HIFI Docs

How Documents Work

Upload file

First, upload the document file using the Upload File endpoint to get a file ID.

Add document

Then, associate the file with the user by calling Add Documents with the file ID, type, subtype, and issued country.

KYC approval

Once all required documents are uploaded and verified, submit KYC to trigger review.

Document Attributes

Each document requires three key attributes:

Attribute	Description	Example
type	Category of document being uploaded	`PASSPORT`
subType	Side of document (for multi-sided documents)	`FRONT_SIDE`
issuedCountry	ISO country code where document was issued	`US`, `GB`

Document Types

Supported document types vary by user type (individual vs business).

Individual Documents

For individual user accounts:

Type	Description	Document Group
DRIVERS	Government-issued driver’s license	Identity
ID_CARD	National ID card	Identity
PASSPORT	Passport	Identity
RESIDENCE_PERMIT	Residence permit or visa	Identity
PROOF_OF_ADDRESS	Utility bill, bank statement, lease	Address
SELFIE	Selfie photo for identity verification	Identity
AUTH_LETTER	Authorization letter	Identity
UTILITY_BILL	Utility bill	Address
BANK_STATEMENT	Bank statement	Address
RENTAL_AGREEMENT	Rental agreement	Address
TAX_DOCUMENT	Tax document	Identity
VOTER_REGISTRATION_CARD	Voter ID card	Identity
BANK_REFERENCE_LETTER	Bank reference letter	Identity
LEASE_TENANCY_AGREEMENT	Lease agreement	Address

Business Documents

For business user accounts, requirements are organized by document groups. Check your specific rail’s requirements (e.g., USD Rail).

Type	Description	Document Group
INCORPORATION_ARTICLES	Incorporation articles document	legalPresence
INCORPORATION_CERT	Incorporation certificate document	legalPresence
STATE_REGISTRY	State registry document	legalPresence, ownershipStructure, controlStructure
SHAREHOLDER_REGISTRY	Shareholder registry document	ownershipStructure
TRUST_AGREEMENT	Trust agreement document	ownershipStructure, controlStructure
INFORMATION_STATEMENT	Information statement document	ownershipStructure, controlStructure
DIRECTORS_REGISTRY	Directors registry document	controlStructure
PROOF_OF_ADDRESS	Proof of address document	companyDetails

Document SubTypes

SubTypes specify which side of a document you’re uploading:

SubType	Use For
FRONT_SIDE	Front of ID card or driver’s license
BACK_SIDE	Back of ID card or driver’s license
SINGLE_SIDE	All other documents (passport, bills, certificates)

Multi-sided documents: Only ID_CARD and DRIVERS require both FRONT_SIDE and BACK_SIDE. All other document types use SINGLE_SIDE only.

Document Groups

Compliance requirements are organized into document groups. Users must satisfy all required groups for KYC approval.

Individual Requirements

For individual users, typically required: Identity Group (satisfy with one of):

Driver’s License (front + back)
ID Card (front + back)
Passport
Residence Permit

Address Group (satisfy with one of):

Utility bill
Bank statement
Lease agreement

Business Requirements

Business document requirements are organized by groups. Requirements vary by rail and jurisdiction. For USD Rail, typically required groups include:

legalPresence (min 1): INCORPORATION_ARTICLES, INCORPORATION_CERT, or STATE_REGISTRY
ownershipStructure (min 1): SHAREHOLDER_REGISTRY, TRUST_AGREEMENT, INFORMATION_STATEMENT, or STATE_REGISTRY
companyDetails (min 1): PROOF_OF_ADDRESS
controlStructure (min 1): DIRECTORS_REGISTRY, TRUST_AGREEMENT, INFORMATION_STATEMENT, or STATE_REGISTRY

Beneficial Owner Identity (for each owner >25% share):

Same as individual identity requirements: DRIVERS, ID_CARD, PASSPORT, or RESIDENCE_PERMIT

Specific requirements vary by rail and jurisdiction. Check the KYC requirements for your specific use case.

Uploading Documents

Document upload is a two-step process: first upload the file, then associate it with the user.

Step 1: Upload File

Upload the document file using the Upload File endpoint. Request:

curl -X POST "https://sandbox.hifi.com/v2/files" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: multipart/form-data" \
  -F "file=@/path/to/passport.pdf"

Response:

{
  "id": "file_zEFpbPhk71NaQfEVMR544",
  "createdAt": "2023-10-01T12:00:00Z",
  "fileName": "passport.pdf",
  "size": 204800,
  "mimeType": "application/pdf"
}

Save the id from the response - you’ll need it in step 2.

