Completing KYC Verification
Start early, upload the documents requested by your wizard, and make sure the bank account matches the verified person or entity.
KYC (Know-Your-Customer) is how PayBru confirms who's behind a creator community before paying earnings out. It must be approved before you can save bank details or request a payout.
When to Start KYC
You can begin KYC from:
- The KYC reminder shown during community setup.
- The Payouts or Revenue > Payments area in your Manage Portal.
- The KYC link shown when View Payouts > Request Payout is blocked.
We recommend completing it early — well before you plan to request your first payout — because review takes time and may need follow-up.
KYC Statuses
| Status | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| KYC Required | You haven't uploaded documents yet. | Open the KYC page and start the wizard. |
| KYC Pending | Documents are with the PayBru team for review. | Wait — most reviews complete within 24-48 hours after every required document is uploaded. |
| KYC Approved | Verification is complete. Bank details and payouts are unlocked. | Save your bank account and you're ready to request a payout. |
| KYC Rejected | Something needs to be fixed or replaced. | Open the page, read the rejection reason, replace the affected files, and resubmit. |
What You Need by Entity Type
PayBru supports a range of South African entity types. The KYC wizard adapts to the one you pick, so you only see fields and document slots that apply to you.
| Entity type | Typical documents |
|---|---|
| Individual | South African ID or passport, selfie holding the ID, proof of address dated within the last 3 months, bank statement or stamped bank confirmation letter. |
| Sole proprietor | All individual documents, plus business registration or trading name proof. |
| Partnership | Partnership agreement, plus individual KYC docs for at least two partners (ID/passport, selfie, proof of address, bank proof). |
| Close Corporation (CC) | CIPC registration documents (CK forms), plus individual KYC docs for each member. |
| Private Company (Pty Ltd) | CIPC registration documents (CoR forms), plus individual KYC docs for each director. |
| Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) | NPO registration certificate, constitution, plus individual KYC docs for each office bearer. |
| Non-Profit Company (NPC) | CIPC registration documents, plus individual KYC docs for each director. |
| Trust | Trust deed, Letter of Authority issued by the Master of the High Court, plus individual KYC docs for at least two trustees. |
| Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) | SARS PBO approval letter, plus underlying entity registration and individual KYC docs. |
The list shown in the wizard is the authoritative one — always upload exactly what your wizard asks for.
Document Quality Tips
- Photos must be clear, in colour, and fully visible — no glare, no cut corners, no fingers covering text.
- PDFs of statements must be the official bank-generated file, not a screenshot.
- Proof of address must be dated within 3 months of upload (e.g. utility bill, municipal bill, lease, recent bank statement showing your address).
- Selfie with ID means the photo shows your face and the ID clearly side-by-side.
- Names must match across ID, bank statement, and proof of address.
If any of these don't match, KYC review will come back with a request to re-upload.
What Happens After You Submit
- Review usually completes within 24-48 hours once all required documents are uploaded.
- You'll be notified in-app, and by email, when KYC is approved or if something needs attention.
- If KYC is rejected, the rejection note tells you exactly which file or detail to fix.
When KYC Is Approved
- Save your South African bank account under Resources > My Profile > Payments. The account holder name must match the verified entity.
- Open Manage Portal > Revenue > Payments > View Payouts to see your available balance.
- Once you have a positive available balance, you can request a payout.