to source" — the money returns to the funding account or the last reload source.
- Escalate if needed. Issuer → Internal Ombudsman (large non-banks) → RBI Ombudsman. See the grievance path.
My card is inactive — dormancy fees?
Many cards charge inactivity/dormancy fees after months of no use. Check your fee schedule, spend or close the card before the fee kicks, and keep the balance moving if you plan to keep the card.
Scam red flag: anyone offering to "recover" your expired balance for a fee, or buy your gift-card balance at a discount, is running a mule scheme. Report it.
How-to FAQs
Yes — most authorised issuers offer video or Aadhaar-based online KYC for Full-KYC PPIs. Small PPIs can often be opened with minimum details in the app.
Only Full-KYC PPIs are eligible for UPI interoperability. Open the issuer's app, find the "link to UPI" option, and follow the on-screen steps. Small, gift and transit PPIs generally can't be linked.
It varies by issuer and reason — typically a few working days after verification. If it exceeds the issuer's stated SLA, escalate through the grievance path.