As a regulated payment institution, Yoco is legally required to maintain accurate and up-to-date records on your profile. If your profile needs to be updated, we’ll reach out to you via email and in-app messaging.
❗ Important: This profile update is mandatory. Please complete it within 21 days of being notified. If you miss the deadline, your profile will be disabled and you’ll be unable to transact with Yoco. You will, however, be able to access your profile and reports. Your profile will be reactivated as soon as it has been updated.
Please note: Only an active director can update the Yoco profile.
To update your profile as an NPC, you’ll be asked to complete some (or all) of the following tasks in the Yoco App (mobile or web):
South African citizens: If you don't get a successful selfie result with your ID number, you’ll need to take a live photo of your original green ID book, smart ID card or valid barcoded passport.
International citizens: You’ll need to take a live photo of your original passport and confirm your identity with a liveness check. You’ll also need to photograph your valid work permit/visa.
(Please note: Drivers' licences, scanned copies, and PDFs will not be accepted.)
To get started, select the Update your profile tile/widget from the Hub tab in the Yoco App (mobile or web).
1. Confirm your business type
From the Update your profile tile/widget, select the Review Business Type button.
If the business type displayed on the pop-up screen is correct, select the Confirm button to complete this task. If the business type displayed on the pop-up screen is incorrect, select the Change button and follow the steps below.
Choose the correct business type from the list provided, then select the Continue button.
If you’re updating your NPC to another business type, you'll need to complete a transfer of ownership. Please contact Yoco Support via our in-app chat and a consultant will guide you through the process.
2. Verify your identity
From the Update your profile tile/widget, select the Verify identity button.
Follow the identity verification steps here, based on the type of ID you have. OR, if you’ve recently completed the ID verification process with Yoco, continue with the next step.
If your correct ID number is showing on your screen, select the Confirm button. If the ID number on your screen is incorrect, select the Wrong ID number link.
Select the Request change button to update your ID number, and a Yoco consultant will reach out and guide you through the next steps.
Select the Continue button to move on to the next task.
Verification: South African citizens
Verification: South African citizens
If you have a 13-digit South African ID number or hold a South African ID card, green barcoded ID book, or a South African Passport, follow the steps below.
Select the Verify your identity button, then select the I am the owner button to confirm that you are the business owner.
Enter your ID number and we’ll verify it within seconds with the Department of Home Affairs. No documents needed.
If the details displayed are correct, select Yes to continue.
Once you’ve confirmed your identity details, select the Scan my face button and we’ll take a live selfie that we’ll match to your photo on the Home Affairs database.
✨ Please note: To increase the chances of your scan being successful, we recommend that you scan your face on your mobile phone. If you're using the Yoco Web App, select the Continue on phone button to scan a QR code and switch to your mobile.
If camera access is required, a permissions box will appear on your screen. Select the Allow while visiting the site or Allow this time button to continue the process and take your selfie.
Follow the on-screen instructions carefully and read the tips below to ensure success. Keep your face fully visible and centred within the oval throughout the process.
📸 Tips for a successful selfie
Centre your face so that it fills most of the on-screen oval.
Move closer if prompted, until your face fits inside the oval.
Look straight ahead into the camera, keeping your eyes level.
Keep your expression neutral – don't smile, frown, etc.
Make sure your face is well lit – avoid shadows and bright backlighting.
Remove glasses, hats, and anything else that may block your face.
Keep still and stay within the oval until the scan is complete.
As soon as your profile has been verified, a success message will appear and you can continue on to the next step.
👎 Using your SA ID number and struggling with face verification?
👎 Using your SA ID number and struggling with face verification?
If you don't get a successful selfie result with your South African ID number, you’ll need to take a live photo of your ID document.
Choose the 'All countries except USA' option for your country of residence from the two options provided.
Confirm that you’ve read and understood the Privacy Notice and the Notification on the Processing of Personal Data, and give your consent to proceed by ticking the box and selecting the Continue button.
Select South Africa as the issuing country, then select the type of ID document you'll be uploading from the list provided. Yoco only accepts these ID documents:
South African passport
South African identity card
Green barcoded ID booklet
❗ Important: You must use your ID document when completing this step. You'll be asked to take a selfie in the next step, which must match the ID document you've just uploaded. If it doesn't, your identity check will be unsuccessful.
If camera access is required, a permissions box will appear on your screen. Select the Allow while visiting the site or Allow this time button to continue the process and upload your identity document.
