Which Nationality to Pick? How to Pass OKX KYC with a Passport

You're probably stuck like this: your account's created, you want to buy a little, and the system says you have to verify your identity first. You tap in and it asks you to select a nationality and upload a document — but you only have one document on hand, maybe just a passport, and you're not sure which works. So you start to wonder: can I even pass this? Which nationality do I pick? Will one wrong upload ruin everything?

Put your mind at ease first. OKX (formerly OKEx) KYC long ago stopped being a "one country's ID only" system — a passport is actually the most trouble-free choice here. In this guide, written for anyone registering internationally, we'll lay out which document to use, how to pick your nationality, how to do it step by step, and how to recover if you're bounced. By the end you'll know what to expect, without trial-and-error.

01Why this step is unavoidable

KYC stands for "Know Your Customer" — identity verification. Every legitimate large exchange does it; it's a hard anti-money-laundering compliance requirement across countries, not a hurdle OKX set up just for you.

The practical impact is direct: an unverified account can't use most features — no deposits, no P2P buying, no withdrawals; you can basically just log in and look at the interface. So whether you want to buy your first coin or withdraw coins out, you have to clear this gate first. The good news: it's a one-time thing — once done, normal use never asks for documents again.

02KYC levels: how far do you need to go

OKX verification is tiered. Simply put, two layers:

• Basic verification (L1) — fill in name and document number, upload the document, do the face scan. Clearing this tier is enough for most beginners' everyday deposits/withdrawals, P2P buy/sell, and spot trading.
• Higher-level verification — on top of basic, done as your trading and withdrawal limit needs grow. When your limits run short, the system prompts you to upgrade; otherwise you can leave it.

For someone just getting on board, the goal is clear: clear basic verification first, so you can buy, sell, and withdraw — don't fixate from the start on whether to push for the highest tier.

03No national ID card — which document do you use

This is the heart of the article. The good news again: OKX accepts more than one type of document. Match against what you have:

Why is a passport the top pick? Because it's an internationally standard document — its fields are uniform, machines read it smoothly, the system recognizes it at a high success rate, and it's less likely to be bounced in manual review. If you have both a passport and another ID, use the passport. Which documents are supported is ultimately what the dropdown on your verification page actually lists — the platform shows the available documents dynamically based on the nationality/region you select.

04How to pick your nationality so you don't get stuck on step one

Plenty of people die right here: they pick one region casually at signup, then select a different nationality at KYC, with the document being a third thing — the system compares them, finds a mismatch, and bounces it.

One line is all you need: your nationality, your document, and the region you chose at signup all need to line up.

• If you plan to verify with a passport, select the nationality on that passport, honestly.
• If you use another country's ID, select the matching region/nationality.
• Same logic for any document — pick based on the one you'll actually use.

There's no "which nationality passes more easily" shortcut here — filling it honestly is the most reliable. Trying to game it by picking a nationality that isn't yours will actually fail because the document won't match, wasting your effort. If you filled the region wrong at signup so it conflicts with your document, first try to make the document step match the signup region; if it truly won't reconcile, contact online support and explain.

05Doing it step by step in the app (the face scan needs the app)

The KYC face scan uses the camera, so we'd suggest doing the whole flow in the OKX app — smoother than the web. If you haven't installed the app yet, see App download first, and download only from the official okx.com, not an unknown link.

06Document + face scan — get these right and get bounced less

More than half of rejections come from poorly shot photos. Spend a minute on these and save yourself re-upload time:

• All four corners in frame: get the whole document in, don't crop the edges, and don't let a finger cover key info.
• No glare: the laminate on passports and cards reflects easily and blurs key characters. Don't shoot facing a light or a glass reflection.
• Daylight near a window, even lighting: natural light is most reliable. If you can't, use a soft lamp from the upper side, and don't let harsh light hit the document directly.
• No beauty filters: a beauty camera alters the details of the document and your face, causing the match to fail outright. Use the system's default camera or the app's capture function.
• For the face scan: take off sunglasses and hats, keep hair off your face, keep the background uncluttered, face the camera, and follow the prompted movements.

07Rejected? Don't panic: common reasons + fixes

Getting bounced is very common and doesn't mean your account is no good — the vast majority pass on the re-upload. Match against which one applies:

If you're still stuck after a few re-uploads, don't keep blindly trying. The OKX app has online support (usually in "Help Center" or the support entry at the bottom right of the page); explain your situation and let a person help spot which part went wrong — faster than guessing.

08Registering internationally — a few more things to keep in mind

Beyond the document itself, there are a few things worth knowing in advance:

• Verify with your own real identity, on the matching document: don't borrow someone else's document. If the account's identity doesn't match you, withdrawals and account recovery later become a major headache.
• Mind the laws where you live: countries and regions differ greatly in how they treat crypto. Whether you can legally take part, and whether you need to report taxes, follow the rules where you live — that part is for you to judge.
• Crypto rules vary by country: some places restrict or ban crypto trading, and individual participation can carry legal and policy risk. Where the rules are strict, be extra careful.

09FAQ