Like all financial institutions, we verify your identity. This is a legal requirement that helps us combat financial crime and keep everyone's money safe.
We take your privacy and data security seriously. The documents and information we collect are only used for identity verification and fraud prevention, as required by global financial regulators. We don’t sell your personal data. Read about our Privacy Policy.
What documents do you accept?
We typically accept one of the following documents to verify your identity. The document must be a clear photo of the original.
| Document Type | General Requirements | Exceptions |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Photo page only | Nigeria: Passport is the only ID accepted. |
| National ID Card | Plastic card format, showing both sides | US Military IDs aren’t accepted. Hungary: Only the card ID format is accepted (not the old booklet ID). |
| Photo Driver's Licence | Photo licence (Electronic Driving Licences aren’t accepted) | EU/EEA: We can’t accept a driving licence if you live in Europe. |
Exceptions for specific countries or currencies
You may need to provide additional information or different document types depending on your scenario. Refer to the table for more information.
| Scenario | Document Requirement |
|---|---|
| Brazilian-issued ID Card | It must have been issued within the past 15 years. We need to see the front and back. |
| Sending JPY (Japan) | You must confirm your My Number along with your ID. Accepted documents are: My Number Card (both sides), My Number notification slip, or Jūminhyō with My Number on it. |
| Sending NZD (New Zealand) | If you live in New Zealand and send from NZD, we need to verify your identity and address. We don't accept Kiwi Access Card as an identity document. |
| Refugees and Displaced Persons | We accept documents specifically issued for identity verification if you are a refugee or displaced person. You can learn more about the acceptable documents here. |
| Russian-issued ID Card | We can’t accept identity documents issued by the Russian government for new customers, or to re-verify an existing profile. If you have an address outside of Russia, you can provide other documents to get verified. Learn more about acceptable documents to verify your identity here. |
Other documents and verification scenarios
We have special procedures for name and date of birth verification. If you have a name mismatch or issue with your Date of Birth on your documents, please contact us for help.
What makes an identity document acceptable?
To prevent rejections and delays, ensure your document meets all of these basic quality requirements:
Full Name: Your full first name and at least one full family name must be visible.
If your ID (e.g. Indonesian, Malaysian) only shows a full name without separate first/last fields, we can accept it as long as it has at least 2 words.
Photo: The photo of the ID holder must be clear, not blurry, and not manipulated.
Date of Birth: Your date of birth must be visible.
Validity: The document must not be expired.
Clarity: All information must be visible and legible—nothing can be hidden or redacted.
Unique Numbers: The unique document/identifier number and the MRZ code (Machine-Readable Zone, found on passports and newer ID cards) must be visible.
Full Document: For most plastic cards (National ID, Driving Licence), we need to see both the front and back of the document.
When will Wise ask me for verification?
When and how we verify you depends on several factors. Learn more about how verification works.
How do I check my verification status?
You can check your status directly in your Wise account. We use two main banner types to let you know what's happening.
| Neutral status (light grey banner) | Critical status (red banner) |
|---|---|
| What it means: Verification is pending, or we're reviewing your documents. Action: No action is required from you at this time. We'll let you know once the review is complete. | What it means: Verification has failed, and immediate action is required to restore full account functionality. Action: Click Update information on the banner to see the specific reason for the rejection and upload new documents. |
What if I think my document was rejected by mistake?
If you've reviewed the requirements above and believe your document meets all the criteria, please contact our support team.