Step 2: Add Document

Associate the uploaded file with the user using the Add Documents endpoint. Request:

curl -X POST "https://sandbox.hifi.com/v2/kyc/documents" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "userId": "usr_abc123",
    "type": "PASSPORT",
    "subType": "SINGLE_SIDE",
    "issuedCountry": "US",
    "fileId": "file_zEFpbPhk71NaQfEVMR544"
  }'

Request Fields:

userId (required): User ID for whom documents are being uploaded
type (required): Document type from the supported types list
subType (required): FRONT_SIDE, BACK_SIDE, or SINGLE_SIDE
issuedCountry (required): ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code
fileId (required): File ID from step 1

Response:

{
  "id": "doc_abc123",
  "type": "PASSPORT",
  "subType": "SINGLE_SIDE",
  "issuedCountry": "US",
  "fileId": "file_zEFpbPhk71NaQfEVMR544",
  "url": "https://example.com/doc_123"
}

For detailed field documentation, see the Add Documents API reference.

File Requirements

Documents must meet these requirements:

Requirement	Specification
File types	PDF, JPG, JPEG, PNG
Max size	10 MB per file
Resolution	Minimum 300 DPI recommended
Quality	Clear, legible, all corners visible
Color	Color or grayscale (no black & white)

Document quality matters: Blurry, cropped, or illegible documents will be rejected. Ensure all text and photos are clearly visible before uploading.

Key Concepts

Satisfying Document Groups

KYC approval requires satisfying all document groups:Example for Individual (USD Rail):

Identity group: Upload ONE of (passport, driver’s license, ID card, residence permit)
Address group: Upload ONE of (utility bill, bank statement, lease)

Example for Business (USD Rail):

legalPresence group: Upload ONE of (INCORPORATION_ARTICLES, INCORPORATION_CERT, STATE_REGISTRY)
ownershipStructure group: Upload ONE of (SHAREHOLDER_REGISTRY, TRUST_AGREEMENT, INFORMATION_STATEMENT, STATE_REGISTRY)
companyDetails group: Upload ONE of (PROOF_OF_ADDRESS)
controlStructure group: Upload ONE of (DIRECTORS_REGISTRY, TRUST_AGREEMENT, INFORMATION_STATEMENT, STATE_REGISTRY)
Owner identity: Upload identity documents for EACH beneficial owner (>25% share)

You must provide enough documents to satisfy each required group.

Multi-sided Document Upload

For driver’s licenses and ID cards, upload both sides separately using the two-step process:Upload front side:

# Step 1: Upload front file
curl -X POST "https://sandbox.hifi.com/v2/files" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -F "file=@front.jpg"
# Returns: { "id": "file_front123", ... }

# Step 2: Add front document
curl -X POST "https://sandbox.hifi.com/v2/kyc/documents" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "userId": "usr_abc123",
    "type": "DRIVERS",
    "subType": "FRONT_SIDE",
    "issuedCountry": "US",
    "fileId": "file_front123"
  }'

Upload back side:

# Step 1: Upload back file
curl -X POST "https://sandbox.hifi.com/v2/files" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -F "file=@back.jpg"
# Returns: { "id": "file_back123", ... }

# Step 2: Add back document
curl -X POST "https://sandbox.hifi.com/v2/kyc/documents" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "userId": "usr_abc123",
    "type": "DRIVERS",
    "subType": "BACK_SIDE",
    "issuedCountry": "US",
    "fileId": "file_back123"
  }'

Both uploads must complete successfully for the document to be considered complete.

Issued Country Importance

The issuedCountry field is critical for compliance:

Must match the country that issued the document
Use ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 codes (e.g., US, GB, CA, DE)
Affects which documents are accepted
Used for sanctions screening and compliance checks

Common codes:

US - United States
GB - United Kingdom
CA - Canada
MX - Mexico
BR - Brazil

Document Status

Uploaded documents progress through verification:

PENDING_REVIEW: Document uploaded, awaiting verification
APPROVED: Document verified and accepted
REJECTED: Document rejected (see rejection reason)
EXPIRED: Document expired and needs replacement

Subscribe to KYC webhook events to track document verification status.

Proof of Address Requirements

Proof of address documents must meet specific criteria:Accepted documents:

Utility bills (electric, gas, water, internet)
Bank statements
Lease agreements
Government correspondence

Requirements:

Dated within last 3 months
Shows full name matching KYC information
Shows complete address
Issued by reputable organization

Screenshots or photos of digital statements are typically rejected.

