What you need to verify your ID to send money
Verify your identity once before your first transfer from Canada. You need a government photo ID, a camera and about 3 minutes. Here are the steps.
Cowris team5 min read
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The short answer
To send money from Canada with Cowris, you verify your identity once. You do it before your first transfer. You need a government photo ID, a phone or laptop camera, and about 3 minutes.
This guide lists what to have ready, how each step works, and what to do if the check does not pass.
What you need
Have these ready before you start:
- A government photo ID. It must be real, not expired and not damaged. A passport, driver's licence or national ID are typical.
- A camera. A phone or laptop camera works. You use it to scan your ID and to take a quick selfie.
- Good light and a steady hand. This helps the scan read your ID the first time.
- About 3 minutes. The app says the check takes about 3 minutes.
Who runs the check
Cowris uses an identity partner called Didit. Didit runs the check. You scan your ID and take a selfie. You follow Didit's steps on your screen.
How to verify in the app
- On the Home screen, find the "Get verified" card. Tap "Verify your identity". The line under it says "Needed before your first transfer · takes about 3 minutes".
- You can also tap "Verify now" when the app asks you to verify before your first transfer. Or go to Account and tap "Verification status".
- The next screen says "Have your ID ready. We'll scan it and take a quick selfie (about 3 minutes)." Then you see "Starting the identity check…".
- Follow the steps. Scan the front of your ID. Scan the back too, if you are asked. Then take your selfie.
- If the app asks for camera access, allow it. The app needs the camera to scan your ID and take your selfie. If you said no before, turn it on in your phone settings.
How to verify on the website
- On Overview, find "Get verified" and click "Verify your identity". Or click "Send Money" and choose "Proceed to verification".
- Fill in your gender, your residential address and your date of birth. Type the date as YYYY-MM-DD. For example, 1995-01-02.
- Click "Continue verification". Follow the steps on the secure page.
What you see when you finish
The app shows one of these messages:
- A thank-you message that says we are confirming your identity now.
- A thank-you message that says we are reviewing your ID and will let you know shortly.
- "Your ID couldn't be verified. You can try again."
On the website, your status shows as Verified, Under review, In progress or Unverified.
If your status is Under review, our team is looking at it. You do not need to do anything. We tell you when it is done.
After your ID is read
Your name and date of birth come from your ID. This is why your account name should match your ID.
Some IDs have no address. A passport is one example. If yours has none, the app asks for your home address. Type it and tap "Save address".
If the scan spelled your name wrong, you can check it. Go to Account, then "Verification status", then "Review your verified details". You can see what we read. Tap "These are correct", or fix a spelling. A fix goes to our team. They check it against your ID. You then see "Sent for review. We'll let you know."
If your ID is not accepted
Most problems have a simple fix.
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| "Your ID couldn't be verified. You can try again." | Use a clear photo of the whole ID, in good light, with no glare. Use an ID that has not expired. Then tap "Retry KYC verification" in the app, or "Try again" on the website. |
| "We couldn't start the identity check. Please try again." | Check your internet connection. Tap "Try again". |
| "Your identity check is already in progress." | You already started it. Wait for the result. We tell you when it is done. |
| Under review | Our team is looking at it. You do not need to do anything. |
| Your name on your ID is different from your account | Fix a spelling as shown above, or write to help@cowris.com. |
Tips for a clean scan
- Avoid glare from lamps or windows. Tilt the ID a little if you see a bright spot.
- For the selfie, face the camera in good light.
Keep your details the same
When you sign up, use your legal name. Use the name on your ID. If the names are different, tell us. Fix a spelling in the app, or write to help@cowris.com.
Do you verify every time?
No. You verify once, before your first transfer.
Ready to send?
Once you are verified, a transfer takes a few steps. You enter an amount, add your recipient and pay. You can follow each step in the Transactions tab.
Quick answers
Do I need to verify my identity to send money from Canada? Yes. You verify once, before your first transfer.
What do I need to verify? A government photo ID that is real, not expired and not damaged. You also need a camera for a quick selfie.
How long does it take? The app says it takes about 3 minutes.
Do I verify every time I send? No. You verify once.
Who runs the identity check? Our identity partner, Didit, runs the check.
What if my ID is not accepted? Use a clear photo of the whole ID, in good light, with no glare. Use an ID that has not expired. Then try again. If it still does not work, write to help@cowris.com.
What if my ID has no address? The app asks for your home address. Type it and tap "Save address".
What if my name was read wrong? Go to Account, then "Verification status", then "Review your verified details". Fix the spelling. Our team checks it against your ID.
Does Cowris charge a fee to send money? No. There are no fees on any route.
