How to complete identity verification (KYC)
- Author
- CRYPTO PORT Editorial
- Published
- Updated
- Reading time
- 6 min
In short
Identity verification generally runs: enter your details, photograph an identity document, photograph your face, then wait for the operator's review. Almost all rejections come down to two things — details that do not match the document, and photos that are not clear — so copying your address character by character and shooting in good light with the whole document in frame gets you most of the way. How long approval takes varies by operator and backlog.
Key points
- Type your name and address exactly as they appear on the document you submit
- Photograph the document with all four corners visible and no glare or shadow over the text
- Expired documents, or documents still showing an old address, will not be accepted
- Identity verification never involves a seed phrase or private key — not once
Definition
The legally required process by which a crypto exchange confirms who you are. Until the document and the person are matched, deposits and trading are normally restricted.
Before you start, pick the document you will use. A driver's licence, My Number card, passport or residence card are typical options, but the list differs by operator, so check the guidance on the service you are applying to. The selection rule is simple: it must be unexpired, and the address printed on it must be where you actually live now. A licence you never updated after moving is out at this stage.
Then you enter your details — name, address, date of birth, occupation, the purpose of your trading, your investment experience. These are checks required by law, so the questions look similar wherever you apply. The part that matters most is how you write the address. Two ways of writing the same block number can look identical to a human and still count as a mismatch in a check. Copy what is printed on the document.
Next, the photos. The common approach now is to shoot the document and your own face in one online session. Operators name the method differently and word the on-screen prompts differently, but they ask for the same things: front and back of the document, an angle that shows its thickness, then your face straight on plus whatever movement is requested. When it keeps failing, simple fixes usually work — take the document out of its cover, move out from directly under a ceiling light, lay it flat on a plain surface.
Once submitted, the application goes to review, and the result arrives by email or an in-app notification. Some operators treat receiving a non-forwardable postcard at your home as the final confirmation, which adds however long the post takes. Busy periods stretch things further, so do not plan around buying something today.
While you wait, set up two-factor authentication. Hardening the account before any money reaches it is the safer order, and it puts the waiting time to use. 'How to set up two-factor authentication' covers the steps.
Watch out for
- · Applying as someone else, or lending or handing over an account, is a crime. Always refuse anyone who offers to 'do the ID check for you'
- · Never send photos of your identity documents over social media or chat. The only place they go is the operator's own app or website
- · Any message asking for a seed phrase, private key or password 'for verification' is a scam. Exchanges do not ask for these
Frequently asked questions
Can verification be refused?
Yes. If the cause is a blurred photo or a mismatch in what you typed, you can correct it and resubmit. But an operator may also decline the account outright on its own criteria or for legal reasons, and it is normal for no detailed explanation to be given in that case.