TRADE SENSEI
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Practical SetupBeginner4 min

What Documents You May Need

Most regulated brokers ask for similar documentation. Knowing this in advance saves time and helps you avoid scams that ask for unusual paperwork.

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Why this matters for beginners

Legitimate brokers ask for specific documents to comply with regulation. Anything outside that pattern deserves extra scrutiny.

Main explanation

Identity: a government-issued photo ID (passport, national ID card, or driver's licence depending on the country).

Address: a recent utility bill, bank statement, or official letter, usually no older than three months.

Tax information: many brokers ask for a tax residency declaration and a tax ID number (such as a national tax number, SSN, or BSN).

Bank details: information about the bank account you will use to fund the brokerage account. It must usually be in your own name.

Some platforms add a short video or selfie verification step. None of this is unusual; it is part of standard KYC.

Example using a real company

Two brokers in different countries may ask for slightly different paperwork, but the categories, identity, address, tax, bank, are almost always the same.

  • →Identity: passport scan.
  • →Address: utility bill from the last three months.
  • →Tax: declaration of tax residency.

Common beginner mistakes

  • ✕Sending sensitive documents over insecure channels (email, chat) instead of the broker's official portal.
  • ✕Using a friend's or relative's bank account to fund your brokerage account.
  • ✕Ignoring a request for tax information, incomplete forms can freeze the account.

Key terms

Proof of identity
A government-issued document confirming who you are.
Proof of address
An official document confirming where you live.
Tax residency
The country whose tax rules apply to your investment income.

Key takeaways

  • 01Identity, address, tax, and bank details are the standard set.
  • 02Always upload documents through the broker's official portal.
  • 03Funding must usually come from a bank account in your own name.

Check yourself

  1. 01
    Brokers asking for ID and proof of address are doing something unusual.
  2. 02
    You can fund your brokerage account from anyone's bank account.
  3. 03
    Tax residency information is optional everywhere.
Apply this in the Analyzer

Try the concept on a real company

Paperwork is platform-level, not company-level. Use the Analyzer to keep studying businesses while your account is being verified.

Educational examples only. Not buy or sell recommendations.

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