KYC and KYB - What are the Requirements?

💡 To open a payment account with Lemonway, the account holder must provide identity documents so they can be verified by Lemonway. Under the regulations on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT), Lemonway is required to verify the identity of its customers (KYC — Know Your Customer) and legal entities (KYB — Know Your Business).

The information and documents required depend on:

  • the account type (Individual, Sole Trader, Company, Association)
  • the platform activity (Marketplace, Crowdfunding, Invoice Trading, Value Added Services, etc.)
  • the user's role (Investor, Seller, Project Holder, Content Editor, etc.)

⚠️ Some information may be requested conditionally during the onboarding journey, depending on the user's profile and risk level.

 

1. ✅ Document Validity Requirements
2. 🌍 Accepted Languages
3. 🎰 Crowdfunding Moneypot
4. 🎁 Crowdfunding Donation
5. 🛒 Marketplace / E-commerce
6. 🤝 Crowdlending
7. 📈 Crowdequity
8. 🧾 Invoice Trading
9. 📞 Value Added Services
10. ⏱️ Processing Times

 

1. ✅ Document Validity Requirements

Before submitting your documents, make sure they meet all of the following criteria:

Criterion Detail
Validity Document must be current (not expired)
Legibility Sharp, without blur, glare, or obstruction
Completeness No cropped edges — all information visible, including the last 2 lines (MRZ)
Colour Colour photos only — black & white and photocopies not accepted
Original Physical original documents only — reproductions, scans, and PDFs sent by email not accepted
Name match The name on the document must exactly match the name registered on the account

⚠️ If a document is rejected, the reason can be found in the Documents tab of the relevant account (Lemonway Dashboard). A document may be resubmitted up to 2 times; beyond that, a manual review is carried out by a KYC analyst.

 

2. 🌍 Accepted Languages

These requirements apply regardless of the account holder's country of registration or residence.

💡 Documents must be written in the Latin alphabet. Accepted languages: 🇫🇷 French · 🇬🇧 English · 🇩🇪 German · 🇪🇸 Spanish · 🇮🇹 Italian.

⚠️ If a document is written in another language or uses a non-Latin alphabet, a certified / sworn translation must be provided alongside the original document.

 

3. 🎰 Crowdfunding Moneypot

A platform enabling a project holder to collect contributions (pooled funds) to finance a personal or collective cause.

Profile Role Verification required?
Donor Payer ❌ No
Project holder Beneficiary ✅ Yes

 

👤 Project Holder — Individual

📎 Documents to provide

Document Notes
1 identity document
(your choice, currently valid)
National identity card (front and back)
Passport
European residence permit (front and back)

📋 Information to provide

Category Fields
Identity First name · Last name · Date of birth · City of birth · Country of birth · Nationality(ies) · (Other name)
⚠️ Province of birth: required if country of birth = Italy
⚠️ Tax code: required if nationality or country of birth = Italy
Contact & address Email · Phone · Street · Postcode · City · Country · (Address line 2)
⚠️ Province: required if country = Italy
PEP PEP status (Yes / No)
⚠️ If PEP = Yes: Position · Other position · Start date · (End date)
⚠️ If PEP = Yes and a close relation is concerned: Full name of the close relation
Legal capacity Type of legal capacity
⚠️ Type of protection: required if protected adult
⚠️ Other type of protection: required if protected adult and type = other
Professional situation Occupation
Financial situation Annual income · Estimated wealth
⚠️ IFI Wealth Tax: required if country of residence = France
Project description Project type
⚠️ Project description and website: required if type = charitable or other

 

4. 🎁 Crowdfunding Donation

A donation-based crowdfunding platform enabling a project holder to collect contributions without financial return for donors.

Profile Entity type Role Verification required?
Donor Individual / Company / Association Payer ❌ No
Project holder Individual / Sole Trader / Company / Association Beneficiary ✅ Yes

 

👤 Project Holder — Individual

📎 Documents to provide

Document Notes
1 identity document
(your choice, currently valid)
National identity card (front and back)
Passport
European residence permit (front and back)

📋 Information to provide

Category Fields
Identity First name · Last name · Date of birth · City of birth · Country of birth · Nationality(ies) · (Other name)
⚠️ Province of birth: required if country of birth = Italy
⚠️ Tax code: required if nationality or country of birth = Italy
Contact & address Email · Phone · Street · Postcode · City · Country · (Address line 2)
⚠️ Province: required if country = Italy
PEP PEP status (Yes / No)
⚠️ If PEP = Yes: Position · Start date · (End date)
⚠️ If PEP = Yes and a close relation is concerned: Full name of the close relation
Legal capacity Type of legal capacity
⚠️ Type of protection: required if protected adult
Professional situation Occupation
Financial situation Annual income · Estimated wealth
⚠️ IFI Wealth Tax: required if country of residence = France
Project description Project type
⚠️ Project description and website: required if type = charitable or other

