ARN Number: The Complete Process After Passing NISM V-A

Passing NISM V-A makes you eligible; the ARN (AMFI Registration Number) makes you legal. No ARN, no commissions — every mutual fund transaction you facilitate must carry your ARN.

The process

1. Pass NISM V-A (prerequisite — certificate must be valid).
2. Apply to AMFI for ARN — online application with your NISM certificate, PAN, and KYC documents.
3. Complete KYD (Know Your Distributor) — includes biometric verification at designated points.
4. Receive your ARN — typically within days to a couple of weeks once documents are clean.
5. Empanel with AMCs whose schemes you want to distribute.

Two things that trip people up

Validity coupling: your ARN validity is linked to your NISM certificate — if the certificate lapses (3-year validity), the ARN is at risk along with your trail income. EUIN: if you work under a corporate distributor, you also need an EUIN (Employee Unique Identification Number); it must appear on transactions you advise on.