Verify your identity for a kids and teens account

In this article:

Overview

Teens aged 13 and older can verify their identity on their kids and teens account with a government-issued photo ID and a selfie in the Wealthsimple app. Verification is optional, and it unlocks features, like receiving direct deposit and sending more than $999 in a single Interac e-Transfer® transaction.

Once verification is complete, these features unlock automatically. You don't need to turn them on.

Eligibility

  • The teen is 13 or older
  • The teen has a kids and teens account
  • You're using the Wealthsimple app
Note: We can't verify children aged 12 and under. Verification always needs a government-issued photo ID and a selfie. We can't accept other documents, like utility bills or bank statements, and we can't make exceptions.

Verifying your identity as a teen

If you're 13 or older and have your own login, you can verify your identity on your own:

  1. Log in to the Wealthsimple app
  2. Go to Settings
  3. Tap Upgrade your account
  4. Follow the prompts to take a photo of your ID and a selfie
  5. Submit your photos

We'll let your parent and co-manager know once you're verified. If your name or date of birth is wrong, ask your parent or guardian who managed the account to contact us.

Starting verification as a parent

If your teen doesn't have their own login, you can verify their identity from your own app. Your teen needs to be with you to take the selfie.

  1. Log in to the Wealthsimple app
  2. Go to Settings, then User Management
  3. Tap the prompt to verify your child's identity
  4. Follow the prompts. Your teen needs to take the selfie.
  5. Submit the photos
Tip: You'll see this prompt once your child turns 13, until verification is complete. Your co-manager sees it too.

If verification doesn't go through

If you see We couldn't verify your identity or We couldn't verify [your teen's name]'s identity, we couldn't confirm your or your teen's details. This usually happens because of an unclear photo, an invalid document, or a selfie that doesn't match the ID. Check that the photo ID and selfie meet the requirements below, then tap Try again.

Photo ID requirements

We accept the following forms of government-issued photo identification:

  • Driver’s license from any Canadian province/territory
  • Canadian passport
  • Canadian permanent residence card
  • Secure Certificate of Indian Status
  • Health card (only from British Columbia)*
  • Provincial photo-ID card
*Tip: Health cards from provinces and territories other than British Columbia aren’t provincial photo-ID cards. You can’t use them to verify your identity with Wealthsimple and must use a different acceptable ID.

The government-issued photo ID must meet the following requirements:

  • It must be issued in Canada
  • It can't be expired
  • It must include the teen's full legal name as it appears on their kids and teens account
  • It can't be altered in any way (including stickers placed on the front or back)
  • It must be clearly legible, with no obscuring glare
  • All four corners of the document must be visible

Selfie requirements

  • The teen must take the selfie
  • The selfie needs to match the photo on the ID
Note: If the name or date of birth on the account is wrong, the ID won't match. There's no way to change it in the app, so the parent or co-manager needs to contact us to update it before trying again.

If our verification partner is unavailable

If you see We're experiencing issues with our verification partner, our verification service is temporarily unavailable, and nothing is wrong with your details. Tap Done and try again later.

Frequently asked questions

Does my teen have to verify their identity to use their account?

No. The account works without it, but some features stay locked. Without verification, your teen can't receive direct deposit or go above $999 per transaction.

Can I still set limits on my teen's account after they verify?

Yes. Any card spend limits and restrictions you've set stay in place after your teen verifies. For Interac e-Transfer®, you can turn sending and receiving on or off separately for your teen, but you can't set a specific dollar limit. Learn more in Manage your child's kids and teens account.

Can my teen verify without me?

Yes. A teen aged 13 or older can complete verification on their own with their own login. We'll let you and your co-manager know when it's done.

Can I start verification for my teen if we're not together?

No. If you start it, your teen needs to be with you to take the selfie. Your teen can also verify on their own if they have their own login set up.

Why can't I start my teen's verification?

Only one verification attempt can be in progress per account at a time. If you, your co-manager, or your teen has already started the verification process, it needs to be completed before a new one can begin.

Can I verify on a computer?

No. Verification is only available in the Wealthsimple app.

Can my teen use an ID from outside Canada?

No. Right now, the photo ID needs to be issued in Canada. You can't use IDs from other countries to verify a kids and teens account.

What if my teen's name or date of birth is wrong?

Contact us and we'll help you update it. Once it's corrected, your teen can try verification again.

Will my teen need to verify again when they turn 18 or 19 (the age of majority)?

Because verification already includes a photo ID and a selfie, your teen shouldn't need to verify again when they move to their own account.

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