Follow the on-screen instructions to frame your original ID document. When your passport is correctly positioned, select the round white camera button to photograph it.
Follow the on-screen prompts and the green indicator to complete the face scan for your liveness check.
Once you’ve completed your liveness check, we'll compare it against the ID document you photographed. If the match is successful, your identity check is complete. This process will only take a few seconds.
👨 Tips for the liveness check
Centre your face so that it fills most of the on-screen circle.
Move your head slowly until all the lines around the circle turn green.
Look straight into the camera, keeping your eyes level.
Keep your expression neutral – don't smile, frown, etc.
Make sure your face is well lit – avoid shadows and bright backlighting.
Remove glasses, hats, and anything else that may block your face.
Keep still and stay within the oval until the scan is complete.
Verification: International citizens
Verification: International citizens
Before you start this process, make sure that you have the following ready:
Passport
You'll need to show the biodata page.
Work visa
This must be issued by the Department of Home Affairs and must clearly state that you're entitled to conduct work, business, or employment in South Africa.
❗Important: Both documents must be valid (not expired) – we will verify this. If your visa has been extended, you can upload your old visa with proof of extension.
Select the Verify your identity button.
Choose the I don’t have a South African ID link.
Read the on-screen instructions carefully, then select the Continue button.
Confirm that you’ve read and understood the Privacy Notice and the Notification on the Processing of Personal Data, and give your consent to proceed by ticking the box and selecting the Continue button.
Choose the country where your identity document was issued, and select the Continue button.
✨ Using the Yoco Web App? Select the Continue on phone button to scan a QR code and switch to your mobile.
Open up your passport to the biodata page (the page with your photo and barcode), and flip it horizontally to fill the frame as shown. When your passport is correctly positioned, select the round white camera button to photograph it.
❗Important: We only accept valid (not expired) passports issued by your government. You must use your passport when completing this step.
Follow the on-screen prompts and the green indicator to complete the face scan for your liveness check.
Once you’ve completed your liveness check, we'll compare it against the ID document you photographed. If the match is successful, your identity check is complete. This process will only take a few seconds.
👨 Tips for the liveness check
Centre your face so that it fills most of the on-screen circle.
Move your head slowly until all the lines around the circle turn green.
Look straight into the camera, keeping your eyes level.
Keep your expression neutral – don't smile, frown, etc.
Make sure your face is well lit – avoid shadows and bright backlighting.
Remove glasses, hats, masks, and anything else that may block your face.
Keep still and stay within the oval until the scan is complete.
✨ We recommend completing your live selfie on your phone, as it typically has a higher success rate. To switch to your mobile, select the Continue on phone button.
Select the Upload work permit button.
Upload your work permit/visa. Before you select the Continue button, make sure that it meets these requirements (if it doesn't, it won't be accepted for verification purposes):
It's valid (not expired).
It's in your name.
It's issued by the Department of Home Affairs.
It clearly states that you are permitted to conduct work, business, or employment in South Africa.
Once you've uploaded your work permit/visa, we'll review it and let you know if your identity has been verified. This usually takes 1–2 working days.
✍️ Work permit/visa FAQs
What qualifies as a valid work permit/visa? Only permits/visas officially issued by South Africa's Department of Home Affairs will be accepted. Your permit/visa must clearly state that you are permitted to conduct work, employment, or business in South Africa. Without this specific permission, we won’t be able to process your payments through Yoco.
What is not considered a valid work permit/visa? Entry, exit, and visitor stamps in your passport do not qualify as a valid work permit/visa.
The work permit/visa in my passport is expired. What should I do? We cannot accept an expired work permit/visa for verification. However, if you’re in the process of renewing your permit/visa, you can submit your expired permit/visa and your renewal application slip and we'll move forward with your application while your renewal is in progress.
My passport has expired, but my work permit/visa is still valid. What should I do? If your passport has expired, but it contains a valid work permit/visa, you can still upload the permit/visa.
Does the work permit/visa need to be in my name? Yes, the work permit/visa must be in your name. We'll validate the details on the permit/visa and compare them with the details you've provided – if the information doesn't match, you won't be able to complete this step.
Verification: Asylum seekers and refugees
Verification: Asylum seekers and refugees
Send the Yoco Support Team one of the following valid documents issued by the Department of Home Affairs:
Asylum Seeker Temporary Permit
Formal Recognition of Refugee Status
Red Refugee Book
Email your document to [email protected], or click here to find out how you can contact the Yoco Support Team.
