Prop Firm KYC Requirements: What Documents You Need

KYC stands for Know Your Customer, the identity check every legitimate prop firm runs before it pays you. It's not optional and it's not red tape, it's a legal and anti-fraud requirement. The traders who get tripped up aren't the ones who refuse it, they're the ones who weren't prepared and lose a week to a fixable document problem right when they want their payout.

Here's exactly what to have ready.

The documents you'll need

Government-issued photo ID. A passport, national ID card, or driver's license. It must be valid (not expired), clear, and show your full legal name and date of birth. Passports cause the fewest problems because the format is standard worldwide.

Proof of address. A utility bill, bank statement, or official government letter, usually dated within the last three months. It must show your name and address matching your account registration. Mobile phone bills and screenshots are often rejected, use a proper document.

Sometimes a selfie or liveness check. Larger accounts or higher-risk jurisdictions may require a photo of you holding your ID, or a short video liveness check. This confirms the ID belongs to you.

Why firms require KYC

Three reasons, all legitimate. Anti-money-laundering law requires firms to know who they're paying. Fraud prevention stops one person from farming multiple accounts or using stolen identities. And tax compliance means the firm has to report payouts correctly.

A firm that doesn't do KYC is the bigger worry, it suggests it isn't operating to the standards a real financial business must. KYC is a sign the firm is legitimate, not a hurdle it's putting in your way. See our guide on whether prop firms are legit.

The one mistake that delays everyone

A name mismatch. The name on your trading account must match the name on your ID, exactly. Register as "Mike Smith" but your passport says "Michael Smith" and verification stalls until you resolve it, usually right when you're trying to withdraw your first payout.

Fix it before you start: register your account with your full legal name as it appears on your ID. No nicknames, no shortened versions, no missing middle names if your ID has them. This single habit prevents the most common KYC delay there is.

How to get verified fast

Prepare both documents before you pass the evaluation, so verification doesn't become the bottleneck between you and your first payout. Make sure your ID is in date and your proof of address is recent. Photograph documents in good light, flat, with all four corners visible and text readable.

Submit everything in one go rather than piecemeal. A complete, clean submission clears in a day or two. A partial one bounces back and restarts the clock. The full sequence is in our verification process guide.

How TradersYard handles KYC

TradersYard runs standard KYC as an EU-compliant firm, then processes payouts in under 4 hours once you're verified. Registering with your legal name and preparing your ID and proof of address upfront means verification rarely slows you down.

Entry starts at £31 with a 14-day money-back guarantee. Start your evaluation, or see how the process works. KYC is a standard regulatory practice across financial services; Investopedia explains the framework.