Information requirements for Shopify Payments

In response to regulations in different countries, you're required to provide information about you and your business. The information is collected to help identify stores using Shopify Payments, including the beneficial owners of a particular corporate entity. The purpose of collecting this information is to comply with regulatory requirements designed to prevent money laundering, terrorist financing, and other financial crimes.

As local rules and regulations evolve, Shopify and its partners might contact you to collect additional information about you and your business. These standard reviews can occur at any time during the lifespan of your Shopify Payments account.

The information that Shopify has to collect differs from country to country, but typically includes details about the following people and organizations that are involved:

the individual creating the Shopify Payments account
the business associated with the Shopify Payments account
the individuals who ultimately own or control the business, which includes the business owner or a senior executive with legal signing authority for the business

To help the verification process, when providing documents as evidence, ensure that your documentation:

is clear and large enough to read
is correct and valid
is up-to-date with the most recent date possible
is complete with all details visible
is free of any errors or typos
matches the information provided

For more information, refer to the full document requirements for identity and address verification and business verification.

Uploading documents for Shopify Payments verification

Because of the sensitive nature of personal information that's contained in the requested verification documents, only documents that are uploaded through the secure banners in your Shopify admin are accepted. Documents sent through email or chat are redacted for security and privacy reasons and are rendered unusable.

When you're uploading documents for Shopify Payments verification or you're trying to update your Shopify Payments details, you might get an error message in your Shopify admin saying You can't update your details. This means that you've reached the maximum number of attempts for updating your details or uploading documents. To make any changes to your details or to be able to submit any further documents, contact Shopify Support.

Documents for identity and home address verification

If your identity is unable to be verified using the information that you provided at the time of Shopify Payments sign-up, then you might be requested to provide additional documentation. To verify an individual on a Shopify Payments account, two separate documents might be required:

a document that serves as proof of identity
a document that serves as proof of home address

You can't use the same document to serve as both proof of identity and proof of home address.

When uploading proof of identity documents, ensure you meet the following criteria:

Documents must be uploaded in full color. Scans, photocopies, and black and white images aren't accepted.
Documents must be valid and not expired.
Documents must be clear and large enough to read.
Photocopies of identity documents aren't accepted.
Complete documents must be uploaded. A complete document contains the following:
- both the front and back of a driver's license or identity card as separate images
- the entire personal information page of a passport
Documents can be uploaded in .png or .jpg format.

Proof of home address documents need to meet the following criteria:

Documents must be clear and large enough to read. No information can be redacted or covered.
Documents must be dated within the past three to six months, depending on the Shopify Payments requirements for your country.
Documents must be complete. A complete document contains the following:
- the full page of the document
- the full name and address of the individual, which are clearly stated and legible
Documents can be uploaded in .png, .jpg, or .pdf format.

For more details on information and document requirements, refer to the full list of accepted document types for each country.

Documents for business verification

If your business can't be verified using the information that you provided at the time of Shopify Payments sign-up, then additional documentation might be requested. The documents that you provide must include the business name, business address, and a business registration number or tax registration number valid in your store's country.

For business verification, upload your official federal business registration document, if available, which includes your federal tax registration number.

Business documents need to meet the following criteria:

Documents must be clear and large enough to read.
Documents must be valid and representative of up-to-date registration.
Complete documents must be uploaded. A complete document contains the following information:
- The full business name, business address, and a business registration number or tax registration number valid in your store's country.
- All pages of a multiple-page document. Upload a PDF containing all the relevant pages.
You can upload documents in .png, .jpg, or .pdf format.

For more information, refer to the full list of accepted document types for each country.

Beneficial ownership information

Companies registered in Ireland are required to provide beneficial ownership information. This information must be accurate and current. For more information, refer to the beneficial ownership information for Ireland.

Document review process

Your identity, address, and proof of legal entity document uploads must be reviewed and matched successfully to the information on your Shopify Payments account before your business can be fully verified.

During the review process, your payouts might be placed on hold until your information is verified, but usually your store remains open and customers can still buy your products. If you have uploaded documents that meet the requirements, and then later receive notification that your information wasn't verified, then contact Shopify Support.