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identification on a customer is optional when you create the customer. This page lists, per country, which identification types we accept and when a virtual account needs one. For the other customer fields see the customers guide, and for what each currency needs see Virtual account requirements.
  • type is the value in the first column of the tables below.
  • number is stored encrypted and never returned. Responses show the type and the last four characters only.
  • Pass the customer’s country (ISO 3166-1 alpha-2) so the right list applies. You can fetch the list for a form with GET /customers/identification-types?country=NG. Omit country to get every list.
  • We check the length of BVN and NIN when you create or update the customer; a wrong length returns 422 with invalid_format. Every other type is verified by the provider when you create the virtual account.
  • Businesses use the same types for the director or owner, plus registrationNumber on the customer.

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Nigeria (NG)

Needed for: NGN virtual accounts. A BVN or NIN is required for individuals and businesses. Other types are accepted on the customer but do not satisfy an NGN account.

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Ghana (GH)

Needed for: nothing up front. GHS accounts need names and email only. Keep identification on file in case the provider asks for it.

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Kenya (KE)

Needed for: nothing up front. KES accounts need names (or business name) and email only.

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United States (US)

Needed for: nothing up front. USD accounts verify the customer on a hosted page. The create call returns status: requires_action with a nextStep link, and the customer enters their identification there.

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Canada (CA)

Needed for: CAD accounts need more than a number. Individuals need an ID document and a utility bill sent as documents (types id_document and utility_bill), plus date of birth, nationality, occupation and address. Businesses need registrationNumber, owners and an incorporation document. See Virtual account requirements.

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Euro area (EUR)

Applies to Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. Needed for: nothing up front. EUR accounts verify the customer on a hosted page, the same way as USD.

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United Kingdom (GB)

Needed for: nothing up front. GBP accounts are for business customers only and verify on a hosted page.

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Tanzania (TZ)

Needed for: nothing up front. TZS accounts need names (or business name) only.

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Rest of the world

Any country not listed above, for example a customer in Brazil or India who is paying into a USD account. Needed for: nothing up front, unless the currency itself asks for it (NGN needs a BVN or NIN whatever the customer’s country).

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