AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
What AI agents can do in bookkeeping, close, collections and compliance today, where a person must stay in charge, and how to judge a product.
The short answer
A Canadian remittance app asks for a selfie or short selfie video because, when it verifies you remotely, FINTRAC's guidance expects it to confirm both that your photo ID is authentic and that you are the person on it, for example by comparing the ID with a live video or selfie using technology. It usually appears at sign-up or before a first or larger Nigeria send. If it fails, retake it in good light with a valid, unexpired document, and ask support for another method if it keeps failing.
What the check is for
Money services businesses in Canada must verify the identity of customers in certain situations. FINTRAC's guidance on methods to verify identity (modified 3 December 2024) lists the government-issued photo identification method first. When you are not physically present, the business needs a process to authenticate the document, for example technology that checks its security features, and must confirm that the name and photo match you. FINTRAC gives a live video chat or a selfie compared using facial recognition as examples, and adds: "It is not enough to only view a person and their government-issued photo identification document through a video conference."
Apps often add a "liveness" step, asking you to turn your head, blink or read numbers. FINTRAC's page does not use the word liveness; it is the industry's way of showing the selfie is a live person rather than a photo of a photo.
Why it appears on a first Nigeria send
- Many apps let you sign up with basic details and only run full verification when you first send, or when you pass a sending threshold.
- Apps raise limits as you verify more. Remitly, for example, says its limits vary with verification level.
- A change on your account, such as a new phone, new card or a much larger transfer, can trigger a fresh check.
LemFi's sign-up page, as one example, asks for a photo of a government ID and a selfie from the start.
Documents that work
FINTRAC's rules require the document to be authentic, valid and current (not expired when checked), issued by a federal, provincial or territorial government, or by a foreign government if equivalent to a Canadian document. It must show your name, a photo and a unique identifying number. Municipal photo IDs are not acceptable. In practice that means a passport (including a Nigerian passport), a provincial driver's licence or provincial photo ID card, or a permanent resident card, subject to the app's own list.
Why selfie checks fail
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Poor light or glare on the ID | Face a window, turn off overhead lights, lay the ID flat on a dark surface |
| Expired or damaged document | Use a different valid document |
| Face partly covered | Remove glasses, hat or anything not worn in the ID photo, unless worn for religious reasons and visible in the ID |
| Name differs from bank or card | Update the app profile to match the ID exactly |
| Old phone camera or slow connection | Use a newer phone or stronger Wi-Fi |
| Repeated failure | Contact support and ask for manual review or another method |
Other ways to be verified
FINTRAC also lists a credit file method (using a Canadian credit bureau file) and a dual-process method (information from two different reliable sources). Not every app offers them. If you are new to Canada without a credit history, the photo ID route is usually the one open to you, so getting the selfie right matters. Our guide on ID for newcomers using remittance apps goes further.
Is it safe to send a selfie video?
- Do it only inside the app or on the provider's official website, never through a link sent by text or WhatsApp.
- Check the provider is registered: see FINTRAC's MSB registry.
- Never record a selfie video for someone else's account, or let someone else use yours. That is a common route for mule accounts.
- Read the privacy notice for how long the images are kept.
Worked example
Example only: Obinna in Moncton signs up and sends C$100 without trouble. His next transfer, C$1,500, asks for a selfie video. It fails twice. He notices his passport photo was taken without glasses, takes his glasses off, moves to a bright room and passes on the third try. The transfer goes ahead after a short review.
If your ID is about to expire
Because FINTRAC's definition of "current" means the document was not expired when it was verified, an ID that expires next week can still pass today. But if the app later re-verifies you, for example when you raise your limit, an expired document on file can block the transfer. If your Nigerian passport is close to expiry, renew it before a large send, or verify with a provincial licence or PR card instead if the app accepts it.
Keep your profile consistent: the same document, the same spelling of your name, and the same address across the app, your bank and your card.
Where Pryme fits
Pryme is a technology company, not a bank. Outside Nigeria its activities are carried out through regulated partners, and Naira deposits are held by a licensed Nigerian microfinance bank, regulated by the CBN and insured by the NDIC up to the applicable limit. Opening an account involves identity checks; security explains how Pryme protects access with an authenticator app (no SMS codes) and a transaction PIN. You can open an account from Canada and send to Nigeria once verified.
Questions people ask
Why does Remitly or LemFi need a selfie?
To confirm you are the person on your ID when verifying remotely, which FINTRAC's guidance expects money services businesses to do.
My selfie verification keeps failing. What do I do?
Retake in good light without glasses or hats, use a valid unexpired ID, match your profile name to the ID, then ask support for manual review.
Can I use my Nigerian passport for a Canadian app's selfie check?
Usually, if it is valid and current. FINTRAC accepts foreign government ID equivalent to a Canadian document; the app sets its own list.
Is a video call with an agent enough to verify me?
FINTRAC says only viewing a person and their ID on a video conference is not enough; the document must also be authenticated.
Sources
- FINTRAC: Methods to verify the identity of persons and entities (modified 3 Dec 2024) · accessed Oct 2026
- Remitly: Send money from Canada to Nigeria · accessed Oct 2026
- LemFi Help: How do I sign up · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.