01
Company and ownership
Legal name, registration, operating address, directors, beneficial owners, group structure, business bank details and the contracting entity.
Merchant onboarding checklist
PSP onboarding requirements: build a provider-ready merchant brief.
A request that says only ‘we need a PSP’ cannot support a real underwriting decision. A provider-ready brief connects the legal entity, product, markets, payment flows, operating evidence and launch requirements in one coherent dossier.
Send a private payment brief
Practical guidance
What a PSP normally needs to understand
The objective is not to send every available file. It is to present accurate evidence for the specific entity and payment flow under review.
02
Product, website and customer journey
Live domains, products or services, pricing, fulfilment, customer terms, refund path, support contacts and a clear description of how a payment is created.
03
Licence and market access
Licences, exemptions or other regulatory basis, issuing authority, authorised activities and the customer countries served by each entity.
04
Payment and funds flow
PayIn, PayOut, refunds and settlement mapped separately with currencies, methods, ticket sizes, beneficiaries and every party that receives or controls funds.
05
Processing and risk evidence
Current or historical statements, volume, approval rates where available, refunds, disputes, chargebacks, fraud controls and relevant prior provider constraints.
06
Integration and launch plan
API or redirect preference, platform, webhooks, reconciliation, required reporting, expected launch date and the internal owners for compliance, finance and engineering.
Decision checkpoints
When the merchant dossier is ready for review
Completeness means the documents and the operating story agree; a large attachment folder cannot compensate for contradictions.
D1
The applicant is identifiable
The entity, owners, domains, licences and bank relationship describe the same business applying for payment services.
D2
The requested route is specific
Customer GEOs, currencies, methods, flows, volume and settlement requirements are prioritised rather than presented as global and unlimited.
D3
Material risk is disclosed
Acquisition channels, fulfilment, disputes, restricted markets and prior constraints are explained instead of being left for provider due diligence to discover.
D4
The next decision is clear
The provider can accept, decline or request named missing information without restarting the entire qualification conversation.
Decision checklist
Merchant dossier checklist
Specific, current information improves the quality of every provider conversation.
Company registry and ownership
Product URLs and customer terms
Licence or regulatory basis
Target and operating GEOs
Currencies, methods and flows
Volume, ticket size and statements
Risk, refund and dispute controls
Integration and launch owners
Questions
What businesses usually ask
What documents are required for PSP onboarding?
Requirements vary, but a provider commonly requests corporate and ownership records, licences where relevant, product URLs, policies, bank evidence, payment-flow information and processing or risk history.
How long does PSP onboarding take?
There is no universal duration. Timing depends on profile complexity, document quality, provider workload, follow-up questions, integration and whether the submitted information is complete and internally consistent.
Can a merchant apply without processing history?
Potentially. A new business should state that clearly and provide realistic forecasts, product evidence, ownership, funding context and operational controls rather than inventing historical data.
Should the merchant hide a previous PSP decline?
No. Where relevant, the reason should be understood and disclosed accurately. Another provider may have different appetite, but concealing material history weakens the review.
Does a complete dossier guarantee acceptance?
No. It reduces avoidable clarification and makes the decision easier to evaluate, but the PSP retains full control of compliance, underwriting and final terms.
Continue with the service
Related guides and matching briefs
Use the guide
Turn the checklist into a provider-ready payment brief.
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