Wise, one of the popular global fintech companies—formerly known as TransferWise—offers international money transfer services and multi-currency accounts. This recently introduced an important policy update affecting users with a virtual business address. Wise now requires businesses to replace non-acceptable trading addresses with a verifiable physical trading address and submit acceptable documentation for verification.
In this guide, we will specifically discuss the Wise trading address update for business accounts and how it impacts you, including how to update it. So, let’s proceed!
What Is a Wise Trading Address?
A Wise trading address is a physical location where you work every single day, or where your customers can contact you physically with your business. This can be your office, studio, home, or even a co-working space; as long as it is a real, physical address and not just a mailbox or virtual office.
Did you get a clear picture yet? No? Okay, let me explain!
Previously, some users tried to use virtual business addresses, but Wise does not accept:
- Mail forwarding or receiving addresses.
- Virtual Addresses,
- PO boxes, or
- Similar non-physical locations
as trading addresses.
Why Does Wise Require the Physical Trading Address instead of the Virtual Address?
Now you may be wondering why this change matters.
The main reason behind this requirement is regulatory compliance. Wise, as a regulated financial institution, must collect verifiable information about where a business actually operates to meet Know-Your-Customer (KYC) and anti-money-laundering (AML) rules. A physical trading address helps Wise match documentation and verify that the business is legitimate and traceable.
Curious to learn more?
This change directly relates to the Wise trading address update, which helps the company meet global AML and KYC standards.
How Do the Changes Impact?
These compliance rules around the Wise trading address affect all Wise Business account users, especially those without a physical operational location. Wise may ask you to update your trading address because it does not accept virtual addresses or services that are not physical locations.
As Richard Eyre once said, “Every action has a consequence.” So this change of address isn’t different either.
- Updating Address: When you update your trading address, you’ll need to provide a physical address that can be verified with acceptable documents like a utility bill or lease agreement.
- Verification Process: Wise requires documentation showing the business name and the physical address to successfully verify the trading address; these cannot be virtual mailboxes.
- Account Restriction: Wise can restrict certain features if you don’t update your trading address. For example, you may be unable to receive USD local account details until compliance is satisfied.
- Operational Clarity: Providing a valid physical trading address aligns your information with regulatory expectations, which protects your account in the long term.
Overall, this Wise Trading address update 2024 affects businesses that have relied on virtual addresses, particularly in sectors like e-commerce, freelancing, and consulting, where physical offices are not always necessary. Those who do not have a traditional trading address may need to look into alternatives, such as using a co-working space or their home address, to remain compliant with Wise’s new policy.
How to Replace the Trading Address?
Once submitted, Wise will verify your new Wise trading address and confirm it via email.
So, if you have a Wise ‘Active’ business account and a physical trading address, you can change your address. Learn the following steps to update your address:
- Log in to your Wise business account.
- Go to Business details and find the Trading addresses section.
- Enter your physical trading address.
- Upload documentation that clearly shows your business name and that address.
- Submit and wait for verification.
Again, you cannot use a virtual address, PO box, mail forwarding service, or registered office address alone as your trading address.
Considering Factors When Changing the Physical Trading Address
Wait! Your job isn’t done yet. There are a few things you need to consider when changing the address of your Wise business account:
- Address Verification Process: When you update your address, Wise may ask for proof of address (such as a utility bill, lease agreement, insurance document, or business license) that matches the new address you’ve provided.
- Trading Address vs. Registered Address: Though the registered office address or registered agent and trading address all require using the physical space, there are differences.
You don’t need to use the physical address where your business was originally formed—whether in the US, UK, or other regions—in terms of a trading address like a registered address. Instead, you should provide the address where your business operations take place. The country you choose must be one that Wise accepts for their services.
For instance, if you have formed a business as a non-resident with a registered agent representing you in the United States, but you are operating the same business from India, in this case, you can use your Indian business location as your physical trading address. This works only if Wise supports business accounts in that country and your business genuinely operates from that location. - Same Registered and Trading Address: In some cases, the registered address and trading address might be the same. If so, you can simply provide that physical address, as it will serve both purposes.
For example, if you form and run a business in the US—where you have a registered agent in the US that has a physical office—you can use the same address as the physical trading address for your Wise Business account only if that location is actually used for day-to-day business operations and meets Wise’s trading address requirements.
What If You Don’t Have a Physical Trading Address?
If you still haven’t updated your Wise trading address, Wise recommends using your home or operational address instead of a virtual one.
Though virtual addresses have been convenient for many businesses without a physical presence in certain countries, Wise does not accept virtual addresses as valid trading addresses, and you still need to make the Wise trading address update to remain compliant.
At this moment, if your business operates entirely online or you do not have a physical office, Wise recommends providing the address where your core operations occur. This could be your home address or any location where you manage your business activities, as long as it can be verified. If you’re unable to provide a suitable physical address on your own, there are third-party services you can seek help from. You can get your physical trading address from our one-stop company formation service provider, Business Globalizer, subject to Wise’s verification and acceptance, at affordable pricing.
How Business Globalizer Can Help with Trading Address?
Business Globalizer can assist in securing a verifiable physical trading address that Wise accepts, including documentation like utility bills or lease agreements where applicable. This ensures that your Wise Business account stays compliant with the updated address requirements and avoids service interruptions.
FAQs
Q1: What happens if I don’t have a physical trading address for my business?
Answer: If your business operates without a physical office or trading address, Business Globalizer can help by providing you with a verifiable physical trading address solution in the USA, UK, or other key locations. This helps you meet Wise’s trading address requirements (subject to Wise approval) and stay eligible to use Wise’s services without disruption.
Q2: Can Business Globalizer help me provide the required proof of my trading address?
Answer: Yes, Business Globalizer offers comprehensive documentation support. We provide supporting address documents (where applicable), such as lease agreements or utility bills, that you can submit to Wise for verification. This makes the process of updating your Wise account seamless and hassle-free.
Q3: How can Business Globalizer assist businesses transitioning from virtual to trading addresses?
Answer: For businesses that previously relied on virtual addresses, Business Globalizer provides consulting and address transition support. We ensure your business complies with Wise’s trading address requirements by securing a physical trading address, offering documentation, and guiding you through the update process.
Q4: How long does it take to provide a copy of the utility bill for address verification purposes for Wise?
Answer: Once you order our services, this will take 30 to 45 business working days.
Bottom Line
In short, Wise’s trading address update, replacing virtual addresses, comes down to compliance and transparency. Once you move to a verifiable physical trading address, you can keep using Wise’s services while staying aligned with their updated requirements.