 

🏪 Project Holder — Sole Trader / Self-Employed

📎 Documents to provide

Document Notes
Company register extract or registration / creation document Dated less than 3 months ago (where applicable) · Entity name · Full address · Registration number (if applicable) · Date of creation · Description of activity
Legal representative's identity document National identity card, passport, or European residence permit — currently valid
In the event of a power of attorney, both parties must each provide an identity document

📋 Information to provide

Category Fields
General information Name · Legal form · Registration date · Website · (Trading name) · (Registration number) · (VAT number)
⚠️ Reason for no website: required if the business has no website
⚠️ Tax code: required if country = Italy
Activity NACE code · Description · Destination country of funds · Business address
⚠️ ATECO / SAE codes: required if country = Italy
⚠️ Reason and countries: required if destination country ≠ country of registration
Declarations Prohibited activities (Yes / No) · Presence in a high-risk country (Yes / No)
Project description Description · Project website
LR — Identity First name · Last name · Date of birth · City of birth · Country of birth · Nationality(ies) · (Other name)
⚠️ Province and Tax code: required if country = Italy
LR — Contact & address Email · Phone · Street · Postcode · City · Country · (Address line 2)
⚠️ Province: required if country = Italy
LR — PEP PEP status (Yes / No)
⚠️ If PEP = Yes: Position · Start date · (End date)
⚠️ If PEP = Yes and a close relation is concerned: Full name
LR — Financial situation Annual income · Estimated wealth
⚠️ IFI Wealth Tax: required if country = France

 

🏢 Project Holder — Company

📎 Documents to provide

Document What it must contain / notes
Company register extract
(Kbis or equivalent)
Dated less than 3 months ago · Legal name · Full registered address · Registration number · Date of incorporation · Business description / corporate purpose · Legal representative information: full name, date & place of birth, country of residence, nationality
Articles of Association
(latest version)
Legal name · Legal form · Registered address · Business activity · Internal governance: appointment process for legal representatives and shareholders, capital percentages or voting rights
Proof of authority of the legal representative Generally, the legal representative is listed in the company register extract. If not: a power of attorney signed by a person listed as legal representative. In the event of a power of attorney, both parties must provide an identity document.
UBO register EU countries: extract from the official UBO register · Non-EU countries: equivalent extract, or signed & dated org chart (<1 year), or latest Articles of Association (<1 year) · See: Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO)
Ownership structure Required if multi-layer or indirect shareholding · Names + registration numbers of companies, names of natural persons + percentages · Dated and signed by the legal representative · Applicable for all countries
Identity documents Of the legal representative AND each UBO · National identity card, passport, or European residence permit (currently valid)

⚠️ Multi-layer shareholding: when a company is owned by one or more other companies, a full org chart tracing back to natural persons is mandatory — applicable to all countries, with or without an official UBO register.

📋 Information to provide

Category Fields
Company Legal name · Legal form · Registration number · Date of incorporation · Website · NACE code · Business description
Legal representative First name · Last name · Date & place of birth · Country of residence (at minimum) · Nationality · PEP status
UBOs Full name · Date & place of birth (at minimum the country) · Country of residence · Nationality

 

🤝 Project Holder — Association / NGO / Charity

📎 Documents to provide

Document What it must contain / notes
Creation or registration document Name · Address · Registration number (if applicable) · Date of creation · Description of activities · How the entity is funded
Articles of Association / Bylaws
(latest version)
Legal name · Purpose · Registered address · Internal governance: board appointment process, roles and powers · Latest board minutes with up-to-date member list (if not included in the bylaws)
Proof of authority of the legal representative Bylaws or up-to-date list of board members · Must state: full name and role of person(s) authorised to bind the entity
Legal representative's identity document National identity card, passport, or European residence permit (currently valid) · In the event of a power of attorney, both parties must provide an identity document

💡 Associations generally do not have UBOs. Board members are treated as such for compliance screening. If beneficial owners are identified in the bylaws, they are subject to the same requirements.

📋 Information to provide

Category Fields
Association Name · Address · Registration number (if applicable) · Date of creation · Corporate purpose
Legal representative First name · Last name · Date & place of birth · Country of residence · Nationality · PEP status

 

5. 🛒 Marketplace / E-commerce

A platform connecting buyers and sellers for the sale of goods or services.

Profile Entity type Role Verification required?
Buyer Individual Payer ❌ No (in general)
Seller / Beneficiary Individual / Sole Trader / Company / Listed Company / Association Beneficiary ✅ Yes

 

👤 Seller — Individual

📎 Documents to provide

Document Notes
1 identity document
(your choice, currently valid)
National identity card (front and back)
Passport
European residence permit (front and back)

💡 A bank account statement (IBAN / RIB) will be requested for any outgoing wire transfer.

