What Is a Founder Proof of Address and Why You Need It

If you are setting up a company, opening a business bank account, or applying to a startup program, you may be asked for a founder proof of address. It can feel confusing, especially if you are building fast and don’t want admin to slow you down. The good news is that this requirement is simple once you know what regulators and financial institutions are looking for.

Why Anyone Asks for a Proof of Address

When you incorporate a company or interact with banks and compliance driven platforms, they need to verify two basic things. First, they check who you are. Second, they check where you currently live. This helps them confirm that the people who own and run the company actually exist, reduces fraud risk, and keeps everything aligned with KYC and AML rules.

Your national ID or passport covers the “who you are” part. Your proof of address covers the “where you live” part.

What Counts as a Valid Proof of Address

A founder proof of address is usually a simple document that shows your full name and your residential address. These are usually accepted:

• Recent utility bills such as electricity, gas, water, or Internet
• A bank or credit card statement
• An official government letter or tax assessment
• A lease agreement that clearly states your name and address
• A property purchase agreement that shows you as the owner and includes the residential address
• A residence certificate issued by your local authority

The document must be recent and show your full name exactly as it appears on your identification document, as well as your full residential address including the apartment number and ZIP code. If you have co-founders in different countries, each will need to provide a proof of address from their own location.

Also, if your lease agreement includes an automatic renewal clause, you may still use it even if the original signature date is old. Make sure to highlight the renewal section when submitting the document so the reviewer understands that the lease is still active and valid despite the outdated signature date.

Founders from Sanctioned or High Risk Jurisdictions

Some founders especially those holding passports from sanctioned or high risk countries may be asked to provide a proof of address directly to the registered agent before incorporation process as part of an enhanced KYC review. This is common in jurisdictions where compliance checks are stricter (U.S. or BVI, for example) and where service providers must verify both identity and residence before completing any incorporation steps. In these cases you may be asked for more detailed documentation or additional verification. It isn’t a reflection of you as a founder but simply a regulatory requirement the agent must follow.

What Does Not Work

Some documents look official but usually will not pass a compliance check. These include:

• Screenshots from online accounts
• Packages or mail that is not from a regulated institution
• Personal letters
• Documents where the address is handwritten or incomplete
• Outdated utility bills that fall outside the accepted issuance period
• Any expired documents

If the address on your ID is outdated, you will still need a separate document that shows your current residential address.

Tips to Make the Process Easier

First, if your bills aren’t in your name, ask your local authority for an official residence certificate, or ask your landlord to provide a utility bill or supporting document that shows your address.

Second, make sure the document is fully visible and not cropped or blurry.

Third, check the issuing date before uploading anything.

A little preparation goes a long way and lets you move through onboarding steps without surprises.