Refugees without acknowledged ID

Acknowledged and valid ID

Last updated on 30 September 2022

A payment service provider in the EU must carefully identify and verify each new account holder, based on an official EU-recognized and valid identity document. For Ukrainians lawfully residing in the EU under normal circumstances, that is a valid passport in English.

However, the conditions in Ukraine are currently far from normal and some adult refugees from that country who want to open a payment account in the Netherlands appear not to have a valid English-language passport. Therefore those refugees initially could not open a payment account at most banks. Meanwhile, many banks were able expand the range of IDs for new account applicants with additional types of ID from Ukraine.

Without a BSN

At Bitsafe and bunq Ukrainians with the right documents can apply for a payment account without a BSN* (Dutch social services number). Bunq requires a new customer to register a BSN within three months. Bitsafe never requires a BSN.

* Note: With these two providers you need their mobile apps on a modern smartphone to apply for an account.

Valid Ukrainian driver's license

With Bitsafe a refugee can apply for a payment account using their mobile app on a modern smartphone, with just a valid Ukrainian driver's license (without a BSN).