📋 Information to provide

Category Fields
Identity First name · Last name · Date of birth · City of birth · Country of birth · Nationality(ies) · (Other name)
⚠️ Province of birth: required if country of birth = Italy
⚠️ Tax code: required if nationality or country of birth = Italy
Contact & address Email · Phone · Street · Postcode · City · Country · (Address line 2)
⚠️ Province: required if country = Italy
PEP PEP status (Yes / No)
⚠️ If PEP = Yes: Position · Start date · (End date)
⚠️ If PEP = Yes and a close relation is concerned: Full name of the close relation
Legal capacity Type of legal capacity
⚠️ Type of protection: required if protected adult
Professional situation Occupation
Financial situation Annual income · Estimated wealth
⚠️ IFI Wealth Tax: required if country of residence = France

 

🏪 Seller — Sole Trader / Self-Employed

📎 Documents to provide

Document Notes
Company register extract or registration / creation document Dated less than 3 months ago (where applicable) · Entity name · Full address · Registration number (if applicable) · Date of creation · Description of activity
Legal representative's identity document National identity card, passport, or European residence permit — currently valid
In the event of a power of attorney, both parties must each provide an identity document

📋 Information to provide

Category Fields
General information Name · Legal form · Registration date · Website · (Trading name) · (Registration number) · (VAT number)
⚠️ Reason for no website: required if the business has no website
⚠️ Tax code: required if country = Italy
Activity NACE code · Description · Destination country of funds · Business address
⚠️ ATECO / SAE codes: required if country = Italy
⚠️ Reason and countries: required if destination country ≠ country of registration
Declarations Prohibited activities (Yes / No) · Presence in a high-risk country (Yes / No)
LR — Identity First name · Last name · Date of birth · City of birth · Country of birth · Nationality(ies) · (Other name)
⚠️ Province and Tax code: required if country = Italy
LR — Contact & address Email · Phone · Street · Postcode · City · Country · (Address line 2)
⚠️ Province: required if country = Italy
LR — PEP PEP status (Yes / No)
⚠️ If PEP = Yes: Position · Start date · (End date)
⚠️ If PEP = Yes and a close relation is concerned: Full name
LR — Financial situation Annual income · Estimated wealth
⚠️ IFI Wealth Tax: required if country = France

 

🏢 Seller — Company (Ltd, PLC and equivalents)

📎 Documents to provide

Document What it must contain / notes
Company register extract
(Kbis or equivalent)
Dated less than 3 months ago · Legal name · Full registered address · Registration number · Date of incorporation · Business description / corporate purpose · Legal representative information: full name, date & place of birth, country of residence, nationality
Articles of Association
(latest version)
Legal name · Legal form · Registered address · Business activity · Internal governance: appointment process for legal representatives and shareholders, capital percentages or voting rights
Proof of authority of the legal representative Generally, the legal representative is listed in the company register extract. If not: a power of attorney signed by a person listed as legal representative. In the event of a power of attorney, both parties must provide an identity document.
UBO register EU countries: extract from the official UBO register · Non-EU countries: equivalent extract, or signed & dated org chart (<1 year), or latest Articles of Association (<1 year) · See: Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO)
Ownership structure Required if multi-layer or indirect shareholding · Names + registration numbers of companies, names of natural persons + percentages · Dated and signed by the legal representative · Applicable for all countries
Identity documents Of the legal representative AND each UBO · National identity card, passport, or European residence permit (currently valid)

⚠️ Multi-layer shareholding: when a company is owned by one or more other companies, a full org chart tracing back to natural persons is mandatory — applicable to all countries, with or without an official UBO register.

📋 Information to provide

Category Fields
Company Legal name · Legal form · Registration number · Date of incorporation · Website · NACE code · Business description
Legal representative First name · Last name · Date & place of birth · Country of residence (at minimum) · Nationality · PEP status
UBOs Full name · Date & place of birth (at minimum the country) · Country of residence · Nationality

 

📈 Seller — Listed Company

📎 Documents to provide

Document Notes
Company register extract Dated less than 3 months ago — same content requirements as non-listed companies
Proof of authority of the legal representative Same as for non-listed companies
Proof of stock exchange listing Page of the relevant stock exchange showing the company's details
Legal representative's identity document National identity card, passport, or European residence permit (currently valid)

💡 If shares are not at least 76% publicly held, all shareholders owning or controlling more than 25% are subject to UBO verification requirements.

 

🤝 Seller — Association / NGO / Charity

💡 The requirements for this profile are identical to the Project Holder — Association (Crowdfunding Donation) section.

