Certified True Copy of Passport for Bank Account Opening

Passport Certification for Banking Use

Banks routinely ask for a certified true copy of a passport as part of account opening or periodic KYC review, especially for non-resident accounts, corporate accounts, or accounts opened remotely. We handle the certification appointment for you.

Who Needs This

• Individuals opening a new personal bank account
• Non-residents opening or maintaining a UAE bank account
• Business owners and signatories completing corporate account KYC
• Existing customers going through a periodic KYC refresh
• Anyone whose bank has specifically requested a certified, rather than plain, passport copy

Who Can Attend

The passport holder normally attends with the original document. For corporate accounts, the individual shareholders or signatories named in the bank’s KYC request typically need to attend individually.

How It Works

1. Tell us which bank and account type the certified copy is for
2. We confirm the bank’s specific requirement where known
3. One of our own licensed lawyers or legal consultants examines and certifies your passport copy
4. You receive the certified copy ready for submission to the bank
5. We can provide certification of other KYC documents, such as a trade license, in the same visit

Mistakes to Avoid

• Submitting a plain photocopy where the bank specifically asked for a certified copy
• Not checking the bank’s exact KYC checklist before your appointment
• Certifying an expired passport
• Forgetting to bring supporting corporate documents for a business account
• Leaving certification until the bank’s onboarding deadline

Real-World Examples

A new resident opening their first UAE bank account is asked for a certified true copy of their passport alongside proof of address.

A company director completing corporate KYC needs certified copies of their passport, the trade license and the MOA for the bank’s file.

An existing customer going through an annual KYC refresh is asked to resubmit a certified copy of their passport to confirm nothing has changed.

Certified True Copy vs a Bank-Witnessed Copy

Some banks offer to witness and stamp a copy of your passport themselves at a branch. A certified true copy carried out by our own licensed lawyers and legal consultants is a separate, independent verification, and some banks specifically require this rather than an in-branch copy, particularly for corporate or non-resident accounts. Confirm which your bank requires before your appointment.