Why do I need to provide a personal identification number?

Summary
This article explains what a personal identification number is, why Bitvavo asks for it, and what you need to do if you’re asked to add one to your account. You'll also find step-by-step instructions on how to add or update your personal identification number. This is a new requirement to help Bitvavo stay compliant with European MiCA regulations.

What is a personal identification number?

To meet the requirements of the MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) regulation, Bitvavo must collect a regulatory identifier from all users who have completed identity verification. This identifier is called a personal identification number.

Your personal identification number is based on:

Your nationality
A document number from an official document (like a passport or ID)

If we don't already have your personal identification number, we’ll ask you to add it manually in your Bitvavo account.

Note: you do not have to provide your citizen service number (BSN).

What changes for me?

If your personal identification number is missing in our system, you’ll get a message from us asking you to submit it. This only applies to users who are already fully ID-verified.

You’ll see a request in your Bitvavo account, and we’ll also send an email reminder.

What do I need to do?

Log in to your Bitvavo account on the web.
Go to your profile settings and navigate to Verifications or click this link to go there directly.
Next to the ID document number field, click the "Add" button.
Select your nationality.
Choose the document type you’re using (e.g., passport, ID card).
Enter the document number exactly as it appears on your document.
Confirm and submit.

Tip: You won’t need to upload your document. We only check if the format is correct, not the document itself.

What if I don’t have the right document?

If you don’t have the document needed to generate your personal identification number, Bitvavo will automatically create a placeholder personal identification number for you using your:

Date of birth
First five letters of your first name (padded with # if shorter)
First five letters of your last name

Example:
Date of birth: 1999-12-08
Name: John Doe
Personal ID number: 19991208JOHN#DOE##

Why is this necessary?

It is required by the MiCA regulation for every user to have a personal identification number as part of the effort to harmonize crypto regulation across Europe.

By collecting this information, Bitvavo stays compliant with EU law and can continue to provide services to European users.

What happens if I don’t provide my personal identification number?

You will still be able to use your Bitvavo account and trade crypto. However, you’ll receive a few reminders (via email and in-app) until your personal identification number is added.

Frequently asked questions

What if I already gave my ID during verification?

In some cases, we may already have the necessary information. If so, you don’t need to do anything. You’ll only be asked to provide your personal identification number if it’s still missing from your profile.

How do you use my personal identification number?

We store your personal identification number securely and only use it to meet the legal requirements under the MiCA regulation. It’s never shared with third parties.

Do I need to provide a new personal identification number if I move to another country?

No, Bitvavo will only ask for one personal identification number based on your nationality, even if you live in a different country.

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