The short answer
- 1KYC is the wallet service's ID check under anti-money-laundering rules, not Telegram's.
- 2Each verification level unlocks features and limits; the numbers are in the service.
- 3Verify only on the service's own screen; anyone asking for your ID in a chat is a scam.
In this article
Who asks for your ID, and why
KYC ("know your customer") is the check a financial service runs to confirm who you are. Inside Telegram, it is asked for by custodial wallet services, which hold the coin for you, and by the card payment providers they connect to. Anti-money-laundering rules require it, and the service usually unlocks features and higher limits level by level as you verify more.
It is the wallet service's process, not Telegram's. Telegram does not ask you to upload an ID to use the app. A self-custody wallet, where only you hold the recovery phrase, generally does not ask for ID at all; the trade-off is that nobody can help you if the phrase is lost.
What verification usually asks for
| Asked for | How to do it right |
|---|---|
| Name, date of birth, country | Type them exactly as they appear on your ID document |
| A photo of your ID | Upload it only on the verification screen inside the service |
| A face check (selfie or short video) | Follow the on-screen prompts yourself; nobody else can do it for you |
| Proof of address, at higher levels | A recent document the service lists as accepted, again only through its own screen |
The levels, the limits attached to them and the documents accepted differ by service and by country, and they change. This guide does not quote them; the limits screen inside the service is the only reliable source.
ID scams around verification
- Start from inside the service. Open the wallet's settings or verification menu yourself; do not follow a link someone sent you.
- Check the bot's username letter by letter. Copycat bots with nearly identical names are common.
- Never verify in someone else's name, or let someone use yours. Lending or renting a verified account can lead to it being closed and can tie you to crimes run through it; see task scams and money mules.
If verification is refused or stuck
- Check the photo: blur, glare on the ID, a cropped corner or a document that has expired are the usual reasons.
- Check the details: a name typed differently from the document, or the wrong date format, can fail an otherwise good submission.
- Then contact the service's support from the help link inside the service, not from an account that messaged you.
Wallet services in Telegram, such as the Wallet bot (@wallet), are run by companies other than Telegram, under their own terms and privacy policies. Read what they do with your documents before you upload them. For how verification fits with buying and cashing out, see buying with a card and cashing out to local currency.
FAQ
Does Telegram ask for my ID?
No. KYC is run by the wallet service or payment provider you use, not by the Telegram app.
What are the limits at each KYC level?
They differ by service and country and change over time. Check the limits screen inside the wallet service.
Someone offered to verify my wallet for me. Is that safe?
No. Verification is done only on the service's own screen, and anyone asking for your ID in a chat is running a scam.
Sources
At a glance
- 1Why
Custodial wallets and card providers must confirm who you are.
- 2How
Details exactly as on your ID, uploads only inside the service.
- 3Refused
Fix blur, glare and mismatched details, then use in-app support.
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