Real photo by Kelly Sikkema / Unsplash, used under the Unsplash License.
Primary sources checked: On July 17, 2026, we reviewed Kalshi's current guides for individual signup, document verification, required verification information, email and phone verification, international access, data storage, and support, plus the current Member Agreement and Privacy Policy. The live signup request and legal terms control for a specific applicant.
Kalshi's individual signup guide states that an applicant must be 18 or older and pass document verification if requested. Kalshi is accessible from many countries, not only the United States. Restricted jurisdictions and representations are defined in the Member Agreement, and each user is responsible for confirming that access is lawful where they are located.
International signup asks for identity and country of residence. A US phone number is not universally required, although not every international country code is supported. Do not use a VPN, false address, borrowed phone number, or another person's document to work around an eligibility result.
Kalshi does not accept a commercial address or PO box as the residential address. It may request additional documents such as proof of address, employment information, or source-of-funds evidence. A request for one applicant does not prove that every applicant will be asked for the same items.
| Submission | Current guidance | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's license | Accepted when valid, original, legible, undamaged, and photo-bearing | Profile name and details must match exactly. |
| Passport | Accepted under the same validity and image-quality conditions | Use the physical document, not a screen image. |
| Screenshot, scan, photocopy | Not accepted | The verification flow requires a direct photo of the original. |
| Expired or damaged ID | Not accepted | Even readable details do not replace current validity. |
| Student, employee, library, or bank card | Not accepted | These are not accepted government photo IDs. |
Do not wait until a time-sensitive market is about to close. Verification is an eligibility and compliance process, not a guaranteed instant funding step.
| Symptom | Check first | Safe next action |
|---|---|---|
| Image rejected | Blur, glare, shadow, cropped corner, screen photo, damage, expiration | Retake one clean image or use another accepted original ID. |
| Name mismatch | Nickname, missing middle name, previous legal name | Align the profile with the current ID; provide official name-change documentation when required. |
| Address rejected | Commercial address, PO box, outdated or inconsistent residential address | Use the accurate residential address and provide proof only through the official request. |
| Email or SMS code missing | Spam folder, typo, signal, SMS filtering, unsupported number type or country code | Wait for the documented delivery window, correct the contact method, then retry. |
| Duplicate-account warning | Different login method or Apple private-relay address on the original account | Recover the original account; do not create another one. |
| Clean resubmission still fails | Outstanding review or additional-information request | Use support messenger while logged in and include the account email, full name, details, and screenshot when safe. |
Kalshi's current document and storage guides distinguish the uploaded ID image from other required account data. They say the ID image is sent to a third-party KYC partner, and that Kalshi does not receive or store the image or the information printed on it. Kalshi separately says it retains address, phone number, email, and an encrypted Social Security number for audit and regulatory purposes.
This summary is not a substitute for the Privacy Policy, which describes broader categories of identity, contact, financial, profile, and usage data. No online system should be described as risk-free. Start the process from the official app or kalshi.com, verify the domain, use a unique password, and never send an ID through Telegram, social media, or an unsolicited email link.
Approval enables access subject to the account's current product and location eligibility; it does not guarantee every funding method or trading product. Read the deposit-method comparison before moving money and the withdrawal guide before assuming funds are immediately withdrawable.
Entity onboarding is separate. Businesses, funds, and other entities use the institutional application and can be asked for formation documents, financial statements, signer IDs, proof of address, and source-of-funds documentation.
Kalshi's current document guide says verification usually takes a few minutes when the image is clear. That is not a guaranteed approval time. A mismatch, failed image, additional-document request, country check, or manual review can take longer; follow the instructions in the account or review email.
Kalshi's current document guide lists an original, valid driver's license or passport. The document must be unexpired, legible, undamaged, and include a photo. Screenshots, scans, photocopies, expired documents, and non-government IDs are not accepted.
Kalshi says it is accessible from many countries, with restricted jurisdictions defined by the Member Agreement. Signup asks users to verify identity and country of residence. Eligibility is location- and person-specific, so confirm the current agreement and signup screen rather than assuming US-only access.
Retake the photo with even light, no glare, all four corners visible, and sharp text. Confirm the ID is an accepted original and that the profile name and residential address match. If another clean attempt fails, use support chat while logged in instead of creating a second account.
Kalshi says the image is sent to a third-party KYC partner for verification and that Kalshi does not receive or store the ID image or the information printed on it. Kalshi separately retains required personal details for audit and regulatory purposes. Review the current privacy policy for the complete terms.
Yes. Kalshi's current document-verification guide says users are typically prompted at signup and may occasionally be prompted again as part of routine compliance checks. Follow the current in-account request and never send identity documents through an unofficial link or social-media message.
Not legal, privacy, or financial advice. This independent guide is not affiliated with Kalshi. Eligibility, accepted documents, country access, verification checks, and data practices can change. Verify the current signup flow, Member Agreement, Privacy Policy, and official support instructions.