Passing the FxPro identity check first time

What passes first time

A document passes when it is current, complete and matches the details you entered on the form. That means all four edges visible, no glare across the text, and the name and address spelled exactly as they appear in your account profile. A photograph taken flat on a table beats a angled shot every time.

For identity, the document needs a photograph and an expiry date you can read. For address, it needs your name and the address from the form, and it needs to be recent enough to be accepted as current proof. We are not quoting a validity window here because the requirement is set by the broker at the time you apply, so check the upload screen for the current wording.

Upload the files in the format the portal asks for and keep the originals. A resized or heavily compressed image is one of the quieter reasons a document comes back, because the reviewer cannot read a number that the compression has smeared.

What sends a document back

The most common return is an address mismatch: the form says one thing, the statement says another, and the reviewer has no way to reconcile them. Fix the profile first if the form is wrong, then upload, rather than uploading and hoping the difference is ignored.

The second common return is a cropped or partial document. A statement screenshot that shows the balance but cuts off the header loses the name and address that make it usable. Capture the whole page, including the parts that look irrelevant.

The third is expiry. An expired identity document fails regardless of how clear the image is, so check the date before you photograph it. If it is close to expiring, deal with the renewal first; a document that passes today can create a second review later.

Why finish it before the first deposit

Completing verification before you deposit separates two problems that are miserable to untangle together. If the account is verified and the deposit then fails, you know the issue is on the payment side; if both are pending at once, you cannot tell which one to fix.

It also means the first withdrawal is not the moment you discover a document problem. Withdrawal requests are where identity checks tend to resurface, and an account verified in advance meets that request with nothing outstanding.

Use our position size and margin calculators while you wait, so the first trade after approval is sized before the account is live rather than after. The wait is a good time to have the numbers settled.

The anti-money-laundering law behind every identity check

The check exists because Australian anti-money-laundering law requires it. Brokers that serve Australian residents must identify and verify each customer before opening a trading account or accepting funds, under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 and the rules set by AUSTRAC. FxPro is licensed by the FCA (UK) and CySEC; it does not hold an ASIC licence, so Australian residents deal with an offshore entity and that entity still applies equivalent identity verification before your account can trade gold (XAU/USD).

Verification is a legal gate, not a marketing step. Until identity is established, the broker cannot lawfully let you deposit and trade XAU/USD at up to 1:200 leverage. The documents you upload are checked against the name, date of birth and address you entered, and the file must be legible and current. The law puts the obligation on the broker, which is why the request comes from them and why it is not negotiable.

The requirement applies to every new account regardless of size or trading style. A 0.10-lot gold position needs about $85.50 margin at 1:200, but even that small exposure cannot be funded until the check clears. The purpose is to stop accounts being opened in false names or with laundered money, so the standard is the same whether you plan to trade once or daily. Expect the request at sign-up and treat it as part of opening the account, not an obstacle.

Document errors that get a verification rejected

Most rejections come from the same avoidable mistakes: cropped or glare-covered photos, expired documents, and details that do not match the account. A photo of a licence taken on a phone often loses a corner or catches a reflection, and the reviewer cannot read the name or expiry. The document must be current at the time of upload, not merely valid when you opened the account. Anything unreadable is treated as not provided.

Name mismatches are the next most common cause. If your licence shows a middle name but the account has only first and last, or a maiden name appears on one document and a married name on another, the file goes back. Use the exact spelling and order shown on your primary identity document. For proof of address, a bill in a partner's name or a statement addressed to a former address will fail even if the document itself is genuine and recent.

File quality matters as much as content. Screenshots, password-protected PDFs, black-and-white scans that lose the security features, and photos with fingers over the text are routinely rejected. Supply colour images of all four corners with the text sharp. If a document is double-sided, include both sides. The broker is checking authenticity as well as the details, so a clean, complete image saves a second review cycle and gets you to funded trading sooner.

