Frequently Asked Questions

You can provide any one of the following:

• • Your passport
  • Your travel document (for foreigners only)
  • Your EU/EEA-issued ID and Switzerland ID card (Aufenthaltsgestattung and Aufenthaltstitel are NOT acceptable)
  • Your diplomatic passport
  • Your DE residency permit

You’ll need to verify your identity to send 1000 EUR or more. After your identity has been verified, you’ll be able to send up to 50000 EUR per transfer.

You can verify your identity in any of the following ways:

• During an online transfer
• Through video chat

During an online transfer

You just need to do the following:

1. Log in to your profile and initiate a transfer of 1000 EUR or more. If you don’t have a profile yet, create one on?westernunion.com?or our?mobile app.
2. Enter the required details and select Continue.
3. Confirm your details on the Complete your profile page and select Continue.
4. Provide additional identity information and select Continue.
5. Choose a government-issued ID¹ to upload, enter its details, and select Next.
6. Review your transfer details and select Send.
7. Upload the document and select Upload.

You may also need to upload your credit or debit card details as a Proof of funds.

We may take 30 minutes or more to verify your identity. If we need additional information, we’ll request you to send it to id@westernunion.com

¹If you sent a transfer at a Western Union agent location before, please use the same government-issued ID that you used at the location.  

Note: Before you upload a copy of your documents, be sure of the following:

• Your picture, signature, birthdate, expiration date, and any other important information are clearly visible.
• The information matches that on your Western Union profile.
• Your documents are in PDF or JPG formats.

Through video chat

To initiate identity verification by video chat, please do the following:

1. Log in to westernunion.com or go to our app.
2. Select the Profile    icon at the top right and choose Start verification now.
3. Select Computer and webcam or Smartphone as the medium of video chat.
4. Follow the instruction to complete the verification.

Note:

• Please enable access to your camera and microphone before you start the video chat. Also, keep your documents ready.

• We may take  around 4 hours to verify your identity. Once your identity verification is successful, we’ll send you a confirmation email.

If we need additional information from you, we’ll request you to send it to id@westernunion.com.  Please note that the documents should be sent as PDFs or JPGs. Also, be sure your documents are clear and easy to read.  

Sometimes we might need additional information to verify your profile or transfer details. We may reach out to you via phone call, SMS, or email.

You can send us any of the following documents:

• Your passport
• Your national identification card
• Your resident permit¹
• Your travel documents

¹Aufenthaltsgestattung and Aufenthaltstitel are not acceptable.

Note:

• You must send a copy of both the front and the back of your ID document.
• Your information must be visible and match that on your profile.
• Your signature on your identity document must be visible.

You’ll need to verify your identity to send 1000 EUR or more. After your identity has been verified, you’ll be able to send up to 50000 EUR per transfer.

You can verify your identity in any of the following ways:

• During an online transfer
• Through video chat

During an online transfer

You just need to do the following:

1. Log in to your profile and initiate a transfer of 1000 EUR or more. If you don’t have a profile yet, create one on?westernunion.com?or our?mobile app.
2. Enter the required details and select Continue.
3. Confirm your details on the Complete your profile page and select Continue.
4. Provide additional identity information and select Continue.
5. Choose a government-issued ID¹ to upload, enter its details, and select Next.
6. Review your transfer details and select Send.
7. Upload the document and select Upload.

You may also need to upload your credit or debit card details as a Proof of funds.

We may take 30 minutes or more to verify your identity. If we need additional information, we’ll request you to send it to id@westernunion.com

¹If you sent a transfer at a Western Union agent location before, please use the same government-issued ID that you used at the location.  

Note: Before you upload a copy of your documents, be sure of the following:

• Your picture, signature, birthdate, expiration date, and any other important information are clearly visible.
• The information matches that on your Western Union profile.
• Your documents are in PDF or JPG formats.

Through video chat

To initiate identity verification by video chat, please do the following:

1. Log in to westernunion.com or go to our app.
2. Select the Profile    icon at the top right and choose Start verification now.
3. Select Computer and webcam or Smartphone as the medium of video chat.
4. Follow the instruction to complete the verification.

Note:

• Please enable access to your camera and microphone before you start the video chat. Also, keep your documents ready.

• We may take  around 4 hours to verify your identity. Once your identity verification is successful, we’ll send you a confirmation email.

All financial institutions, including Western Union, are required to collect additional identity information to know their customers better. When we understand who is sending money to whom, we can help protect your money from being used for illegal activities.

Note: You must be at least 18 years old to send or receive money with Western Union.

We might ask you for additional details to verify your identity when sending money online. 

If we need additional information from you, we’ll request you to send it to id@westernunion.com.  Please note that the documents should be sent as PDFs or JPGs. Also, be sure your documents are clear and easy to read.