Skip to main content
Know Your Customer (KYC) verification confirms that a client is who they claim to be. ClearAML connects to the Australian Government’s Document Verification Service (DVS) to validate identity documents, performs biometric facial matching to confirm the document holder is present, and runs an initial PEP/sanctions screen — all in a single check. Each KYC check costs $8 and is deducted from your wallet.
Each KYC check costs $8 and bundles the DVS identity check, document verification, biometric facial match, and an initial PEP/sanctions screen — everything needed to onboard an individual under AUSTRAC customer due diligence (CDD). Your balance and monthly usage are shown on the Billing page.

What KYC covers

A standard KYC check in ClearAML performs three things in sequence:

DVS document verification

Validates the client’s identity document (driver’s licence or passport) against the Australian Government’s Document Verification Service — the same authoritative database used by financial institutions.

Biometric facial matching

Matches a selfie or live photo of the client against the photo on their identity document to confirm the document holder is physically present.

Initial PEP/sanctions screen

Screens the verified individual against global PEP, sanctions, and adverse media watchlists at the same time, so onboarding CDD is complete in one step.
Prefer the client to do the work? Send a secure self-onboarding link from the client’s profile. The client enters their own details, uploads their ID, and completes the biometric check on their own device — the result and screening flow straight back into their ClearAML profile.

Verifying two identity documents in one check

Where your firm’s procedures call for two identity documents (for example, a passport and a driver’s licence), tick Verify two identity documents when sending the verification — available on both the client-profile verification and the Add New Client self-onboarding invitation. The client receives one link and completes one session: they enter both documents’ details on a single form, scan document 1, scan document 2, and take one selfie — the biometric match covers both documents.
  • Price: 2× your per-check rate ($16 at standard pricing). One PEP/sanctions screen is included — screening runs on the person, not per document, so it is never charged twice.
  • Results: the client’s Verification tab shows a Document 1 / Document 2 view, and the compliance PDF records both documents.
  • Partial outcomes: if one document verifies cleanly but the other can’t be processed (blurry, unreadable, expired), the check lands in review with one document verified and the unprocessable document’s share ($8) automatically credited back to your wallet. Send a standard single-document check for the failed document — the client only re-does that one.
  • If both documents are unreadable, the full charge is credited back, exactly as with a standard check.
The two-document option covers documents supported by photographic verification (passports, driver’s licences, national ID cards, residence permits). The two documents must be different document types (two passports from different countries are accepted).

Running a KYC check from the verification page

The standalone verification page at Dashboard → Identity Verification lets you run ad-hoc checks outside of a specific client profile.
1

Go to Identity Verification

Navigate to Dashboard → Identity Verification. The Instant KYC Check card appears on the left.
2

Enter the client's details

Fill in:
  • Full legal name — as it appears on the identity document
  • Date of birth
  • Document number — driver’s licence or passport number
3

Run verification

Click Run Verification. The check takes a few seconds. One KYC credit is consumed on completion.
4

Review the result

The result is displayed immediately:
  • Identity verified — the document and biometric check passed.
  • Check required — a potential match was found and manual review is needed.

Running a KYC check from a client profile

You can also initiate KYC directly from an individual client’s profile page, which links the result to that client’s AML file.
1

Open the client profile

Go to Dashboard → Clients and click the client’s name.
2

Go to the Verification tab

Select the Verification tab within the client’s profile.
3

Initiate the check

Click the verification action to start the KYC process. The client’s existing name and date of birth pre-fill automatically.
4

Review results

Results appear in the Verification tab and are also recorded in the client’s Activity Log with a timestamp and the name of the user who ran the check.

KYB for entities (companies, trusts, SMSFs, partnerships)

For non-individual clients, ClearAML adds Know Your Business (KYB): it maps the entity’s ownership structure and verifies identity at the individual level for each director, shareholder, beneficial owner, and UBO. KYB checks cost $5 plus a variable data fee (the variable component covers third-party data where required).

Entity structure & UBO map

Every entity gets an interactive ownership map. Drag and drop directors, shareholders, trustees, and corporate layers; follow chains across related entities; and anyone with 25%+ effective ownership is flagged as a UBO automatically. Manual mapping is free and unlimited on every plan, and you can export the chart for your file pack.
Instead of building the map by hand, use AI Map Extraction: upload a company extract, trust deed, or agreement and ClearAML drafts the ownership map for you. Each plan includes a monthly allowance of AI extractions (5 on Solo, 15 on Starter, 50 on Professional); additional extractions are $3 each. Manual mapping is always free.
Once the structure is mapped, open the Directors / UBOs tab on the entity’s profile to run a KYC check ($8) or a standalone screen ($5) on each related party.

ASIC company extracts

For Australian companies, purchase an official ASIC register extract directly inside the KYB record for $25 per extract. ClearAML imports the directors and shareholders automatically, attaches the extract PDF as evidence, and flags beneficial owners for verification. Corporate shareholders can be traced layer by layer with further one-click extracts.
A registry-sourced ASIC extract upgrades a company’s KYB determination from document-attested (evidence your firm uploaded and attested) to registry-sourced (official register data, no firm attestation needed). ClearAML also generates a firm-branded analysis report alongside the raw extract, which stays on file as evidence.

Beneficial-ownership declarations

Some holders can’t be traced on any register — trustees of family trusts, nominee companies, foreign entities, limited partnerships. When an ownership branch hits one of these walls, the Beneficial Ownership panel prompts you to record a declaration instead: name the beneficial owner(s) your client has declared behind the holding — a family trust often has several, and each one becomes a beneficial owner requiring verification — or close the branch with a documented no further look-through reason (for example, a widely-held fund or government body). Declarations are free, logged with the recording officer’s name, and appear in the client’s compliance PDF. You can add or remove declared owners at any time from the panel; removing the last one reopens the branch. To cover a company’s whole register without running full KYC on every minor holder, use related-party screening — a point-in-time PEP and sanctions screen of the register’s shareholders and officers who aren’t full clients, for $1 per party.

Interpreting results

What happens after a check

  • The result is stored permanently on the client’s profile under the Verification tab.
  • The check is logged in the Activity Log with a timestamp and the name of the user who ran it.
  • The client’s Completion Checklist updates to reflect that KYC has been completed.
  • If the result is “Check required”, the checklist will prompt you to record a decision before the client can be marked fully verified.
A passed KYC check does not by itself satisfy all AML/CTF obligations. You must also complete a risk assessment and, where required, PEP/sanctions screening before onboarding a client.