Introduction
In this article, you will learn which documents and verification methods Saily accepts for KYC (Know Your Customer) identity verification, which documents are not accepted, and which countries have stricter or unsupported requirements. KYC verification is required for the Saily Phone Number Functionality.
What KYC is and why Saily needs it
KYC (Know Your Customer) is an identity verification step Saily must complete before activating a phone number for two-way calls and SMS. Under applicable telecommunications, electronic-communications, and anti-money-laundering (AML) laws, and under the rules of the relevant numbering authorities and carriers, Saily (and/or its trusted identity-verification providers) must confirm you are the legitimate holder of the identity document before activating the number.
NOTE: KYC applies to phone number functionality. Standard data-only eSIM plans do not typically require identity verification; the document request appears when you set up a phone number for calls and SMS.
Is providing KYC documents mandatory?
Yes. Providing KYC data is mandatory for Phone Number Functionality. Saily uses this information solely to verify your identity, comply with legal and regulatory obligations, prevent fraud and misuse, and satisfy carrier and numbering-provider requirements.
NOTE: Failure to provide the requested KYC information may prevent Saily from activating, or continuing to provide, the Phone Number Functionality. Until KYC is completed and verified, Saily will not disclose the phone number allocated to your account or activate it for two-way communication.
How your KYC data is protected
We process KYC documents only for identity verification and regulatory compliance. Because Saily is legally required to collect and retain this data, some of your data rights (such as deletion, restriction, or objection) may be limited for KYC records, call detail records, and other traffic data related to the phone number.
- Saily retains KYC and phone-number-related data for the periods required by applicable telecommunications and AML laws in the relevant jurisdiction.
Documents Saily accepts
Depending on your country of residence, you can verify your identity using either a supported digital ID/banking provider (one tap, no document photos needed) or a physical government-issued document.
One-tap verification (no document photos needed)
If you reside in one of the countries below, you can complete KYC faster and easier using a supported digital ID or banking provider - no document photos required:
- Smart-ID - Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
- BankID - Sweden
- MitID - Denmark, Greenland, Faroe Islands
- FTN - Finland
- Verimi - Germany
- MojeID - Czech Republic
- Yoti - United Kingdom
- OneID - United Kingdom
- CLEAR - United States
If more than one option is available for your country, you can choose whichever provider you already have an active account with.
Physical documents
In countries without a supported one-tap provider, you can verify your identity with one of these documents:
- National ID card - both sides
- Passport - photo page
- Driver's license - both sides
Your document must be valid, government-issued, and physical. Saily can't accept expired documents, photocopies, scans of photocopies, screenshots, or photos of a document shown on another screen.
The document you submit may contain personal information that Saily processes as part of verification, including your full name, date of birth, nationality, photograph, document number, and expiration date.
Country-specific requirements
Some countries have stricter requirements. If one of the countries below issued your document, the general list above does not apply. Use the document type listed here instead.
Passport only
If your document was issued by one of these countries, Saily can only accept a passport:
- Brazil
- India
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- Romania
- South Africa
Saily can't verify national ID cards or driver's licenses from these countries.
Passport and national ID card
If your document was issued by one of these countries, you must provide both a passport and a national ID card:
- China
- Morocco
Submitting only one of these documents will not complete verification.
Countries Saily can't verify documents from
Saily currently can't verify identity documents issued by:
- Belarus
- Cuba
- Iran
- Iraq
- Myanmar
- North Korea
- Russia
- Syria
- Venezuela
If your only identity document was issued by one of these countries, Saily can't complete verification. If you have one, you can try again with a valid document from another country. Otherwise, contact customer support to ask about your refund options.
NOTE: This restriction depends on the country that issued your document, not on where you are traveling or where you bought your plan. Your current location does not affect verification.
Documents Saily can't accept
Saily can't accept these document types for any country, even if they include your photo and personal details:
- Residence permit
- Visa
- PAN card
- Aadhaar card
- Provisional or learner driver's license
- Military or veteran ID card
These documents don't meet the verification requirements or can't be validated against an official source.
What else do you need to provide besides an ID document
In addition to the identity document (when you use a physical document), Saily may require verification materials to confirm you are the legitimate holder of the document. This can include:
- Selfies
- Photographs
- Short video recordings (liveness/biometric check).
Saily also generates and processes information during verification, such as verification results, verification status, and fraud and risk indicators.
Additional tips
- To get verified on the first try with a physical document, follow these tips:
- Place the document on a flat, dark, solid-colored surface.
- Make sure all four corners are visible inside the frame.
- Avoid glare from overhead lights and direct sunlight.
- Don't cover any part of the document with your fingers.
- Capture both sides if the document has two sides.
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Make sure the text and photo are sharp and readable.
- Learn more about our Privacy Policy by visiting our legal page.
- Review our official Terms of Service for details on phone number activation and KYC.
