📌 Overview of KYC Document Requirements
When you register on a cryptocurrency exchange, you will be asked to provide certain documents to verify your identity. This process is known as KYC (Know Your Customer). The exact documents required depend on the exchange and the verification tier you are aiming for, but almost all exchanges follow a similar pattern.
The primary goal of KYC document collection is to confirm three things: who you are (via photo ID), where you live (via proof of address), and that you are the actual person (via a selfie or liveness check). Having the right documents ready and properly formatted will make the verification process smooth and fast.
Submitting clear, valid, and correctly formatted documents is the single most important factor in getting your KYC approved quickly. Poor quality or incorrect documents are the #1 cause of verification delays and rejections.
🪪 Accepted Government-Issued Photo IDs
The most critical document for KYC is a government-issued photo ID. The exchange uses this to verify your legal name, date of birth, nationality, and photo. The following are almost universally accepted:
| ID Type | Details | Commonly Accepted? |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | International travel document with photo, full name, date of birth, and nationality | Yes (most preferred) |
| Driver's License | State-issued license with photo, full name, date of birth, and address (often includes address) | Yes (very common) |
| National ID Card | Government-issued national identity card (e.g., national ID, resident card) | Yes (widely accepted) |
| Permanent Resident Card | Residency permit or green card | Accepted by many, but not all |
| Military ID | Military service identification | Accepted by some, but not all |
| Student ID / Work ID | Non-government-issued identification | Not accepted |
If you have multiple IDs, choose the one that is most clearly readable and has the highest quality photo. Passports are often preferred because they are standardized and accepted globally. Ensure your ID is not expired — expired IDs are almost always rejected.
🏠 Proof of Address Documents
For higher verification tiers (Tier 2 and above), exchanges typically require a proof of address document. This confirms your current residential address, which must match the address you provided during registration.
Acceptable proof of address documents generally include:
- Utility bills — Electricity, water, gas, internet, or phone bills (dated within the last 3 months).
- Bank statements — Official bank or credit card statements showing your name and address (within 3 months).
- Government-issued correspondence — Tax letters, voter registration, or any official government mail with your address.
- Insurance documents — Home, auto, or health insurance policy documents with your address.
- Tenancy agreements — Official rental contracts (sometimes accepted, but less common).
The proof of address must show your full name (matching your ID), your current address, and a date within the last 3 months. It must be a physical document (scanned or photographed) — digital-only statements may be accepted but are less reliable.
| Document Type | Acceptance Level | Validity Period |
|---|---|---|
| Utility Bill | Highly accepted | Last 3 months |
| Bank Statement | Highly accepted | Last 3 months |
| Government Letter | Accepted | Last 3 months |
| Insurance Document | Often accepted | Last 3–6 months |
| Rental Agreement | Sometimes accepted | Current or recent |
| Pay Slip | Rarely accepted | N/A |
Some exchanges accept digital bank statements or utility bills if they are official PDFs with a logo and your details. However, a scanned or photographed physical copy is more reliable. If using a digital copy, ensure it is a complete statement (not a screenshot).
🤳 Selfie and Liveness Check Requirements
To prevent identity fraud, most exchanges require a selfie or a live video verification. This step matches your face to the photo on your ID document.
What to Expect
- Photo selfie — You take a photo of yourself holding your ID next to your face. The ID must be clearly visible, and your face must be unobstructed.
- Video liveness check — You record a short video (usually 3–5 seconds) where you follow on-screen instructions (e.g., turn your head, blink, or smile) to prove you are a live person.
- Facial recognition — The exchange's system compares your face to the photo on your ID using biometric matching.
Use good lighting (natural daylight is best), avoid wearing hats or glasses that obscure your face, keep a neutral expression, and ensure your ID is fully visible and not covering your face. Look directly at the camera.
Common Selfie Mistakes
- Dark or shadowy images
- Glare on glasses or ID
- ID partially cut off or blurry
- Facial expression doesn't match ID photo
- Using an old photo instead of a live selfie
📁 Document Formatting and File Specifications
To avoid technical rejections, you must ensure your document files meet the exchange's formatting requirements. While these vary slightly, the following are common standards:
| Specification | Common Requirement |
|---|---|
| File Formats | JPG, JPEG, PNG, PDF (sometimes GIF, BMP) |
| File Size | Typically 5 MB to 20 MB per file |
| Image Resolution | At least 300 DPI or 2000 x 1500 pixels |
| Color | Color (black and white may be accepted but less preferred) |
| Orientation | Must be right-side up, not rotated |
| Cropping | All four corners of the document must be visible, no cropping |
Scanned documents (flatbed scanner) produce the highest quality and most consistent results. If you must use a phone camera, ensure the document is flat, well-lit, and taken from directly above to avoid distortion.
📑 Additional Documents for Higher Tiers
For Tier 3 (Advanced) or Institutional verification, exchanges may request additional documentation to comply with stricter regulatory requirements. These may include:
- Source of Funds — Proof of where your crypto or fiat funds originated (e.g., salary slips, tax returns, business records, or proof of crypto earnings).
- Employment Information — Employer name, position, and sometimes a letter from your employer.
- Tax Identification Number (TIN) — Some exchanges require your national tax ID or social security number.
- Corporate Documents — For business accounts: certificate of incorporation, articles of association, beneficial ownership declaration, and board resolution.
Not all exchanges require these additional documents. They are typically only requested for very high withdrawal limits (e.g., over 100 BTC/day) or institutional accounts. If you are a regular retail user, you will likely only need the basic ID + selfie + proof of address.
✅ Complete KYC Document Checklist
Use this checklist to ensure you have everything ready before starting your KYC verification:
- ☐ Government-Issued Photo ID — Passport, driver's license, or national ID (valid, not expired).
- ☐ Selfie or Liveness Video — Clear, well-lit, with your face visible, holding your ID (if required).
- ☐ Proof of Address — Utility bill, bank statement, or government letter from the last 3 months showing your name and address.
- ☐ File Format — JPG, PNG, or PDF, under the size limit (usually 5–20 MB).
- ☐ Image Quality — All corners visible, no blur, no glare, high resolution.
- ☐ Information Consistency — Name, address, and date of birth exactly match what you entered during registration.
- ☐ Additional Docs — (If required) Source of funds, employment info, corporate documents, etc.
Store high-quality scans or photos of all your KYC documents in a secure, encrypted folder on your computer or cloud storage. This makes it easy to re-submit if you need to verify on a second exchange or if your documents expire and need renewal.
⚠️ Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
| Pitfall | Why It Happens | How to Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Blurry or low-res images | Camera shake, poor lighting, low-quality camera | Use a scanner or a high-quality phone camera in good light. Hold steady, use a flat surface. |
| Expired ID | Didn't check expiration date before submitting | Always check the expiry date. Renew if necessary before starting KYC. |
| Name mismatch | Typed name differs from ID (e.g., missing middle name) | Enter your name exactly as it appears on your ID, including all given names. |
| Address mismatch | Proof of address address differs from registered address | Update your registered address or choose a proof of address that matches exactly. |
| Unacceptable proof of address | Submitted a document that is not on the accepted list | Check the exchange's list of accepted documents. Stick to utility bills or bank statements. |
| Selfie doesn't match ID | Face not clearly visible, or expression/angle differs | Take a clear, front-facing selfie with natural lighting and neutral expression. |
| File too large or wrong format | Uploaded a huge file or unsupported format | Check the exchange's file size and format limits. Compress if needed. |