Requirements for identity & verification documentation

Identity & verification (ID&V) is crucial for ensuring regulatory compliance, preventing fraud, and maintaining operational efficiency. In this article, we provide an overview of acceptable types of Proof of Identity (POI) for each issuer country. Additionally, we outline our preferred quality standard and file formats for POI documentation. Adhering to these guidelines can enhance accuracy, expedite processing, and minimise delays during ID&V.

To ensure compliance with our ID&V requirements, please regularly review this overview and the accompanying guidelines. We continuously update them to align with current rules and regulations.

An overview of accepted POI

Accepted Proof of Identity (POI)	Issuing countries
Passport	Globally accepted
All countries from where we also accept ID cards*	Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Japan**, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
All countries from where we also accept driver's license	Japan**, United Kingdom
*Only issued by an assigned agency in an EU country (EEA ID-card). Use this link to navigate to the relevant country, then select the B-Identity card section to find detailed screenshots and descriptions of the applicable EEA ID cards issued in that country (excluding Japan**). **Only accepted for clients contracting with Saxo Bank Securities Ltd.

Preferred file formats
The file format matters. Saxo prefers files in the following formats, as opposed to PDF.

• BMP (.bmp)
• JPEG (.jpg or .jpeg)
• PNG (.png)

Documentation requirements

1. Separate Pages for ID-card: Ensure the front and back sides of the ID-card are scanned or photographed on separate pages to maintain clarity and security.
2. No Light Reflections: When photographing documents, ensure there are no light reflections. Use indirect lighting and position the light source at an angle to minimize glare.
3. Clear and Legible Images: Verify that all details in the scanned or photographed documents are clear and legible.
4. Flat Surface and Steady Hand: Place the POI document on a flat surface and use a steady hand or a tripod to avoid blurriness.
5. No Photos of Photos: Avoid taking photos of other photos, as this can significantly reduce the quality and legibility.
6. Watermarks: Ensure watermarks are not placed on documents, as they can obscure important information. However, this standard is waived in the Netherlands due to the common use and government recommendation of watermarks on ID documents. For the Netherlands only, IDs with watermarks are acceptable if they meet the following conditions:
   • The watermark is applied using an app that leaves a transparent mark.
   • The watermark does not cover essential information, such as:
     • Photo
     • Name and last name
     • Date of birth
     • Expiry date
     • Document number
     • Alpha-numerical lines at the bottom

IDs in the Netherlands with watermarks will not be accepted if:

• The watermark is 'home-made' by editing with software like Paint or similar.
• Document information is obscured or unreadable due to the watermark.

1. No Stickers on the POI Document: Ensure there are no stickers that obscure the information.
2. Avoid Black and White Copies: Ensure documents are in color to maintain clarity and legibility.

Please note, outside of the Netherlands, watermarks on ID documents are not acceptable due to potential interference with fraud detection and data extraction processes.