> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.usebila.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Individual Verification (KYC)

> Step-by-step guide to creating your Bila account and completing identity verification as an individual merchant.

Getting started on Bila is a two-part process. First you complete **registration** to create your account, then you **log in and complete identity verification** before you can collect or send money.

<Warning>
  You will not be able to collect or send money until your identity verification is complete. Start verification as soon as your account is created to avoid delays.
</Warning>

***

## Part 1 — Registration

Registration takes you through **4 steps**:

| Step  | Name         | What happens                                              |
| ----- | ------------ | --------------------------------------------------------- |
| **1** | Business     | Choose account type, enter your name, select intended use |
| **2** | Personal     | Enter your name, email, phone, and settlement account     |
| **3** | Verification | Placeholder step — verification happens after you log in  |
| **4** | Security     | Create your password and agree to Terms of Service        |

### Step 1 — Business

**Account type**

Select **Individual** — *For personal use*.

**Business name**

Enter the name you want to appear on your payment links and invoices.

**Intended use**

Select all that apply:

* Accept payments on my own website
* Use Bila's product store
* Receive bank transfers directly
* Get paid by sharing payment links
* Track and manage business expenses
* Use Bila's suite of APIs

Click **Continue →** to proceed.

***

### Step 2 — Personal Details

The following fields are **required**:

| Field             | Notes                                                                                                        |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **First name**    | Your legal first name                                                                                        |
| **Last name**     | Your legal last name                                                                                         |
| **Email Address** | A valid email address. Bila checks availability in real time and shows **Email is available** when confirmed |
| **Phone Number**  | Your mobile number with country code pre-selected (e.g. ZM +260)                                             |

**Settlement account**

Set up where your payouts are sent:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Mobile Money">
    | Field                   | Required | Notes                                                     |
    | ----------------------- | -------- | --------------------------------------------------------- |
    | **Account type**        | Yes      | Select **Mobile Money** — supports Airtel, MTN, or Zamtel |
    | **Mobile money number** | Yes      | Your mobile money number (e.g. `0977433571`)              |
    | **Transfer type**       | Auto     | Set to **Mobile Money** automatically                     |

    Settlement details shown automatically:

    > **Arrives same day • Fee: 2% • K15.00 transfer fee**

    Once your number is entered, Bila resolves and displays your registered account name as confirmation before you continue.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Bank Account">
    | Field              | Required | Notes                                         |
    | ------------------ | -------- | --------------------------------------------- |
    | **Account type**   | ✅ Yes    | Select **Bank Account** — local bank transfer |
    | **Bank**           | ✅ Yes    | Select your bank from the dropdown            |
    | **Transfer type**  | ✅ Yes    | Select how quickly you want funds to arrive   |
    | **Account number** | ✅ Yes    | Your bank account number (e.g. `1234567890`)  |
    | **Bank branch**    | ✅ Yes    | Your bank branch (e.g. *Lusaka Main Branch*)  |

    **Transfer types**

    | Type                | Arrival           | Fee | Transfer fee |
    | ------------------- | ----------------- | --- | ------------ |
    | **Standard (DDAC)** | Next business day | 2%  | K20.00       |
    | **Express (RTGS)**  | Same day          | 2%  | K50.00       |
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

Click **Continue →** to proceed.

***

### Step 3 — Security

Create your account password:

| Field                                   | Notes                                                        |
| --------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Password**                            | Must be at least **8 characters**                            |
| **Confirm Password**                    | Must match the password above exactly                        |
| **Terms of Service and Privacy Policy** | You must check the box to agree before creating your account |

Click **Create Account →** to complete registration. You will receive a confirmation email — then log in to begin identity verification.

***

## Part 2 — Identity Verification

After logging in, you will be prompted to verify your identity. Click **Start verification** to begin — this opens a popup where you first accept the terms and conditions, then proceed through the following steps.

<Tip>
  At any point during verification you can tap **Continue on phone** to switch to your mobile device. This is strongly recommended for the document capture and selfie steps — phone cameras produce better results than most laptop cameras.
</Tip>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Applicant Data">
    Enter your personal information exactly as it appears on your identity document. Any mismatch with the document you submit later will cause a rejection.

    | Field                     | Notes                                  |
    | ------------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
    | **First name**            | As shown on your ID                    |
    | **Last name**             | As shown on your ID                    |
    | **Date of birth**         | Format: dd/mm/yyyy                     |
    | **Nationality**           | Your country of citizenship            |
    | **Tax residence country** | The country where you are tax resident |
  </Step>

  <Step title="Email Verification">
    A **6-digit code** is sent to your registered email address. Enter the code to confirm ownership. If you don't receive it within a minute, check your spam folder or click **Resend**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Phone Verification">
    Your registered phone number is verified. Keep your phone nearby and switched on so you can receive the prompt without delay.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Identity Document">
    Upload a clear photo or scan of one of the following accepted documents:

    * **Driver's license**
    * **ID card (NRC)**
    * **Residence permit**
    * **Passport**

