Wise card - trigger ID upload

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Forums › Finance and wealth management › Wise card - trigger ID upload

elpenguino

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#322607 4-Sep-2025 11:55

I got a wise card and it all seems quite slick so far. They haven't asked me to upload ID for AML yet and I read somewhere on their pages that certain unspecified transactions will trigger them into demanding your ID be uploaded.

I'd prefer to upload ID before travelling and dealing with a frozen card and all that pavlova. Does anyone know what transactions will trigger the demand for ID?

Alternatively, how do they demand ID and what can I do before hand to ease the pain when I have to upload it?

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

trig42

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#3411045 4-Sep-2025 12:04

I helped a friend getting one, and we did all that when applying for the card.
Is there anything on the website (in your profile) that looks like you can complete ID verification?

Escapist

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#3411047 4-Sep-2025 12:08

I was prompted to upload ID when I added a USD "balance". Wise member since ~2022, added the USD balance in June, and that was the first time I had been asked for ID.

elpenguino

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#3411050 4-Sep-2025 12:19

Alright, from your comment I had a poke on the mobile app. There was nothing under my named profile but I clicked on my 'unique name' (joebloggs123 type thing ) and it asked me which account I wanted to activate, then we did the whole selfie and passport thing.

Is that the end of any ID demands?

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

invisibleman18

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#3418349 24-Sep-2025 10:27

Wife and I used Wise for a Europe trip in June/July. Setup a Wise account each before hand and I got asked to do the ID verification shortly after signing up but she never got asked. Card worked perfectly with no issues on the trip and she probably spent 5-6K on it and still not had ID required. Couldn't find anywhere in the app to do it without it being requested.

CokemonZ

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#3418351 24-Sep-2025 10:40

We recently setup wise for our company.

I found initial transactions would go through fine, but then subsequent ones we'd get asked.

Transfer in a material amount of money ($5k or so) and see if it triggers. Costs nothing and you can transfer it out easily at no cost.

KiwiSurfer

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#3418356 24-Sep-2025 11:16

CokemonZ:

Transfer in a material amount of money ($5k or so) and see if it triggers. Costs nothing and you can transfer it out easily at no cost.

Wise now charges for NZD withdrawls to a NZ bank account. Seems to be a recent (i.e. last year or so) change as I'm sure this wasn't the case a few years back. Seems to be a fixed fee however - $1.36 NZD for $100 or $5,000 transfers.

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SpartanVXL

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#3418476 24-Sep-2025 13:27

If you have someone you know, just sending money through Wise contacts is enough to trigger the ID check. Loading and spending money through the account isn’t enough because by all metrics you are sending from an account you own to Wise with a card you own.

invisibleman18

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#3418488 24-Sep-2025 14:12

SpartanVXL:

If you have someone you know, just sending money through Wise contacts is enough to trigger the ID check. Loading and spending money through the account isn’t enough because by all metrics you are sending from an account you own to Wise with a card you own.

We setup a "group" to be able to use it like a joint account (see my other thread) so both sent money to it, and I think we sent money to each other too, and none of that ever triggered an ID check for my wife's account. Odd.

elpenguino

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#3420259 1-Oct-2025 14:30

Thanks all. The self-activation process I described in an earlier post was enough to activate the card. No further validation has been necessary.

The system pings you as you travel between countries or upload money which is quite useful to detect mis-use.

On the whole I'd have to say the system is quite slick and easy to use.

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

Ge0rge

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#3420332 1-Oct-2025 16:10

Recently I had someone else transfer money to my Wise account - the Wise system held my money until I provided information about the third party - name, phone number, date of birth and what the money was for. I gave them name and what the money was for, told them to jog on over the other two details. They thanked me and released my money into my account, but it did not leave a good taste in my mouth.

elpenguino

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#3420333 1-Oct-2025 16:15

It's a bit on the nose to ask about what the money is for. And isn't the answer always 'spending' ?

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

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wellygary

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#3420340 1-Oct-2025 16:33

Ge0rge:

Recently I had someone else transfer money to my Wise account - the Wise system held my money until I provided information about the third party - name, phone number, date of birth and what the money was for. I gave them name and what the money was for, told them to jog on over the other two details. They thanked me and released my money into my account, but it did not leave a good taste in my mouth.

Sounds like an AML requirement got tripped, do you mind saying how much... i'm guessing it was 4 figures?

Ge0rge

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#3420343 1-Oct-2025 16:40

If only - $160.60.