Category: Tutorials & Guides || Posted May 26, 2026

The Flutterwave Onboarding Checklist: Documents You Need to Get Approved Fast

Nothing stalls a business launch faster than getting stuck in standard verification loops. When setting up a merchant profile on Flutterwave, the difference between getting approved in 24 hours and waiting weeks comes down to one thing: the accuracy and quality of your compliance paperwork.

Because Flutterwave processes millions of global and local currency transactions daily, their compliance team must adhere to strict Know Your Customer (KYC) and Know Your Business (KYB) anti-money laundering regulations.

To help you bypass manual review delays and move your payment gateway directly into Live Mode, use this comprehensive operational document checklist.

🛑 The Golden Rules for All Submissions

Before gathering specific files, ensure every document you upload meets Flutterwave's core security filters:

1. No Screenshots or Photocopies: You must snap or scan original color documents. Photocopies, cropped screenshots from your phone, or black-and-white printouts trigger automated compliance rejections.
2. Unlaminated Only: Laminated physical identity cards warp or distort anti-counterfeit security patterns under digital scanners.
3. The High-Contrast Trick: When using your phone to take pictures of an ID card, place the document on a solid surface with a completely distinct, contrasting color. This ensures the automated edge-detection tool captures the full layout accurately.

👤 Category 1: Individual / Unregistered Merchants

If you are a freelancer, independent creator, or running an early-stage side hustle under your personal name, this is your stack:

1. [ ] Valid Government Photo ID: Acceptable formats include an original International Passport, Driver's License, National Identification Number (NIN) Slip, or a Permanent Voter's Card (PVC).
2. [ ] Identity Check Metrics: Your explicit Bank Verification Number (BVN) and matching National Identification Number (NIN).
3. [ ] Recent Proof of Residential Address: A utility bill (electricity, water, or waste management), a signed tenancy agreement, or a formal bank statement issued within the last 3 months. The name and address on this document must match your registration inputs.
4. [ ] Digital Legitimacy Footprint: A working website URL or an active, professional social media business profile (like an active Instagram or X store page) detailing the exact items or services you sell.
5. [ ] Matching Settlement Account: A personal bank account where the legal name matches your uploaded identity documents exactly.

🏢 Category 2: Sole Proprietor Businesses

If you have registered a structural business name with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) but have not fully incorporated as an LLC, you need to provide:

1. [ ] CAC Registration Certificates: Your official CAC Certificate and formal Business Name registration documents.
2. [ ] Tax Identification Number (TIN): Your verified corporate tax certificate or official document showing your issued TIN.
3. [ ] Proof of Operational Business Address: A utility bill or a signed commercial lease agreement (dated within 90 days) displaying the physical location where your business operates.
4. [ ] Proprietor Identity Files: The original color photo ID, BVN, and NIN of the main proprietor.
5. [ ] Corporate Settlement Account: A dedicated corporate bank account bearing the exact name reflected on your CAC documents.

⚖️ Category 3: Limited Liability Companies (LLC)

Fully incorporated entities face the highest tier of security due to complex corporate ownership structures. To pass compliance, ensure your application includes:

1. [ ] Core Incorporation Documents: Your official Certificate of Incorporation alongside your Memorandum & Articles of Association (MemArt).
2. [ ] Current CAC Status Report: A recent CAC status report or filing report showing your active list of directors and current shareholder distribution.
3. [ ] Company Tax Verification: Your official Corporate Tax Identification Number (TIN) or tax certificate.
4. [ ] Universal Director & Shareholder Onboarding: Valid government photo IDs, BVNs, and NINs for every listed director and any stakeholder holding 5% or more of the company's shares.

💡 The LLC Trap: Flutterwave automatically sends individual identity verification emails to all listed shareholders and directors. Your account will remain locked in "Test Mode" until every single key stakeholder completes their independent identity scan.

🛠️ Step-by-Step Pre-Flight Verification Audit

Before hitting the submit button on your compliance portal, run this quick quality control check:

1. Match Your Names Letter-for-Letter

Verify that your name reads identically across your banking platform, your BVN registration, and your primary government identity cards. If your bank account says "John N. Doe" but your passport reads "John Nelson Doe," the system may flag it as an identity mismatch.

2. Verify Your Web Presence

If you list a website or social media link as proof of business, make sure it looks operational. The page must explicitly display clear contact parameters (an active email address or phone number) and an operating business address that perfectly matches the utility bill you upload.

3. Check for Regulated Licenses

Does your business operate in a tightly managed sector like finance, pharmaceuticals, real estate, or liquor? If so, you must upload your active regulatory operational permit or license along with your corporate profile.