Guide to getting verified

We're a financial institution, so we need to know who's using our service. This helps us combat money laundering and keep everyone's money safe.

If you have a Wise Business account, we also need to verify information about your business.

Find out more about business verification

How does verification work?

We usually verify your identity with a photo ID, proof of address, and/or a picture of you holding your ID.

When and how we verify you depends on a few things:

• The amount you send — When you send larger amounts, we might need to see additional documents that show how you got the money. For smaller amounts, we'll usually just verify your identity.

• The currency you send — Some countries and currencies require more information to send any amount.

• How many transfers you've made — We might only verify your identity at first, but may need to verify your address later on.

In some cases, we can automatically verify your identity with your first bank transfer. For this to work, the transfer must come from a personal bank account where the name matches your Wise account name. If these conditions are met, we can consider your identity confirmed, and you may not need to provide separate ID or address documents.

Note that this verification method is limited to transfers below 15,000 EUR in certain currencies and isn’t available for business accounts.

How to verify your identity

We'll usually ask for a photo of a government-issued ID. We accept the following documents:

• Passport (photo page only)

• National ID card (both sides)

• Driving licence (both sides)

Make sure your ID isn't expired and that the photo is clear and easy to read.

Learn more about verifying your identity

How to verify your address

The best way to verify your address is to provide a high-quality scan or photo of one of the following documents. The document must show your full name and address, and match the details on your Wise account.

A valid proof of address document can be:

• Utility bills (gas, electric, water, landline) issued within the last 3 months

• A bank or credit card statement issued within the last 3 months

• A council tax bill from the last year

• A vehicle tax notification or registration document from the last 12 months

• A valid photo driving licence showing your address

• A tenancy agreement for the current year

• A letter or document from a government or financial institution issued within the last 12 months

• Any other government or financial institution-issued document

Good to know:

• If you live with family or friends and don't have a document in your name, you can provide a document in their name along with a government-issued document confirming your relationship (like a birth certificate).

• For students, a university acceptance letter confirming your on-campus address, issued within the last 3 months.

Troubleshooting verification

Sometimes, we might have trouble verifying your documents. Here are some common issues and how to solve them.

What if my document is rejected?

We'll always email you to let you know why a document was rejected. It's usually for one of these reasons:

• The photo is blurry or unclear. Make sure you're in a well-lit room and that all four corners of the document are visible. Don't cover any part of the document.

• The document is not supported. We can only accept the document types listed above.

• The details don't match. Please ensure the name and date of birth on your document match your Wise account details.

• The document has expired. Please check that your document is still valid before you upload it.

I'm having technical trouble uploading my document

If you're having issues with the upload, try these steps:

• Use a different browser (Google Chrome often works best).

• Clear your browser's cache and cookies.

• If you're using the website and it asks you to use your phone, click I don't have a phone to use your computer's webcam instead.

Common questions