How Long Does WorldRemit ID Verification Take?

WorldRemit says the majority of ID checks happen within 5 minutes after you submit your documents, but it asks you to allow up to 24 to 48 hours for completion. If it needs anything else, it contacts you. Here is what it checks, which documents work, and how to avoid the usual delays.

Why WorldRemit verifies you

WorldRemit's help page says that, as a financially regulated company, it is required by law to verify all of its customers. What it checks depends on where you send from and how much, because each country has its own laws. Usually it only needs to check your name, address and date of birth. Sometimes it also asks about the purpose of your transfer or the source of your funds.

WorldRemit explains the process as "Know Your Customer" (KYC) checks, which help it confirm your identity and detect illegal activity. If you have opened a bank account, you have been through something similar.

How long it takes

Most checks: within 5 minutes of submitting your documents.
Allow for: up to 24 to 48 hours for completion.
After that: WorldRemit says it will get in touch if it needs anything else, so keep an eye on your email.

These are WorldRemit's figures from its help page, and a delay can happen when documents are unclear or details do not match. The safety guide explains why these checks exist.

Documents WorldRemit accepts

WorldRemit's help page lists:

National ID, issued in the country you are sending from. Show the front and back, with the document number visible and no glare.
Passport, with all four corners of the page visible, showing your photo, full name and date of birth.
Driving licence, accepted only if you are outside the EU. It must be high resolution.

Your upload should be a high-quality photo or scan of a valid government-issued ID. WorldRemit says it should show the document number, your photo, your full name, your date of birth, the expiry date and place of issue, and the machine-readable zone if there is one. Your full name and date of birth must match your WorldRemit account.

Address verification, according to the same page, only applies to customers sending from New Zealand. They may be asked for a document such as a utility bill or bank statement, no older than three months, in the same name and address as the account.

Tips to get verified faster

WorldRemit's article on KYC suggests:

Use your full name as it appears on your ID when you create your account.
Make sure your date of birth is correct.
Enter your current home address, and use the address finder if you can.
Add your phone number so WorldRemit can reach you if something does not match.

Take clear, well-lit photos with no glare or cut-off corners.

Why a check can fail

WorldRemit lists common reasons:

incorrect details such as name, date of birth or address,
no proof of address where it is needed,
low-quality documents, and
an unclear purpose for the transfer.

If your documents are not clear, WorldRemit says it may ask you to send them again. You do that by clicking the link in the email it sends, so check your inbox and spam folder.

What to do while you wait

Check your email, including spam, for a message from WorldRemit.
Make sure the details on your account match your ID exactly.
If it has been more than 48 hours, use the in-app chat. WorldRemit says in-app support is available around the clock.
Do not pay anyone to speed this up. Real verification is done inside the official app or website.

What happens to your documents

WorldRemit says your information and documents are kept on secured servers and used only when it completes its KYC checks.

Ready to start?

If you have not signed up yet, how to use WorldRemit walks through the whole first transfer. You can start with the referral link and enter REFERNNF57P9SAA1L on the sign-up form.

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