What happens to money sent before verification is approved

A deposit made before approval is held, not traded. The funds may sit in the account as an unverified balance, and withdrawal or trading can be blocked until the documents clear. The exact treatment depends on the broker's internal process, but the practical effect is the same: your money is not working and you cannot place a XAU/USD order. Sending funds early does not speed up the check and can create a support query if the payment reference is unclear.

Funding by PayID or bank transfer before approval also creates a reconciliation task. The broker has to match an incoming payment to an account that is not yet open for trading, and if the name on the transfer differs from the account name, the payment may be held for review. That is one more reason to finish verification first: a clean payment from an account in your own name is easier to allocate than one arriving while the file is still pending.

The safe sequence is to upload documents, wait for approval, then deposit and trade. At up to 1:200 leverage a 0.10-lot gold position needs about $85.50 margin, so the amount at stake in a first deposit is often modest, but the delay risk is the same at any size. If you have already sent money, keep the transfer receipt and reference ready and contact support rather than sending a second payment, which complicates matching further.

The suitability questionnaire and how your answers change the account

The suitability questionnaire records your experience, objectives and risk tolerance, and the answers determine whether the account is opened as standard or with additional warnings. It does not change the maximum leverage cap of up to 1:200, which is a ceiling set for Australian clients, but it can affect the default settings and the warnings you see. The broker uses it to meet its conduct obligations, not to rank you as a trader.

Answers that indicate limited experience may trigger extra risk disclosures or a recommendation to use lower exposure, but they do not automatically block a gold account. The questionnaire is about matching the product to the person, so a stated objective of speculation with high risk tolerance reads differently from capital preservation. Inconsistent answers, such as claiming extensive experience while describing no prior trading, are the ones that prompt a follow-up.

The form is not a one-time formality. If your circumstances change materially, you can update it, and the broker may ask again at review. Treat the answers as accurate at the time you give them. Overstating experience to appear eligible is a poor trade: the product is the same, the leverage cap is the same, and the only difference is that the warnings no longer match your actual position, which helps nobody when a gold position moves against you.

Proof of address accepted in Australia and how recent it must be

Proof of address in Australia is normally a utility bill, a bank statement or an official government letter showing your name and residential address. The document must be recent, typically issued within the last three months, though the exact window depends on the broker's policy and the document type. A driver licence or passport proves identity, not address, so it does not substitute for a bill or statement in most reviews.

The address on the document must match the address on the account exactly, including unit numbers and postcode. A statement sent to a PO box, a mobile phone bill in someone else's name, or a document showing a former address will be rejected even if it is recent and genuine. If you have just moved, update the account address first and then supply a document that shows the new address, rather than sending a bill for the old one.

Digital statements are usually accepted if they are the original PDF from the provider, not a screenshot or a forwarded email. The reviewer needs to see the provider's branding, your name, the address and the issue date. If your bank statements are paperless, download the PDF rather than photographing the screen. When in doubt, send the most recent statement available and keep it within the stated recency window to avoid a second request.

When the name on the document and the name on the card differ

A mismatch between the name on your identity document and the name on the payment card or bank account is treated as a verification issue, not a minor detail. The broker needs to know the funds come from you, so a card in a partner's name, a joint account with a different primary holder, or a maiden name on the card and a married name on the licence will usually prompt a request for explanation or additional documents. The payment may be held while that is resolved.

The cleanest fix is to fund from an account in the same name as the trading account. If that is not possible, expect to provide a card statement or bank statement showing the name, plus a short explanation of the relationship, and in some cases a signed declaration. The broker's policy determines exactly what is accepted, but the principle is consistent: the source of funds must be traceable to the account holder.

Do not send a payment from a third party and assume it will be allocated automatically. A transfer from a friend or relative, or a card in a different name, can trigger a source-of-funds review before any XAU/USD order is possible. At up to 1:200 leverage a 0.10-lot gold position needs about $85.50 margin, so the sums involved may be small, but the name rule applies at every size and is easier to satisfy before you deposit.

checked 2026-09-29 · FxScouts, SafeForex, FxPro