As part of our regulatory obligations and commitment to maintaining a secure and compliant marketplace, MERJ requires all clients to complete an initial Know Your Customer (KYC) process during onboarding and to periodically update their KYC information.
Keeping your records accurate and up to date ensures uninterrupted access to our services and helps us meet international standards for anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF).
Please review the information below to understand what is required and how to complete the process efficiently.
🔗 Accessing the Portal
You will receive an email with a link to begin the process via our secure onboarding portal powered by Sumsub. The email should come from "Sumsub Support Team" and email address will be from the @sumsub.com domain.
📝 What You’ll Need
Before you start, ensure you have the following:
- A valid National ID, Passport, or Driver's Licence - jpg, png, pdf, webp, heic formats all accepted; max file size is 50mb
- A proof of address document (for non-Seychelles residents), dated within the last 3 months - jpg, png, pdf, webp, heic formats all accepted; max file size is 50mb
- A valid email address and mobile phone number for verification
🧭 Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Launch the Portal
Click the link provided and select Continue on the welcome screen.
2. Email Verification
Enter a valid email address and click to send a verification code. If you are an existing client and this is a re-KYC screen, please make sure to use the same email address linked to your MERJ account (i.e. the same one to which we sent the communication). Check your inbox (and spam folder if necessary).
Enter the code received.
3. Country of Residence
Select your country of residence. Most users will choose “All countries except the USA” (highlighted in green). Click Continue.
4. Device Selection
Choose whether to proceed on your desktop or mobile device and following the instructions if choosing to continue on a mobile device.
5. Enter Personal Information
Fill in all required personal details, then click Continue. Note: For Seychelles residents, please use your NIN for the TIN field.
6. PEP Declaration
You will be asked to declare whether you or any close relation is a Politically Exposed Person (PEP).
- If yes, provide the requested additional details.
- If no, continue to the next step.
Who is a Politically Exposed Person (PEP)?
Under Seychelles law and international AML standards, a Politically Exposed Person (PEP) is someone who holds, or has held, a prominent public function. This includes both domestic and foreign individuals and extends to their family members and close associates.
Examples of PEPs include:
- Heads of State or Government
- Senior government officials (e.g., ministers, permanent secretaries)
- Members of Parliament
- Senior judicial or military officials
- Senior executives of state-owned enterprises
- Senior officials of political parties
Family members and close associates of a PEP are also considered PEPs, such as:
- Spouse or partner
- Parents and children
- Siblings
- Individuals with close personal or professional relationships
- Beneficiaries of legal arrangements set up for the benefit of the PEP
⏳ Time Period for Former PEPs
If you previously held a prominent public function, you are considered a Former PEP and must continue to declare this status for at least 12 months after leaving that position.
Important: This 12-month period may be extended if the individual is still deemed high-risk due to the nature of their former role, their ongoing influence, or their relationships with active PEPs.
You should disclose your former PEP status when answering onboarding questions, especially if it falls within the past 12 months.
7. Declaration of Interest in Listing Companies
Declare if you or a family member hold 5% or more in any listed company whether listed on MERJ or another stock exchange.
As part of our regulatory and risk management obligations, we ask whether you are connected—either through your role or your ownership interest—to any companies that are publicly listed or related to listed issuers. This information helps us comply with international market abuse, insider trading, and AML/CFT regulations.
Please carefully review the options below and select the one that applies to you. If you are related to someone who meets any of these criteria, please disclose that information in the follow-up field.
The Question
“I am at the service of or holding a participation above 5% in:”
This means you either:
- Work for (i.e., are employed by, are a director of, or advise) the company; or
- Own more than 5% of the company’s shares (directly or indirectly)
You are being asked to confirm whether this applies to any of the following types of companies:
Explanation of Response Options
A company, the shares of which are listed on a stock exchange✔ You should select this option if you hold more than 5% ownership or are employed by a company whose shares are publicly traded on any stock exchange.
Examples:
- You are a director at a Nasdaq-listed tech company.
- You own 6% of a company listed on the London Stock Exchange.
✔ Select this if you work for or hold more than 5% in a subsidiary, parent company, or sister company of a company whose shares are listed.
Example:
- You work for a private subsidiary of a publicly listed group.
- You own 10% of a holding company that owns a listed entity.
✔ Choose this option if you are linked to a company that has publicly traded bonds, derivatives, or other listed financial instruments but not shares.
Examples:
- You hold 5% or more of a company that has corporate bonds listed on a securities exchange.
- You work for a company that issues exchange-traded notes (ETNs) or warrants.
✔ Select this if you are involved with a company in the same corporate group as a company that issues listed financial instruments (excluding shares).
Example:
- You own a stake in or work for a parent company whose subsidiary has listed bonds.
✔ Select this option if none of the above apply to you. This includes if:
- You do not work for or own more than 5% of any listed company.
- You are not associated with any group of companies that are publicly listed or have listed instruments.
Disclosure of Relationships
If you are related to someone (e.g., spouse, family member) who meets any of the above conditions, you must disclose:
- Nature of your relationship (e.g., spouse, sibling)
- Name of the listed company involved
This ensures transparency and helps us manage potential conflicts of interest or insider information concerns.
Why This Matters
Understanding whether you or someone close to you is connected to a listed company:
- Helps prevent insider trading or market abuse
- Ensures fair market practices
- Supports regulatory compliance across jurisdictions
👉 See full list of MERJ Listed Securities
Click Continue once completed.
8. Proof of Address
You may be asked to upload a document (e.g., utility bill or bank statement) as proof of address. Please make sure this document is dated within the last 3 months.
Click Continue after upload.
9. Confirmations & Acknowledgements
You must confirm that you have:
- Provided truthful and accurate information
- Read and accepted the MERJ Platform Participation Agreement
- Read and accepted the MERJ Privacy Policy
10. Identity Verification Process
To verify your identity, MERJ uses Sumsub, a secure, regulated identity verification platform. This step ensures that we comply with global KYC/AML standards and protects your account from unauthorized access.
Step 1: Upload Your Government-Issued ID
You’ll be prompted to upload a clear photo or scan of one of the following valid documents:
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Passport (recommended)
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National ID card (front and back)
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Driver’s license (front and back)
✔ Make sure the document is:
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In good condition (not torn or expired)
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Clearly visible (no glare, blur, or obstruction)
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Fully captured within the frame (not cropped or cut off)
Step 2: Complete the Face Match
After uploading your ID, you may be asked to complete a live face scan using your device's camera.
If this step is enabled, Sumsub will automatically:
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Compare your face to the photo on your uploaded ID
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Check for liveness to ensure it’s a real-time capture (not a photo or video)
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Confirm consistency and flag any mismatches
This process takes only a few seconds and helps ensure that the person submitting the ID is its legitimate holder.
Upload your National ID, Passport, or Driver’s Licence. Once uploaded, click Continue.
11. Phone Number Verification
Enter your mobile number. A code will be sent to your phone via SMS. Enter the code to confirm.
✅ Completion
Upon completing the above steps, you may be prompted to submit additional documentation if needed.
You may see the status "We are processing your data". This means you have successfully completed everything and are in the queue for review.
There is no need for you to wait and you may close the webpage in the meantime.
Once MERJ compliance staff has reviewed and approved your application, you will receive an email notification and the status at the link will change to note the approval.