To open an account with Airwallex for a company registered in the UK, 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. Limited Company
You’ll need to provide:
Business documents
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Memorandum and Articles of Association (or equivalent Company Constitution)
Personal documents
- Photo ID and residential address of all Directors
- Photo ID and residential address of all Ultimate Beneficial Owners (all individuals with 25% or more ownership)
-
Liveness check of the person applying (Authorised Person)
2. Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)
You’ll need to provide:
Business documents
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Partnership Agreement
Personal documents
- Photo ID and residential address of all Limited 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. Limited or General (Unlimited) Partnership
You’ll need to provide:
Business documents
- Partnership Agreement
- 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 Limited 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.
4. Sole Trader
You’ll need to provide:
Business documents
- Proof of business address (e.g. utility bills or bank statements 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
Business documents
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Partnership Agreement
- Proof of Business Address
- Authorisation Letter
- Declaration of Beneficial Ownership (Ownership Structure)
- New Business Supporting Documents
- Financial Institution Onboarding Questionnaire
- High Value Goods Questionnaire
- Live-Streaming Questionnaire
-
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 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) Driving License example - e.g. UK Driving Licence
3) National ID example - e.g. Hong Kong ID
Please note if the Director, UBO, or Partner is a Chinese citizen, only Chinese National ID (身份证) is acceptable, and both front and back side needed.
Business documents
1. Certificate of Incorporation
An official document issued by Companies House 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
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.
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
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.
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Third-Party Funds (Unregistered Clients) Questionnaire: 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
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Third-Party Funds (Registered Clients) Questionnaire: 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
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Operational Use Questionnaire: You’ll only use the account for operational purposes
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Use this option if the account is just for business expenses (e.g. paying suppliers, salaries, rent, etc.)
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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 to help us meet compliance requirements.
10. Marketplace Questionnaire
If your business operates a marketplace platform, please complete the Marketplace Questionnaire to help us meet compliance requirements.