To send money internationally from the UK, you generally need a government-issued photo ID, proof of UK address, and — for transfers above £5,000–£10,000 — documentation of the source of funds. Your provider will also verify the recipient’s name, IBAN or account number, and routing details (BIC or SWIFT code). Requirements scale with transfer size: small transfers may need only ID; larger transfers require enhanced due diligence under the UK’s Money Laundering Regulations 2017.
Who this guide is for
This guide is for anyone preparing to send money internationally from the UK — expats moving funds abroad, property buyers funding overseas purchases, businesses paying foreign suppliers, parents paying tuition fees, and HNW clients moving larger sums. It explains exactly which documents your provider will ask for, what counts as acceptable proof, how requirements scale with transfer size, and the most common reasons documents get rejected at the verification stage.
Why every provider asks for documents
UK-regulated payment providers, banks, and currency brokers must verify the identity of every customer and screen every transaction under the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017. The regulation requires what compliance teams call “Customer Due Diligence” (CDD) on every relationship, and “Enhanced Due Diligence” (EDD) on higher-risk transactions — typically larger amounts, certain destination countries, or unusual transaction patterns.
This is not specific to any one provider. The same regulatory framework applies to your high-street bank, a money transfer app, and a specialist currency broker. Where providers differ is in how they collect documents (in-branch versus app-based versus phone-and-email), how quickly they verify, and how they handle edge cases.
Documents required by transfer amount
The exact threshold at which a provider asks for additional documentation varies, but the structure across the UK industry is broadly consistent. The table below summarises what most regulated UK providers will ask for at each amount band.
| Transfer amount | Photo ID | Proof of UK address | Source of funds | Beneficiary verification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under £1,000 | Required | Required | Generally not required | Name, IBAN/account, BIC/SWIFT |
| £1,000–£5,000 | Required | Required | Sometimes requested | Name, IBAN/account, BIC/SWIFT, recipient address |
| £5,000–£10,000 | Required | Required | Often requested | Full beneficiary details, purpose of transfer |
| £10,000–£100,000 | Required | Required | Required (documented) | Full beneficiary details, purpose, relationship to recipient |
| Over £100,000 | Required | Required | Required (documented + corroborated) | Enhanced beneficiary checks, sanctions screening, possibly purpose evidence |
Different providers set their internal thresholds differently. Some money transfer apps request source of funds at £1,000; some specialist brokers do not formally request it until £5,000–£10,000. The pattern is consistent: above £10,000, expect to provide documented proof. For the full process around larger transfers, see our guide to sending over £10,000 abroad.
Personal identification documents accepted
Acceptable forms of photo ID are standardised across UK financial services. Most regulated providers accept the following:
- UK or EU passport. The most universally accepted ID. Must be valid (not expired) and the photo page legible.
- UK photocard driving licence. Both full and provisional licences are typically accepted. Must show your current address; if it does not, you will need a separate proof of address.
- UK biometric residence permit (BRP) or biometric residence card (BRC). Accepted for non-UK nationals resident in the UK.
- National identity card. Accepted from EEA countries and Switzerland for non-UK residents using UK-regulated providers.
Most providers verify ID digitally via a service like Onfido, Persona, or Jumio — you take a photo of the document and a short selfie or video, and the verification is automated within minutes. For larger transfers or where digital verification fails, providers may ask for a certified copy.
Proof of UK address
Proof of address must be dated within the last three months and show your full name and current residential address. Acceptable documents include:
- Recent utility bill (gas, electricity, water — not mobile phone)
- Council tax bill or annual statement
- Bank or building society statement
- HMRC tax letter or correspondence
- Tenancy agreement (signed and current)
- Mortgage statement
Some providers will also accept a UK photocard driving licence as combined ID and proof of address — reducing the documentation needed to a single document. Mobile phone bills, store card statements, and handwritten letters are generally not accepted.
Source of funds: what counts as proof
For larger transfers, your provider must understand where the money came from. “Source of funds” is not the same as “source of wealth” — it is specifically about the funds being transferred in this transaction. Acceptable evidence depends on the origin:
- Salary or self-employment income. Recent payslips, employment contract, business accounts, or HMRC SA302 self-assessment summary.
- Property sale. Solicitor’s completion statement and bank statement showing the proceeds received.
- Inheritance. Grant of probate, will, and bank statement showing the inheritance received.
- Investment proceeds. Statement from the investment provider showing the disposal and the proceeds paid into your bank account.
- Business sale or dividend. Sale agreement or board resolution, accountant’s letter, and bank statement.
- Savings accumulated over time. Bank statements covering 6–12 months showing the build-up of funds, plus evidence of the underlying income source.
- Gift. Letter from the gifter, their ID, and evidence of where their funds came from.
Anthony Bull, CEO of Cambridge Currencies, sees one issue come up repeatedly: “The most common documentation hold-up we see is on inherited or gifted funds where the supporting paperwork doesn’t quite line up — a probate document showing one figure, a bank statement showing another, and no explanation of the gap. Fifteen minutes upfront with the right documents avoids days of back-and-forth later when the rate may have moved against the client.”
What changes for business transfers
UK businesses sending money internationally face a parallel but more detailed documentation requirement. The provider must verify the company itself, the people who control it, and the commercial purpose of the transfer. Typical documents include:
- Certificate of incorporation
- Companies House registration number
- Memorandum and articles of association (sometimes)
- Photo ID and proof of address for all directors and persons with significant control (PSCs)
- Latest filed accounts or management accounts
- Evidence of trading address (utility bill, lease, or bank statement)
- Commercial invoice, supplier contract, or purchase order for the specific transfer
- Bank account proof in the company name
Sole traders and partnerships go through a lighter version of this process — essentially personal CDD plus evidence of the business activity. For more on selecting a broker for B2B FX, see our guide on how to choose a currency broker for your UK business.