Sample Code

Here’s a complete document upload workflow for individual KYC:

Upload identity document

Upload the identity document (passport):

async function uploadIdentityDocument(userId, passportFile) {
  const formData = new FormData();
  formData.append('userId', userId);
  formData.append('type', 'PASSPORT');
  formData.append('subType', 'SINGLE_SIDE');
  formData.append('issuedCountry', 'US');
  formData.append('file', passportFile);
  
  const response = await fetch('https://sandbox.hifi.com/v2/kyc/documents', {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: {
      'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY'
    },
    body: formData
  }).then(r => r.json());
  
  console.log('Passport uploaded:', response.documentId);
  return response;
}

Upload proof of address

Upload the proof of address document:

async function uploadProofOfAddress(userId, utilityBillFile) {
  const formData = new FormData();
  formData.append('userId', userId);
  formData.append('type', 'PROOF_OF_ADDRESS');
  formData.append('subType', 'SINGLE_SIDE');
  formData.append('issuedCountry', 'US');
  formData.append('file', utilityBillFile);
  
  const response = await fetch('https://sandbox.hifi.com/v2/kyc/documents', {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: {
      'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY'
    },
    body: formData
  }).then(r => r.json());
  
  console.log('Proof of address uploaded:', response.documentId);
  return response;
}

Upload driver's license (both sides)

Upload both sides of the driver’s license:

async function uploadDriversLicense(userId, frontFile, backFile) {
  // Upload front
  const frontData = new FormData();
  frontData.append('userId', userId);
  frontData.append('type', 'DRIVERS');
  frontData.append('subType', 'FRONT_SIDE');
  frontData.append('issuedCountry', 'US');
  frontData.append('file', frontFile);
  
  const frontResponse = await fetch('https://sandbox.hifi.com/v2/kyc/documents', {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' },
    body: frontData
  }).then(r => r.json());
  
  console.log('Front side uploaded:', frontResponse.documentId);
  
  // Upload back
  const backData = new FormData();
  backData.append('userId', userId);
  backData.append('type', 'DRIVERS');
  backData.append('subType', 'BACK_SIDE');
  backData.append('issuedCountry', 'US');
  backData.append('file', backFile);
  
  const backResponse = await fetch('https://sandbox.hifi.com/v2/kyc/documents', {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' },
    body: backData
  }).then(r => r.json());
  
  console.log('Back side uploaded:', backResponse.documentId);
  
  return { front: frontResponse, back: backResponse };
}

Complete KYC workflow

Complete the KYC workflow:

async function completeKYC(userId, documents) {
  // Upload identity document
  await uploadIdentityDocument(userId, documents.passport);
  
  // Upload proof of address
  await uploadProofOfAddress(userId, documents.utilityBill);
  
  // Check KYC status
  const user = await fetch(`https://sandbox.hifi.com/v2/users/${userId}`, {
    headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' }
  }).then(r => r.json());
  
  console.log('KYC Status:', user.kycStatus);
  
  if (user.kycStatus === 'APPROVED') {
    console.log('KYC approved! User can now offramp.');
  } else if (user.kycStatus === 'PENDING') {
    console.log('KYC under review. Documents are being verified.');
  }
}

Handle webhook for document verification

Handle webhook events for document verification:

function handleDocumentWebhook(event) {
  if (event.eventType === 'USER.KYC.UPDATE') {
    const { id, kycStatus, kycRejectionReason } = event.data;
    
    if (kycStatus === 'APPROVED') {
      console.log('KYC approved for user:', id);
      enableOfframping(id);
    } else if (kycStatus === 'REJECTED') {
      console.log('KYC rejected:', kycRejectionReason);
      notifyUserToResubmit(id, kycRejectionReason);
    }
  }
}

Getting Help

📧 Email: support@hifi.com
💬 Slack: Message us in our shared Slack channel

Users - Understanding user accounts and KYC status
KYC Link - Hosted KYC collection flow
Webhooks - Monitor KYC verification status
API Reference - Complete endpoint documentation

Introduction

Core concepts

Features

Compliance

Payments

References

Documents

How Documents Work

Document Attributes

Document Types

Individual Documents

Business Documents

Document SubTypes

Document Groups

Individual Requirements

Business Requirements

Uploading Documents

Step 1: Upload File

Step 2: Add Document

File Requirements

Key Concepts

Sample Code

Getting Help

Introduction

Core concepts

Features

Compliance

Payments

References

Documentation Index

​How Documents Work

​Document Attributes

​Document Types

​Individual Documents

​Business Documents

​Document SubTypes

​Document Groups

​Individual Requirements

​Business Requirements

​Uploading Documents

​Step 1: Upload File

​Step 2: Add Document

​File Requirements

​Key Concepts

​Sample Code

​Getting Help

​Related Resources

How Documents Work

Document Attributes

Document Types

Individual Documents

Business Documents

Document SubTypes

Document Groups

Individual Requirements

Business Requirements

Uploading Documents

Step 1: Upload File

Step 2: Add Document

File Requirements

Key Concepts

Sample Code

Getting Help

Related Resources