URL: https://exchangesteps.com/wise-identity-verification
Updated: 2026-10-23
Sources: https://wise.com/help/articles/2949782/guide-to-getting-verified , https://wise.com/help/articles/2949801/how-does-wise-verify-my-identity , https://wise.com/help/articles/2949804/how-do-i-verify-my-address , https://wise.com/help/articles/2949281/how-to-take-a-selfie-with-your-id-for-verification , https://wise.com/help/articles/3lclMmfpEuLXpf6uEkbhaL/how-do-i-confirm-my-identity-with-a-photo-of-my-id-and-a-live-photo , https://wise.com/help/articles/3xConsbhr7buWkQuqDEQ5V/how-do-i-verify-my-country-of-residence , https://wise.com/help/articles/2977982/i-dont-have-the-documents-you-asked-for , https://wise.com/help/articles/2977962/how-does-verification-affect-my-transfers-speed

# Wise Verification: Documents, Steps and Timing

> **Quick answer**
> Wise verifies customers because, as a financial institution, it needs to know who uses its service. You'll usually need:
> - **Photo ID**: the photo page of your **passport**, or both sides of your **national ID card**.
> - A **live photo**, or a **selfie holding your ID**.
> - Sometimes **proof of address**: a gas, electricity or water bill, or a bank statement from the last 3 months.
> - A **right-to-reside document** if your passport wasn't issued by the country you live in: for example, **Egyptian passport + address in Germany = German residence permit**.
>
> Wise says ID checks **usually take 1 to 2 working days**, and address checks get an email **within 2 working days**.
>
> **[Open your Wise account →]**

## When does Wise ask you to verify?

Wise says when and how it verifies you depends on:
- **the amount** you send,
- **the currency** you send,
- **how many transfers** you've made.

Wise might only verify your identity at first, and ask for your address later.

**Automatic verification by bank transfer:** in some cases Wise can verify your identity automatically with your **first bank transfer**, if it comes from a **personal bank account in the same name as your Wise account**. This is limited to transfers **below 15,000 EUR** in certain currencies, and isn't available for business accounts.

## Step 1: Get your ID ready

| Document | What Wise accepts |
|---|---|
| **Passport** | Photo page only |
| **National ID card** | Plastic card, both sides |
| **Photo driving licence** | Both sides. **Not accepted if you live in Europe** (EU/EEA). Electronic driving licences aren't accepted |

**What must be visible:**
- Your full first name and at least one full family name.
- A clear photo of you, and your date of birth.
- The document number and the full **MRZ** code (the coded lines at the bottom of a passport).
- The document must be **valid, not expired**, with nothing covered.

**What Wise doesn't accept:**
- **PDF** files for ID (a JPG screenshot is fine).
- **Photos taken of a screen**.
- **Copies of photocopies**.
- **Bank cards** as ID.

## Step 2: ID photo and live photo

Wise may ask for one of two different checks.

**a) ID photo + live photo:**
1. You can't upload photos you've already taken: they're captured on the spot.
2. On a computer, choose **[Scan QR Code]** to continue on your phone, **[Get link by email]**, or **[I don't have a phone]** / **[Use webcam]** to use your computer's camera.
3. Choose the **country that issued the document** and the document type.
4. Take a photo of your ID. If it isn't clear, select **[Retake photo]**.
5. Take the live photo with your face inside the oval. **Don't hold your ID in this step.**
6. Submit.

If you see **"We have all we need"**, your photos are in manual review and you can't upload more. Just wait.

**b) Selfie with your ID:**
A photo of you holding your ID. Wise may also ask you to hold **a piece of paper with a specific code or today's date** written on it.