3. Confirm trading address
From the Update your profile tile/widget, select the Review trading address button.
If your trading address is still the same as the one provided, select it from the list provided. If your trading address has changed, select the X in the Business trading address field and enter your new address.
Enter any additional address information, e.g. unit number, building name or number, floor etc.
4. Verify stakeholders
We’re legally required to verify all active directors in the company.
Stakeholder verification
Stakeholder verification
Select the Verify button next to the Verify stakeholders task.
A screen will open up with a pre-populated list of company directors. This list is drawn from the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission’s (CIPC) current records.
Please note: As the owner of the Yoco profile, your identity has already been verified. The remaining directors must now verify their identities.
✨ Are the details on the CIPC list incorrect or outdated?
The director information that appears in the Yoco App when you’re completing your profile, is the information currently registered with the CIPC.
If the list is incorrect or outdated (e.g. a director has left the company, or a new director has joined it, but hasn’t yet been registered with the CIPC), you’ll need to update the director information with the CIPC directly – it’s not possible to add, remove, or edit director names or ID numbers in the Yoco App.
Once the CIPC has approved your change(s), the updates should reflect in the Yoco App within 24 hours. If there's a significant delay, please contact the Yoco Support Team via our in-app chat.Select the Verify button next to the name of the first director on the list.
Enter the email address and mobile number for the director.
Select the Submit button.
If you're happy that the details you've submitted are correct, select the Send link button. If you need to edit the details, select the Send later button, to return to the list of directors.
To edit the director's details, click on their name and select the Edit button on the pop-up window. Once you've updated their details select the Submit button, and then the Send link button.
Once you've selected the Send link button, a unique verification link will be sent via email to the director asking them to complete the following tasks:
Give formal consent that you've been authorised to sign up with Yoco on behalf of the company.
Enter their residential address.
Upload an identity document – either a South African ID card, South African green barcoded ID book, South African passport, or international passport.
Complete a liveness check by taking a selfie that will be matched with the photo that the Department of Home Affairs has on record for them.
❗Important: This process must be repeated for each director. Once the uploaded information has been matched with CIPC records, the verification process will be marked as complete.
💡 Good to know: Once the link has been sent to the director, their status will be updated to pending. As soon as they've completed the required tasks, their status will be updated to verified. If the verification process fails, please contact Yoco Support via our in-app chat.
Once you've sent links to each of the members, make sure to select the Done button – this lets us know that you've sent all the links to the listed members.
✨ Need to change director details?
Select the name of the director whose details you want to update.
Select the Edit option on the pop-up window.
Select Send link to send a link with the updated details to the director.
Please note: Director and shareholder details can only be edited before their verification process has been completed.
✨ Need to resend a verification link?
Select the name of the director you would like to resend the verification link to via email.
Select the Resend verification option from the pop-up list.
Select Send link.
👔 Director verification FAQs
The list of directors shown is incorrect or outdated. What should I do? The director information that appears in the Yoco App when you’re completing your profile, is the information that’s currently registered with the CIPC. If the list is incorrect or outdated (e.g., a director has left the company, or a new director has joined it, but isn’t listed), you’ll need to update the director information with the CIPC – it’s not possible to add, remove, or edit director names or ID numbers in the Yoco App. Once the CIPC records have been updated, the change(s) should reflect in the Yoco App. If there's a significant delay between the CIPC confirming the changes, and the updated information reflecting in the app, please contact the Yoco Support Team who will assist you.
A director has not received their verification link via email. What should I do? Please start by double-checking that you entered their email address correctly in the Yoco App. Next, ask them to check their spam/junk folders. If the details are correct, but the link has still not been received, please enter the email address again and resend the link.
Can I fix a director's contact details if I entered it incorrectly? Yes, you can edit the director's contact details or shareholder information, but only before they complete the verification process. Select their name from the list, make the required changes, then click on or tap the Submit button and resend the link, if necessary.
What happens if a director doesn't verify their identity? Unfortunately, this will delay your Yoco profile update and if you miss the deadline, your profile will be disabled and you’ll be unable to transact with Yoco until the update has been completed. Please encourage all partners to complete their verification promptly, and ensure that all information is accurate.
Need more help?
Start a conversation with a Yoco Support consultant via our in-app chat.