Frequently Asked Questions

You’ll need to verify your identity to send 1,000 EUR or more. After verifying your identity, you can send up to 5,000 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

To verify your identity during an online transfer, follow the steps below:

1. Log in to your Western Union profile. If you don’t have a profile, create one.
2. Initiate a transfer of 1,000 EUR or more.
3. Enter the required details and select Continue.
4. Confirm your details on the Complete your profile page and select Continue.
5. Provide additional identity information and select Continue.
6. Choose a government-issued ID¹ to upload, enter its details, and select Next.
7. Review your transfer details and select Send.
8. Upload the document and select Upload.

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

Identity verification may take 30 minutes or more. If we need additional information, we’ll contact you via email.

¹ If you’ve sent money at a Western Union agent location, please use the same government-issued ID you used at the location. It helps in faster verification.

Note: Before you upload a proof of identity, please make sure of the following:

• Your picture, signature, birth date, expiration date, and any other important information are visible.
• The information matches that on your Western Union profile.
• The document is in PDF or JPG format.

Through video chat

To verify your identity via video chat, follow the steps below:

1. Log in to com or go to our app.
2. Select Profile 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 instructions to complete the verification.

Identity verification via video chat may take up to 4 hours. If we need additional information, we’ll contact you via email.

Note: Before you start the video verification, please make sure of the following:

• Enable access to your camera and microphone.
• Keep your documents ready.

You can provide any of the following documents to verify your identity:

• Your passport
• Your EU or EEA-issued ID
• Your Irish driving license

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 you are sending money from an agent location or need assistance processing your transfer, please bring any one of the following photo IDs with you:

• • Passport
• • EU/EEA ID
• • IE driving license

We will need to verify your identity when you send more than 999.99 EUR per transfer.

Once your profile is verified, you will be able to send up to 5000 EUR per transfer.

You can verify your identity through the following methods:

• Online on westernunion.com or the mobile app
• In person at an agent location

1. Log in to your Western Union profile and initiate a transfer of more than 999.99 EUR to start the ID verification process. If you don’t have a profile yet, create one on westernunion.com or the mobile app.

If you are already a mobile app user, make sure your app is up to date.

2. Confirm your detail:

• Save time by making sure your name indicated in the profile matches your ID document.
• If you have sent money at a Western Union location, please provide the same ID details used for the most recent retail transaction, so that you will be verified more quickly.
• You do not have to do anything while we verify the information in your profile.
• After your identity is verified, you will receive a confirmation email.

Do we need more information from you?

In case additional information is required we will request you to upload the corresponding documentation to the system or send it to us (as PDFs or JPGs) at accountnameverification@wu.com

Save time by making sure your documents are clear and easy to read before sending them.

1. PHOTO ID
Accepted documents:

• Passport
• EU/EEA ID
• IE driving license

Your copy must include the front and the back of your ID document.

Your photo ID document must be valid and complete.

The Information must match your Western Union profile.

Signature on ID document or signature page must be visible (if applicable).

2. PROOF OF PAYMENT

Using a credit or debit card:

If requested, upload an image of your credit or debit card. Make sure the image contains:

• Your full name
• Last four digits of the card number
• Bank name, and logo

Using bank-funded transfer:

If requested, send us the required document (as PDFs or JPGs) to our accountnameverification@wu.com email address and make sure that it would display the details below:

• The date (less than 90 days old)
• Your full name (first, middle, and last names) as they appear on your ID and your Western Union profile
• Your bank IBAN used for placing a transaction
• The issuing company’s name and logo

After your identity is verified, you will receive a confirmation email.

If you need to send money now, please visit a nearby Western Union agent location.