## Step 3: Proof of address (if asked)

The document must show your **full name** and **full home address** (matching your Wise account), the **issue date**, and the **sender's logo or name**.

| Accepted | How recent |
|---|---|
| Gas, electricity, water or landline bill | Last 3 months |
| Bank or credit card statement | Last 3 months |
| Council tax bill | Last year |
| Vehicle tax or registration document | Last 12 months |
| Photo driving licence showing your address | (if not already used as ID) |
| Tenancy agreement for the current year | Signed by both parties, with start and end dates |
| Letter from a government body or financial institution | Last 12 months |
| University acceptance letter (students) | Last 3 months |

**If you live with family:** use a document in a family member's name, plus a government-issued document confirming your relationship (like a birth certificate).

**Not accepted:**
- Documents from **MoneyGram, Western Union or Revolut**.
- **Mobile phone bills**.
- **PO box** addresses.
- Documents addressed to a business.
- A driving licence you already used as ID.
- **Wise statements or Wise transfer receipts**.

## Step 4: Right-to-reside document (for expats)

This is the step most Arabs living abroad hit. Wise says: if **the ID you verified with (like a passport) wasn't issued by the same country as the address** on your Wise account, it will ask for a document proving your right to live there.

**Example:** you live in Germany with an Egyptian passport, so you need a **document issued by Germany**, such as your German residence permit.

| Accepted | Not accepted |
|---|---|
| Passport or national ID from your country of residence | Short-term visas (90 days or less) |
| A valid **residence permit card** (**not a paper residence permit**) | Proof of address |
| A long-term visa valid for **more than 90 days** | Driving licence |
| Some refugee or asylee documents | Most digital-only IDs |
| | **Applications** for a visa, permanent residency or refugee status |
| | **Asylum seeker** documents |

**How to upload it:** through the banner in your account, **"We need more information to verify your account"**, not by email.

**Important:** until this check is done, Wise may limit some features, like **ordering a card, adding a currency or sending a transfer**. And if you can't provide a right-to-reside document, **Wise might need to close your account**.

**GCC exception:** if your registered address is in a GCC country, Wise accepts a right-to-reside document issued by **any other GCC member country**.

## Step 5: Track your verification status

| What you see | What it means |
|---|---|
| **Light grey banner** | Pending or under review. No action needed |
| **Red banner**: "Verification has failed" | Verification failed. Select **[Update information]** on the banner to see the reason and upload new documents |

If your verification was rejected, follow [our Wise verification failed guide](https://exchangesteps.com/wise-verification-failed).

## How long does Wise verification take?

| Stage | Wise's timing |
|---|---|
| Identity documents | Usually **1 to 2 working days** |
| Proof of address | An email **within 2 working days** |
| Verification triggered after you set up a transfer | Wise works to finish it **within 5 to 14 working days** |

Once you're approved, **paused transfers continue automatically**. You don't need to set them up again.

## If you're a refugee

In the EU/EEA, Wise accepts the photo page of an **Alien's passport**, a **travel document**, or an EEA ID stating refugee status. The US and Canada have their own lists on Wise's help page.

## FAQ

**How long does Wise verification take?**
Wise says ID documents usually take 1 to 2 working days, and address checks get an answer within 2 working days. If verification starts after you've set up a transfer, it can take 5 to 14 working days.

**Does Wise accept an Egyptian (or Moroccan) passport?**
Yes, as ID (the photo page). But if you live outside that country, Wise will also ask for a right-to-reside document from your country of residence, such as a residence permit.

**Can I verify with my driving licence?**
Not if you live in Europe: Wise doesn't accept driving licences as ID for EU/EEA residents. Use your passport or national ID card.

**Does Wise accept a paper residence permit?**
No. Wise accepts a valid residence permit card only, not a paper permit or an application.

**Can I use a mobile phone bill as proof of address?**
No. Mobile phone bills aren't accepted. Use a gas, electricity, water or landline bill, or a recent bank statement.

**I live in Saudi Arabia with an Egyptian passport. What do I upload?**
Because your address is in a GCC country, Wise accepts a right-to-reside document issued by Saudi Arabia or any other GCC country.

## Get started

**[Open your Wise account →]**

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*Last updated: 23 October 2026 · All facts from the official Wise help pages listed above.*