Need help opening your World Account?
You’re in the right place. Here’s a list of the documents you’ll need to get set up.
Summary of what to provide
Everyone
- Your ID doc (for you as applicant)
- Your registered business number
- Your business licence copy (all pages as PDF, PNG or JPEG)
If you're a company
- Your articles of association copy (all pages as PDF, PNG or JPEG)
- For each additional registered director: (i) name; (ii) date of birth; (iii) nationality
- For each shareholder with 25%+ ownership: (i) copy of ID doc (front and back); (ii) residential address; (iii) shareholding %
Proof of ID
A valid passport or driving licence must be provided as a proof of identity and adhere to the following:
National ID card
For examples from other regions, please refer to the European Council website.
National ID card copies must:
- Be in colour
- Show a clear image of the individual
- Be issued by the government of the country in which you are a citizen or resident
- Show front and back images
Sample: Germany
Sample: France
Sample: Italy
Sample: Spain
Sample: the Netherlands
Sample: Poland
Passport
For examples from other regions, please refer to the European Council website.
- Be in colour
- Show a clear image of the individual
- Be issued by the government of the country in which you are a citizen or resident.
Sample: Germany
Sample: France
Sample: Italy
Sample: Spain
Sample: the Netherlands
Sample: Poland
Driving licence
For examples from other regions, please refer to the European Council website.
Driving licence copies must:
- Be in colour
- Show a clear image of the individual
- Be issued by the government of the country in which you are a citizen or resident.
- Show front and back images
Sample: Germany
Sample: France
Sample: Italy
Sample: Spain
Sample: the Netherlands
Sample: Poland
Certificate of Incorporation
We need to verify your company’s owners and directors (or equivalent). Please provide your Certificate of Incorporation document and Articles of Association document.
This must contain:
- Your company’s basic information (eg legal form, full legal name, registration number, date of registration, registration address)
- Your company’s list of directors, owners or managers
- Your company’s owners. If there are multiple layers in the ownership structure, it may be necessary to upload several documents to show the intermediate and ultimate owners clearly. Acceptable documents include:
- Latest business profile record with the company registry
- Official tax filing document
- List of authorised persons registered with company registry.
Sample: France
Sample: Italy
Sample: Spain
Sample: the Netherlands
Sample: Poland
Articles of Association
Reference on information required to be seen on articles of association:
Sample: Germany 1/2
Sample: Germany 2/2
Sample: France 1/2
Sample: France 2/2
Sample: Netherlands 1/2
Sample: Netherlands 2/2
Sample: Poland 1/2
Sample: Poland 2/2
Company ownership
How to identify shareholders owning 25% or more of the company.
We need to identify any significant shareholder (otherwise known as an ultimate beneficial owner or UBO) – a person, who ultimately (directly or indirectly) owns or controls 25% or more of the company and its underlying assets.
Example 1
- Your company is 100% owned by Company B
- Company B is 20% owned by Individual C, and 80% owned by Individual D
- Your company is deemed to have 1 intermediate layer in its ownership structure (the number of layers between the company and its UBOs)
- Company B is deemed to be the Intermediate Entity Shareholder of your company
- The UBO with 25% or more interest in your company is Individual D
- Individual C only holds 20% effective interest in your company and is not deemed a UBO
Example 2
Company is owned directly by an individual
In this example:
- Your company is 100% owned by Individual B
- Individual B is deemed to be the sole UBO with 25% or more interest in your company
Restricted industry certificate
Product Certificate
A product certificate is a document issued by a certified organisation. This states that the product has passed quality assurance tests, performance tests and is in compliance with local laws, regulations and sales standards.
Proof of source of funds
You may be asked to prove the source of your funds. This can be done by providing one of the following documents:
Bank statement issued and dated within the last three months; ax documents; sales contract/invoices; latest financial report annual return or tax return; letter from accountant/solicitor; investment certificate or contract.
Bank statement
This must:
- Show the bank name / logo
- Show your full name and address (this must match the address submitted in your application)
- Show the account number
Utility bill
This must:
- Show the utility provider’s name / logo
- Show your full name and address (this must match the address submitted in your application)
- Show the account number
Council letter
This must:
- Show the council’s name / logo
- Show your full name and address (this must match the address submitted in your application)
Tenancy agreement
This must:
- Show the landlord’s name and address
- Show your full name and the address being let (this must match the address submitted in your application)
- Show the period of residency
Proof of address
You may be asked to provide a proof of address. This must match the address submitted in your application and be one of the following documents:
Bank statement, utility bill, letter from local council, tenancy agreement.
Documents must clearly show the account holder’s full name and address; and be dated within the past 3 months.
Bank statement
This must:
- Be from a licensed bank (not Wise, Revolut, Tide etc)
- Be issued within the past three months
- Show the bank name / logo
- Show your full name and address (this must match the address submitted in your application)
- Show the bank account number
- Have no redacted information
Tax document
This document must clearly show company name and address (to match those on your application) and be dated within the past three months.
Sales contract/invoices
This document must clearly show company name and address (to match those on your application) and be dated within the past three months.
Latest financial report
Investment certificate or contract
This document must clearly show company name and address (to match those on your application) and be dated within the past three months.
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