 

6. 🤝 Crowdlending

A platform connecting lenders (investors) with project holders seeking to finance a loan. Investors receive repayment of the principal plus interest.

Profile Entity type Role Verification required?
Lender / Investor Individual / Company Payer ✅ Yes
Borrower / Project holder Individual / Company Beneficiary ✅ Yes

⚠️ Both profiles (lender and borrower) are subject to identity verification.

 

👤 Lender / Investor — Individual

Same requirements as Project Holder — Individual (Crowdfunding Donation), with the following addition:

📋 Additional — Financial situation (investor profile)

Category Additional fields
Financial situation
(enhanced)
Annual income · Estimated wealth · Source of funds: Income (salary, bonuses) · Savings · Real estate · Donation or inheritance · Sale of investment portfolio · Sale of business shares · Gambling winnings · Life insurance redemption · Crypto, gold, currencies · Financial investments · Other (please specify)
⚠️ IFI Wealth Tax: required if country of residence = France

 

🏢 Lender / Investor — Company

💡 The requirements for this profile are identical to the Seller — Company (Marketplace) section.

 

👤 Borrower / Project Holder — Individual

💡 The requirements for this profile are identical to the Project Holder — Individual (Crowdfunding Donation) section.

 

🏢 Borrower / Project Holder — Company

💡 The requirements for this profile are identical to the Project Holder — Company (Crowdfunding Donation) section.

 

7. 📈 Crowdequity

A platform connecting capital investors with project holders. Investors receive financial securities (shares, bonds) in exchange for their investment.

Profile Entity type Role Verification required?
Investor Individual / Company Payer ✅ Yes
Project holder Individual / Company / Association Beneficiary ✅ Yes

⚠️ Both profiles are subject to identity verification.

 

👤 Investor — Individual

💡 The requirements for this profile are identical to the Lender / Investor — Individual (Crowdlending) section.

 

🏢 Investor — Company

💡 The requirements for this profile are identical to the Seller — Company (Marketplace) section.

 

👤 Project Holder — Individual

💡 The requirements for this profile are identical to the Project Holder — Individual (Crowdfunding Donation) section.

 

🏢 Project Holder — Company

💡 The requirements for this profile are identical to the Project Holder — Company (Crowdfunding Donation) section.

 

🤝 Project Holder — Association

💡 The requirements for this profile are identical to the Project Holder — Association (Crowdfunding Donation) section.

 

8. 🧾 Invoice Trading (Crowdfactoring)

A platform connecting creditors (businesses with outstanding invoices) with investors who finance those invoices. The debtor repays investors at maturity.

Profile Entity type Role Verification required?
Investor Individual / Company Payer ✅ Yes
Creditor (assignor) Sole Trader / Company Beneficiary ✅ Yes
Debtor Company Third-party payer ❌ No (in general)

⚠️ Invoice Trading platforms are subject to the European Crowdfunding Service Provider (ECSP) regulation. Lemonway may request the partner platform to provide the relevant regulatory licences and authorisations for each country of operation.

 

👤 Investor — Individual

💡 The requirements for this profile are identical to the Lender / Investor — Individual (Crowdlending) section.

 

🏢 Investor — Company

💡 The requirements for this profile are identical to the Seller — Company (Marketplace) section.

 

🏪 Creditor — Sole Trader

💡 The requirements for this profile are identical to the Seller — Sole Trader (Marketplace) section.

 

🏢 Creditor — Company

💡 The requirements for this profile are identical to the Project Holder — Company (Crowdfunding Donation) section.

 

9. 📞 Value Added Services (VAS)

An intermediary platform between telecom operators and content editors (e.g. premium-rate numbers, voice services). The operator collects payments from its subscribers and transfers funds to content editors.

Profile Entity type Role Verification required?
Operator Company Payer ✅ Yes
Content editor Individual / Sole Trader / Company Beneficiary ✅ Yes
Other operator Sole Trader / Company Beneficiary ✅ Yes

 

🏢 Operator — Company

💡 The requirements for this profile are identical to the Seller — Company (Marketplace) section.

 

👤 Content Editor — Individual

💡 The requirements for this profile are identical to the Seller — Individual (Marketplace) section.

 

🏪 Content Editor — Sole Trader

💡 The requirements for this profile are identical to the Seller — Sole Trader (Marketplace) section.

 

🏢 Content Editor / Other Operator — Company

💡 The requirements for this profile are identical to the Seller — Company (Marketplace) section.

 

10. ⏱️ Processing Times

⏱️ Once received, your documents are reviewed within a maximum of 48 business hours. 👉 Learn more

💡 Lemonway reserves the right to request any additional document or information needed to carry out the appropriate verifications in compliance with its legal obligations.

Need help? 👉 Contact us here

 

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