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The short answer
Expect a government photo ID (passport, driver's licence or state ID), your name, date of birth and address, and often an SSN or ITIN, with proof of address, bank statements, pay stubs or questions about income as your sending grows. Providers ask because FinCEN's rules require money transmitters to run anti-money-laundering programmes and to verify and record ID for transfers of $3,000 or more.
Signing up for a remittance app is quick, but the requests for documents can keep coming as you send more. Knowing what is typical, and why, makes it easier to tell a normal request from a suspicious one.
Why apps ask at all
Remittance companies are money services businesses. FinCEN's guide for MSBs says every MSB must have an anti-money-laundering programme, must verify the customer's ID and keep records for each money transfer of $3,000 or more, whatever the payment method, and must file Currency Transaction Reports on cash over $10,000 a day, for which customers provide ID such as an SSN and a driver's licence or other government document (FinCEN CTR notice). Providers build on that minimum with their own risk rules, which is why requests often start well below $3,000.
What is typically asked, by stage
| Stage | Typical requests | Example from a provider page |
|---|---|---|
| Sign-up | Name, date of birth, address, phone, email | Remitly lists name, date of birth and address |
| First verification | Photo of a government ID; sometimes a selfie | Remitly lists passport or other government ID |
| Higher limits | SSN or ITIN | Remitly lists SSN or ITIN |
| Larger or unusual transfers | Proof of address, bank statements, pay stubs; occupation, income source, reason for sending | Remitly lists utility bill, bank statements, pay stubs and these questions |
The examples come from Remitly's limits page, checked in October 2026. Other providers' help pages set out their own lists; the pattern of more checks for more money is common.
Documents that usually work
- Nigerian passport, valid and not expired. Many Nigerians in the US use it as their primary ID.
- US state driver's licence or state ID card.
- US passport, for citizens.
- Employment Authorization Document, which some providers accept; see using an EAD card as ID.
- SSN or ITIN as a taxpayer number, not as photo ID.
Photos should show all four corners, with no glare, and the name should match your account exactly, including middle names. A mismatch between your bank account name and your app profile is a common cause of failed verification; this guide to failed ID checks covers resubmitting.
What the recipient needs
For a bank or wallet deposit, the recipient's full name as on their account and the account details are usually enough. For cash pickup, the recipient shows ID in Nigeria in the exact name you entered, with the reference number. Nigerian bank accounts are themselves linked to BVN and NIN checks on the recipient's side.
Spotting requests that are not normal
- A request that arrives by text or social media rather than in the app or from the provider's real domain.
- Anyone asking for your online banking password or one-time codes. A provider does not need them.
- Requests to pay a fee to 'verify' or 'release' a transfer.
Before entering an SSN, check you are in the provider's genuine app; our page on giving an SSN to an app explains how.
If you have no SSN
Remitly lists an ITIN or passport as alternatives. The IRS issues ITINs for federal tax purposes to people who are not eligible for an SSN, and says an ITIN does not serve as identification outside the federal tax system, so a provider treats it as a taxpayer number alongside photo ID. See sending without an SSN.
Why requests repeat
Being asked again for documents you already gave is common, and it does not mean anything is wrong. Providers re-verify when an ID expires, when your address changes, when your sending rises into a new band, or when their own reviews come round. Remitly's limits page, for example, links document requests to raising limits and to the amount sent. Keeping current scans of your passport, a recent proof of address and two or three recent payslips or statements in one folder on your phone makes each request a matter of minutes.
Business accounts
If you send for a business, providers ask for the company's registration documents and the identity of its owners and directors in addition to your own ID. Using a personal account to send business money can trigger extra questions, because the source and purpose will not match your personal profile.
Where Pryme fits
Pryme asks for identity documents too: outside Nigeria its activities are carried out through regulated partners that must verify customers. The account is protected with an authenticator app and a transaction PIN rather than SMS codes; see security. A Pryme account holds USD and NGN once verified.
Questions people ask
What ID do I need for Remitly in the US?
Remitly's limits page lists name, date of birth and address, a passport, SSN or ITIN or other government ID, and supporting documents such as bank statements as limits rise.
Can I use my Nigerian passport to send money from the US?
Many providers accept a valid foreign passport as photo ID. Check it is unexpired and the name matches your account.
Why does the app want my SSN?
Providers use it to verify identity and for their compliance checks, often to raise limits. An ITIN may be accepted instead by some providers.
Does the recipient in Nigeria need ID?
For bank or wallet deposits, usually just the correct name and account details. For cash pickup, the recipient shows ID in the name you entered.
Sources
- FinCEN: Bank Secrecy Act requirements, quick reference guide for money services businesses · accessed Oct 2026
- FinCEN: Notice to customers, a CTR reference guide · accessed Oct 2026
- Remitly: Increase your sending limits (US, August 2026 change) · accessed Oct 2026
- IRS: Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) (reviewed 28 Oct 2025) · 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.