cognovaiq VideoKYC & AML Policy
Prior to being activated for deposits or withdrawal operations, every cognovaiq Video account undergoes verification. This section outlines the verification criteria, the document types we recognize, the typical duration, and your obligations throughout the process.
- Identity checks on every account
- Documents handled confidentially
- Ongoing transaction monitoring
On this page
- What KYC means
- What AML means
- How long it takes
- Why a check can fail
- Your obligations
- Verification steps
- Ongoing monitoring
- Why verification is required
- Accepted documents
- Questions
What "Know Your Customer" means
Know Your Customer (KYC) represents the established procedure by which financial institutions validate that a customer is a genuine, identifiable individual, and that the details supplied during account creation are truthful.
In practice, KYC at cognovaiq Video means we collect and confirm a small set of basic facts about you: your full legal name, your date of birth, your country of residence, your contact details and the payment method you intend to use. We compare the details you typed into the sign-up form with the details shown on the documents you upload.
What we do not do
We will never request your online banking credentials, complete card PIN, or device access permissions. Our staff members are instructed never to solicit these. Messages requesting such information do not originate from us and should be reported via the complaint mechanism.
What "anti-money laundering" means
Anti-money laundering (AML) is the set of internal controls a financial service uses to prevent its platform from being used to move the proceeds of crime, to finance illegal activity, or to disguise the true origin of funds.
AML controls are broader than a one-off identity check. They cover risk classification of new accounts, sanctions and politically-exposed-person screening, limits on unusual funding patterns, record keeping, internal escalation of suspicious activity and, where the applicable law requires it, reporting to the competent authority.
Where AML rules and a client instruction conflict, the AML rules take priority. That can mean a delayed transaction, a request for additional documents, or a restricted account until the matter is resolved.
How long a check takes
Most complete submissions are reviewed within a few hours to a couple of business days. Files that need a second look, a translation or an additional document can take longer.
Processing duration varies based on submission volume, document quality standards and whether supplementary screening procedures are initiated. The projected processing timeframe applicable to your specific account, along with individual document status updates, displays in your account dashboard - consult this timeframe as the authoritative reference, disregarding any alternative estimates.
- Sharp, thorough, unaltered submissions receive expedited examination.
- Requests submitted outside business hours are queued for the next working day.
- Thorough screening procedures, when applicable, extend the timeline and will be communicated directly to you.
Why a check can be rejected
Document deficiencies, rather than concerns regarding the applicant, typically cause rejections. Resubmission usually results in approval upon the subsequent review.
| Reason | How to fix it |
|---|---|
| Image blurred, cropped or glare-covered | Photograph in natural light, positioned against a plain dark background, ensuring all edges are captured. |
| Document expired | Upload a currently valid document. |
| Name or date of birth does not match the account | Update your registration information, or furnish documentation substantiating a legal name modification. |
| Proof of address too old or not in your name | Present a current official document bearing your name and mailed to your address of record. |
| Payment method belongs to a third party | Use an instrument in your own name - third-party funding is not accepted. |
| File edited, cropped to hide data, or a screenshot of a screen | Furnish an unaltered original scan or document file. |
| Residence in an excluded jurisdiction | The account cannot be opened; see our licensing page for the general position. |
Should a determination remain unclear, reach out to our support team for clarification. We will provide details where legal restrictions permit.
Your obligations
- Deliver truthful, present and comprehensive details, maintaining their currency.
- Use only your own funds and your own payment instruments - never someone else's.
- Keep one account only, and keep your credentials private.
- Respond to document requests within the timeframe stated in the request.
- Tell us promptly if you change country of residence, legal name or payment method.
- Report any suspected unauthorised access to your account immediately.
Filing fraudulent or modified documents constitutes a serious violation. This results in immediate account termination and, where required by law, referral to appropriate regulatory agencies.
The verification steps
- 01
Register
Create the account with your real legal name, date of birth, country of residence, email and phone number. Details that do not match your documents are the most common cause of delay.
- 02
Confirm contact details
Confirm your email address and, where requested, your phone number. This proves the contact channels belong to you.
- 03
Upload your identity document
Upload the pages that carry your photograph and personal data. Some checks include a short liveness or selfie step to confirm the document belongs to the person holding it.
