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The short answer
Western Union UK says an agent must scan your ID if you send £800 or more, and online or app senders are asked to verify their ID once they reach £800 sent. Its UK list of accepted ID includes a signed passport, EU full driving licence, UK provisional licence and EU ID or residency cards; a BRP or eVisa is not on it (Western Union UK identification page, checked October 2026).
If you send money to Nigeria with Western Union from the UK, the £800 mark matters. Below it, an agent may simply look at your ID; at or above it, the ID is scanned. Online, £800 is the point at which Western Union asks you to verify. This guide explains both thresholds using Western Union's own UK identification page, and what to have ready.
The two £800 thresholds
| Channel | What Western Union UK says |
|---|---|
| Agent location | ID is needed for any amount. "The agent is required to scan your ID if you are sending £800+"; below £800, scanning happens "with your consent" |
| westernunion.com or app | "You will be asked to verify your ID when you reach the limit of £800 sent" |
The online threshold is described as an amount sent, not a single payment, so a series of smaller transfers can reach it. Western Union's page does not say over what period the £800 is counted, so treat any total that approaches it as likely to trigger the check.
ID Western Union UK accepts
The UK identification page lists:
- Valid signed passport (a Nigerian passport is a passport, provided it is valid and signed)
- Valid full driving licence (EU)
- Provisional driving licence (UK only)
- EU national identity card (non-UK)
- EU residency card
- Emergency or temporary passport
- Emergency travel documents
- Ship's passport
A UK full photocard driving licence is not named on the list as it reads; the page names an EU full licence and a UK provisional licence. If you plan to rely on a UK full licence, confirm with the agent or Western Union first.
What happens when you hit £800 online
- Western Union first tries to verify you from your profile information.
- If it cannot, it says it "will request proof of your ID via email".
- Once you are verified, "your send limit will increase", according to the same page.
The page does not say what the higher limit is, and it does not mention proof of address. Keep your profile name exactly as it appears on your passport, including middle names, so the profile match has the best chance of working.
Questions that can come at any amount
The £800 line is about identity. Separately, Western Union says you "may be required to provide additional information on the source of funds, purpose of your transaction and relationship to your counterparty, regardless of the amount or destination country", and that "the only way to proceed with the transaction will be to provide the requested information". This reflects UK money laundering rules: regulation 28 of the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 requires firms to identify and verify customers and, where appropriate, obtain information on the purpose of a transaction.
Typical answers for a Nigeria transfer are short and factual: "school fees for my nephew", "monthly support for my mother", "contribution to a family burial". Have a payslip or bank statement ready if asked where the money came from. Our guide to source of funds questions covers this in more depth.
Worked example
Example. Chidi sends £300 online in March, £300 in April and £250 in May. The running total reaches £850, past £800, so on the May transfer he is asked to verify. Western Union checks his profile; his profile says "Chidi Okafor" while his passport says "Chidiebere Okafor", so the match fails and he receives an email asking for proof of ID. He uploads his passport, is verified, and his limit rises. Had his profile matched his passport, the email step might not have been needed.
At an agent: what the scan means for you
Below £800, the agent will still look at your ID, because Western Union says ID is needed for any amount, but the page says scanning happens only with your consent. From £800, the scan is required. In both cases the agent will record the transfer and give you a receipt with the MTCN. Western Union's in-person FAQ adds that it may run extra checks or ask for documents for certain amounts, without giving a figure, so take a recent payslip or bank statement if you are sending a large sum in cash.
What to check first
- Your passport is valid and signed.
- Your Western Union profile name matches the passport exactly.
- You know the receiver's name as it appears on their Nigerian ID.
- You can say in one line why you are sending and where the money came from.
For collecting the money in Nigeria and agent steps, see Western Union UK agent cash to Nigeria.
Where Pryme fits
Pryme is a technology company; outside Nigeria its activities are carried out through regulated partners, and identity checks apply there too. A Pryme account holds GBP and NGN in one place, and when you send the app shows the rate and the fee before you approve. Read how Pryme protects your account.
Questions people ask
Does Western Union UK accept a BRP or eVisa as ID?
Neither is on Western Union's UK list of accepted ID. The list includes a valid signed passport, an EU full driving licence, a UK provisional licence and EU ID or residency cards.
Why did Western Union ask me to verify my ID online?
Western Union UK says online and app senders are asked to verify once they reach £800 sent. If your profile cannot be matched, it emails asking for proof of ID.
Is the £800 per transfer or in total?
Online, Western Union describes it as reaching the limit of £800 sent, which is a running amount. At an agent, the scan applies when you are sending £800 or more.
Can Western Union ask about source of funds on a small transfer?
Yes. Its UK page says it may ask about source of funds, purpose and relationship regardless of the amount.
Sources
- Western Union UK: Verifying your identity · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Biometric residence permits (updated 18 Sep 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- legislation.gov.uk: Money Laundering Regulations 2017, regulation 28 · accessed Oct 2026
- Western Union UK FAQ: Send money in person · 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.