    The document must be valid, undamaged, and not expired. See the [Document & Photo Quality Guide](#document--photo-quality-guide) below before uploading.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Selfie">
    Take a **live photo using your webcam or phone camera** so the system can confirm you are the person in the identity document. You must be well-lit, facing the camera directly, with no hat, sunglasses, or face covering. An automated check is performed against your ID photo.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Proof of Address">
    Upload a document confirming your current residential address. Accepted documents:

    * Bank statement dated within the last **90 days**
    * Residential lease agreement

    The document must clearly show your **full name** and **current address**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Questionnaire — Bila Merchant Profile">
    Complete the Bila Merchant Profile questionnaire. One of the key questions is:

    **Is your business formally registered?**

    As an individual merchant, select **No, I operate informally**. No additional documents are required beyond this point.

    Answer all remaining questions honestly — your responses are reviewed as part of the verification assessment.
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Document & Photo Quality Guide

Poor quality images are the most common reason for verification delays and rejections. Follow these standards to get verified on your first attempt.

### The rules

<Steps>
  <Step title="Use the original physical document">
    Always photograph the **original document** — never a photocopy, printed copy, or a photo of a screen. Our system detects scans of scans and will reject them automatically.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Capture the entire document">
    The **full document must be visible** in the frame — all four corners, all edges. Never crop any part of the document. If it has a front and back, submit both sides.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Ensure all text is sharp and readable">
    Every character — your name, date of birth, document number, expiry date — must be **legible at normal size**. Zoom in on the photo after taking it and confirm every field is readable before submitting.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Use good, even lighting">
    Photograph in a **well-lit space** with light coming from the front of the document. Natural daylight works best. Avoid dark rooms and direct overhead lighting that creates harsh shadows.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Eliminate glare and reflections">
    Glare on laminated documents is a common rejection cause. **Tilt the document slightly** away from the light source to redirect reflections away from the camera. Never use direct flash on a laminated surface.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Keep the document flat and still">
    Place the document on a **flat, dark, non-reflective surface**. Hold your camera steady or rest your hand to avoid motion blur.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### What to avoid

| Avoid                                   | Why it causes rejection                      |
| --------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| Photos of a screen showing the document | Detected as a digital copy — not an original |
| Screenshots of documents                | Not accepted under any circumstances         |
| Photocopies or printed scans            | Do not show original security features       |
| Blurry or out-of-focus images           | Text cannot be verified                      |
| Cropped images missing edges or corners | Document authenticity cannot be confirmed    |
| Dark or shadowy photos                  | Text is unreadable in low light              |
| Flash glare on laminated surfaces       | Obscures personal data and security features |
| Expired documents                       | Cannot be used for identity verification     |
| Damaged or heavily worn documents       | May not pass automated or manual review      |

### Accepted file formats

| Format     | Max file size |
| ---------- | ------------- |
| PDF        | 10 MB         |
| JPEG / JPG | 10 MB         |
| PNG        | 10 MB         |

### Selfie standards

* Look **directly at the camera** — front-facing, not at an angle
* Your **full face must be visible** — no hats, sunglasses, scarves, or face coverings
* Use **even lighting** — no harsh shadows across your face
* Use a **plain, light background** behind you
* Match your appearance to your ID photo as closely as possible

***

## Verification Status

After submitting, your verification goes into review. You will be notified by email of the outcome.

| Status                             | What it means                                                                                |
| ---------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Pending**                        | Your submission is under review                                                              |
| **Approved**                       | Verification complete — you can now collect and send money                                   |
| **Rejected**                       | Verification was unsuccessful — check the rejection details, correct the issue, and resubmit |
| **Additional documents requested** | The compliance team needs more information — check your email and respond promptly           |

<Note>
  If your verification is rejected, review the rejection reason carefully before resubmitting. Submitting the same documents without addressing the flagged issue will result in another rejection.
</Note>

***

## What's Next

Once your verification is approved you will receive a confirmation email. Your account is now fully active and you can:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Accept Payments" icon="money-bill-wave" href="/docs/guide/payments">
    Start collecting payments from your customers via mobile money.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Create Payment Links" icon="link" href="/docs/guide/payment-links">
    Generate shareable payment links in seconds — no website needed.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Set Up Your Product Store" icon="store" href="/docs/guide/product-store">
    List your products and start selling through your Bila storefront.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Create Invoices" icon="file-invoice" href="/docs/guide/invoices">
    Send professional invoices to your customers and get paid instantly.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***

## Related

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Business Verification" icon="building" href="/docs/guide/kyb-business-verification">
    Registering a business? See the business verification guide.
  </Card>

  <Card title="KYC Statuses" icon="shield-check" href="/docs/guide/kyc-statuses">
    Understand your verification status and what each one means.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Wallets & Settlements" icon="building-columns" href="/docs/guide/wallet-settlements">
    Set up and manage your settlement accounts after verification.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Report a Bug" icon="bug" href="/docs/guide/report-a-bug">
    Something not working during verification? Report it directly from your dashboard.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>