When you’ll need extra documentation (Enhanced Due Diligence)
Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) applies in specific circumstances under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017. Expect additional documentation if any of the following apply:
- The transfer is to or from a high-risk third country as designated by the FCA or Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
- The customer is a Politically Exposed Person (PEP), a family member or close associate of a PEP. PEPs include senior public officials, judges, military officers, senior central bank officials, and similar.
- The transfer is unusually large relative to the customer’s profile or has an unusual pattern.
- The customer or beneficiary is on a sanctions list maintained by HM Treasury’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) — in which case the transfer cannot proceed at all.
- The relationship is non-face-to-face — although this is now standard for most digital onboarding.
EDD typically means more detailed source-of-funds and source-of-wealth checks, additional sign-off from the provider’s compliance team, and sometimes a phone call to confirm the purpose of the transfer in real time.
How long does verification take?
For standard transfers, digital verification usually completes within minutes. For larger transfers requiring source-of-funds review, expect 24–72 hours from the moment all documents are submitted to compliance sign-off. For EDD cases, 3–7 working days is typical. The total time depends entirely on whether your initial submission is complete — incomplete or unclear documents are the single biggest cause of delay.
For more on how this affects total transfer time, see our guide on how long an international money transfer takes.
Common reasons documents get rejected
- Out-of-date proof of address. Anything older than three months will be rejected.
- Mobile phone bills used as proof of address. Almost universally rejected by UK providers.
- Mismatch between names. ID showing one name (maiden name, full middle name) and bank statement showing another. A marriage certificate or deed poll can resolve this.
- Cropped or obscured documents. The full page must be visible, including borders, edges, and any reference numbers.
- Source-of-funds documents that don’t reconcile. A salary payslip showing £4,000/month does not document a £100,000 transfer without additional savings evidence.
- Recipient details that don’t match the bank record. The recipient name on the transfer must match the name on the receiving bank account exactly. “Confirmation of Payee” mismatches now block UK domestic transfers and increasingly international ones too.
- Foreign-language documents without certified translation. Some providers accept certain foreign documents; others require a notarised English translation.
How a specialist broker handles documentation
The regulatory requirements are the same as for a bank, but the experience differs. A specialist currency broker typically assigns a dedicated FX specialist who reviews documentation upfront, flags any issues before the rate is locked, and handles the back-and-forth with the compliance team on your behalf. For larger or unusual transfers — inheritances, property completions, business sale proceeds — this human-handled approach materially reduces the risk of mid-transfer delays.
Our explainer on the safest way to transfer money internationally covers how broker structure, segregated client accounts, and FCA-authorised payment rails interact with the documentation framework. For larger amounts specifically, our large international money transfers guide walks through the full process, and the fees article explains how documentation timing affects rate exposure.
Frequently asked questions
UK-regulated providers typically accept a valid UK or EU passport, UK photocard driving licence, UK biometric residence permit (BRP), or an EEA national identity card. Verification is usually digital — a photo of the document plus a short selfie or video, with automated checking via services like Onfido or Jumio.
For transfers above £5,000–£10,000, most UK providers ask for source-of-funds documentation. Acceptable evidence includes recent payslips, a property sale completion statement, grant of probate for inheritances, investment statements, or bank statements covering 6–12 months for accumulated savings. Below £5,000, source of funds is generally not formally requested.
There is no single statutory threshold. The Money Laundering Regulations 2017 require Customer Due Diligence on every customer relationship and Enhanced Due Diligence in higher-risk circumstances. In practice, most UK providers ask for source-of-funds documentation above £5,000–£10,000 and apply more detailed checks above £100,000.
To use a UK-based provider, you generally need a UK residential address with proof dated within the last three months. UK expats living abroad often need to use a provider regulated in their country of residence, or maintain UK proof of address through a relative or property. Some specialist brokers accept overseas residents on a case-by-case basis with enhanced due diligence.
UK businesses typically need a certificate of incorporation, Companies House registration, photo ID and proof of address for all directors and persons with significant control, latest filed or management accounts, proof of trading address, a commercial invoice or contract for the specific transfer, and bank account proof in the company name. Sole traders go through a lighter version of this process.
Standard digital verification completes within minutes. Larger transfers requiring source-of-funds review typically clear compliance within 24–72 hours of complete submission. Enhanced Due Diligence cases (PEPs, high-risk countries, very large amounts) usually take 3–7 working days. Incomplete or unclear initial submissions are the biggest cause of delay.
The most common reasons are: out-of-date proof of address (older than three months), mobile phone bills used as address proof, name mismatches between ID and bank records, cropped or obscured document images, source-of-funds documents that don’t reconcile to the transfer amount, and recipient details that don’t match the receiving bank’s records exactly.
There is no requirement for individuals to declare international bank transfers to HMRC. UK providers are required to report suspicious activity to the National Crime Agency under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Physical cash crossing UK borders must be declared above £10,000 — this rule applies to cash carried in person, not to bank or broker transfers.
Speak to a specialist before you send
For larger or more complex transfers — property purchases, inheritances, business proceeds, or anything outside a routine pattern — it pays to walk through the documentation with a specialist before locking a rate. Cambridge Currencies completes every transfer by phone with a dedicated FX specialist who handles the documentation review upfront, so the compliance step does not become a rate-exposure problem mid-transfer. Request a quote and a documentation review.
Cambridge Currencies completes all client transfers through its FCA-authorised payment partners, Currencycloud (FRN 900199) and ScioPay (FRN 927951). All client funds are held in safeguarded accounts.