- 04
Upload proof of address
Upload a recent qualifying document in your name at the address on file.
- 05
Confirm the payment method
Provide proof of the instrument you will use to fund and to receive withdrawals.
- 06
Screening and review
Our compliance division evaluates the submission, executes required regulatory and risk evaluations, and either grants approval or requests revisions to the account.
- 07
Confirmation
You receive a notification once the account status changes. The current status is always visible in the verification area of your account.
Ongoing transaction monitoring
Verification is not a one-time event. Accounts and transactions are monitored for as long as the relationship lasts.
What is monitored
Deposit and withdrawal activity patterns, modifications to payment methods, shifts in geographic location or communication information, conduct inconsistent with your initial profile, and any activity identified by our analytical systems.
What can happen as a result
- A request for refreshed documents or an explanation of the source of funds.
- A temporary hold on a specific transaction while it is reviewed.
- Modification of the ceilings displayed in your account.
- Suspension or termination of the account as mandated by applicable regulations.
Records
Customer identification records and transactional information are maintained for the duration stipulated by governing legislation following account termination, and are managed according to our Privacy Policy. Certain legal frameworks restrict our ability to notify customers when reports are filed.
Why verification is required
- 01
Legal obligation
Services that hold or transmit client funds are generally required to identify their clients before providing the service. This is not optional and applies to every account without exception.
- 02
Protecting your money
Verification ties an account to one identifiable owner. It makes account takeover far harder, and it means withdrawals can only be sent back to a payment method proven to belong to you.
- 03
Keeping the platform clean
Screening keeps sanctioned parties and anonymous shell activity off the platform, which protects every other client using it.
- 04
Faster payouts later
An account verified up front does not have to stop for checks at withdrawal time, which is when delays are least welcome.
Which documents are accepted
We ask for up to three categories of document. Files should be colour images or PDFs, fully in frame, unedited, with all four corners and all text legible.
1. Identity document
An identity document issued by a government authority displaying your photograph, complete legal name, birth date, unique document identifier and validity expiration. Standard acceptable forms include a passport, state-issued identity card, or driving licence accepted as official photographic identification. The document must be current and not lapsed.
2. Proof of address
A recent document, usually issued within the last few months, showing your name and your residential address as it appears on your account. Typical examples are a utility statement, a bank or card statement, a local tax or municipal notice, or an official letter from a public authority. Post-office boxes and addresses belonging to someone else are not accepted.
3. Proof of payment method
Documentation demonstrating ownership of the payment method in question. For credit or debit cards, this typically involves a photograph of the card displaying your name, initial six digits and final four digits plus the expiration date, with intervening digits and CVV obscured.
For bank account transfers, a bank statement or account confirmation under your name indicating the account number. For digital payment services, a profile screenshot confirming your name and service account number.
Formats and file size
Upload limits, accepted file types and any additional document requests are shown in the verification area of your account. Documents in a language other than the account language may require a translation; the compliance team will tell you if that applies.
Where to ask questions
Before uploading documentation, contact our support team with any questions regarding this information or to check the precise status of your verification process.
Who reviews my documents?
A trained compliance reviewer. Files are stored on restricted systems, and access is limited to staff who need it for the check.
Can I start before I am verified?
You can register and explore the account, but funding, trading and withdrawals depend on the verification status published in your account.
Do I have to verify again later?
Yes, potentially. Document validity periods conclude, residence information evolves and standard anti-money laundering review cycles are routine. We shall notify you when an updated submission is necessary.
How do I contact the compliance team?
Use the contact route on our contact page Include a reference to "KYC" or "verification" along with the email address associated with your account in your communication. Avoid transmitting document images through unsafe channels - instead, please use the secure upload feature available in your account section.
Get verified once, cleanly
Ninety per cent of delays come from three things: a blurred photo, an out-of-date address document, and a payment method in someone else's name. Fix those and most checks pass first time.
Need help with a document?
Our support team can tell you exactly which file was rejected and why.
- Check the verification area of your account first.
- Subsequently, reach out to our support team using the email address you have registered with us.
Ready for a disciplined approach to your capital?
Open your account in minutes, fund from the R4,100 minimum, and follow a clear, methodical process from day one.