Verifying your business in Europe (EEA)

To open an account with Airwallex for a company registered in the European Economic Area (EEA), you’ll need to complete a verification process known as KYC (Know Your Customer). This is a regulatory requirement to confirm the identity and structure of your business.

This means providing documents that verify:

• Your business is real and active
• The key people connected to the business are who they say they are

To help you prepare, we've outlined the documents required by business type.
 

Please prepare the appropriate documents based on your business type.
 

1. Private Limited Company 

Examples: GmbH, SARL, BV, Ltd

You’ll need to provide:

Business documents

• Certificate of Incorporation or an extract from the Chamber of Commerce*
• Memorandum and Articles of Association (or equivalent Company Constitution)
• Authorisation Letter if someone is applying on behalf of the company
• Ownership structure or declaration if UBOs are not easily identifiable

*NL-registered companies must provide UBO Extract from KvK

Personal documents

• Photo ID and residential address of the person applying (Authorised Person), including a liveness check
• Photo ID and residential address of all Ultimate Beneficial Owners (all individuals with 25% or more ownership)
   

2. Partnership (Limited or General / Unlimited)

You’ll need to provide:

Business documents

• Partnership Agreement
• Extract from the Chamber of Commerce
• Proof of business address (e.g. utility bills or bank statements dated in the last 3 months addressed to the business)

Personal documents

• Photo ID and residential address of all Partners or all General Partners*
• Liveness check of the person applying (Authorised Person)

*If any of the Partners are not individuals (e.g. they are companies), we’ll contact you for more details about your partnership structure.
 

3. Sole Trader

You’ll need to provide:

Business documents

• Extract from the Chamber of Commerce or equivalent (if relevant)
• Proof of business address (e.g. government issued documentation dated within the last 3 months)

Personal documents

• Photo ID and residential address of the Sole Trader, including a liveness check

• Photo ID and residential address of the person applying (Authorised Person), including a liveness check (if the person applying is not the Sole Trader)

   

Further information and examples of required documentation

Personal documents

1. Photo ID

Business documents

1. Certificate of Incorporation
2. Partnership Agreement
3. Proof of Business Address
4. Authorisation Letter
5. Declaration of Beneficial Ownership (Ownership Structure)
6. New Business Supporting Documents
7. Financial Institution Onboarding Questionnaire
8. High Value Goods Questionnaire
9. Live-Streaming Questionnaire
10. Marketplace Questionnaire
     

Definitions

Director: A person who is legally authorised to represent the company and make decisions on its behalf, based on local laws or the company’s constitution.

Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO): An individual who directly or indirectly owns or controls 25% or more of the company. This can include ownership through trusts or other holding arrangements.

Personal documents (Photo ID)

We require images for government issued, official photo ID, such as a Passport, National ID or Driving Licence. 

Please ensure the ID photo is clear, with all edges visible and no blurring, glare, reflections, watermarks, or obstructions. For best results, place the document flat on a surface and take the photo in a well-lit area. Some valid ID examples are provided below.

1) Passport example - All Countries

2) National ID example - e.g. Dutch ID card

Business documents

1. Certificate of Incorporation

An official document issued by the government or relevant registry (such as Chamber of Commerce) that proves your company is legally registered. Example below.

2. Partnership Agreement

A legal document that outlines the roles, responsibilities, and ownership structure between partners in the business. Example below. We have also linked a form below for completion.

Partnership Disclosure & Declaration Form (EN | FR)

3. Proof of Business Address

This is a recent bill or bank statement showing the business’s legal name and address (dated within the last 3 months).

Bank Statement example:

Bill example:

4. Authorisation Letter

If the person applying isn’t a Director, we require an Authorisation Letter. Click here for the Authorisation Letter Template (EN | FR).

If your business is registered in Lithuania, click here for the LT Authorisation Letter Template.

If your business has legal entities in multiple countries or regions, you can use the Global Authorisation Letter Template instead of submitting separate letters for each one.
 

5. Declaration of Beneficial Ownership

If we can't clearly identify the ownership structure of your business, we may ask for a Declaration of Beneficial Ownership. This can be in the format of a diagram. Please include:

• Full name, date of birth, nationality, and % ownership of each Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) (anyone who owns 25% or more)
• The shareholding structure if no one owns 25% or more
• Registration country and ownership % for each intermediary shareholding entity
• The declaration must be on company letterhead, signed by a Director, and dated within the last 6 months

Sample of Declaration of Beneficial Ownership (EN | FR)

Shareholding Structure Template (FR)
 

6. New Business Supporting Documents

If you are relatively new business, we may request business activity proof such as:

• Invoices, contracts, or statements
• Business plan (for new businesses)
   

7. Financial Institution Onboarding Questionnaire

How will you use your Airwallex account?

If you are operating within the financial services industry, please complete the questionnaire that applies to you, in order to meet our internal compliance requirements.

• Third-Party Funds (Unregistered Clients) Questionnaire (EN | FR): You process funds for your clients, and your clients won’t be onboarded by Airwallex
  • Use this option if your business handles funds on behalf of clients who won't have their own Airwallex accounts

• Third-Party Funds (Registered Clients) Questionnaire (EN | FR): You process funds for your clients, and your clients will be onboarded by Airwallex
  • Use this option if your clients will each have their own Airwallex account

• Operational Use Questionnaire (EN | FR): You’ll only use the account for operational purposes
  • Use this option if the account is just for business expenses (e.g. paying suppliers, salaries, rent, etc.)
     

8. High Value Goods Onboarding Questionnaire

If your business deals in high-value goods (e.g. luxury items, jewellery, fine art), please complete the High-Value Goods Questionnaire to help us meet compliance requirements.
 

9. Live-Streaming Questionnaire

If you operate a live streaming business, please complete the Live Streaming Questionnaire (EN | FR) to help us meet compliance requirements.
 

10. Marketplace Questionnaire

If your business operates a marketplace platform, please complete the Marketplace Questionnaire (EN | FR) to help us meet compliance requirements.