Onboarding Guide

Onboarding is the process that starts when you click on the "Register" button on our portal and ends when a tradable World Account is created.
The World Account that you have created during registration does not have any transactional function, not until you complete the onboarding process. This guide introduces the onboarding process in detail. We will cover the onboarding methods we provide, as well as the requirements for you to complete the process.

Onboarding methods

WorldFirst provides two types of onboarding methods to choose from according to your business needs:

Portal onboarding

We recommend the portal onboarding method for cross-border sellers or companies who want to experience our capabilities hassle-free without customisation needs. You can directly sign up on our WorldFirst portal and complete the onboarding process in a timely and effective way.
The onboarding requirements can vary depending on your business type. Please refer to the respective guide below for further details:

Business and Identity verification

Please note that business verification and identity verification checks are big parts of the onboarding process. Throughout the registration process, you will be asked to provide certain business-related supporting materials. You will also be asked to verify your identity to comply with the anti-money laundering policy.
We recommend you to read the onboarding requirements and prepare the required materials before you begin the process.

Submit onboarding application

Once you submitted your application, our team will review your case and get back to you within 2 business days.
If your application is approved, you will receive an email notification indicating your onboarding to WorldFirst has been completed. By then, your World Account is already in place. This is the fundamental infrastructure that enables you to create receiving accounts in multiple currencies for fund collection.
To start receiving money from your customers globally, please proceed to create your first receiving account.

Offline onboarding

The offline onboarding method is suitable for platform service providers and corporate clients who want to collaborate with WorldFirst to develop and customise their integration solution.
There are two ways you can get in touch with us:
  1. Fill up the form at the WorldFirst Portal.
  2. Contact our Merchant Service team by email.
Our Merchant Service team will collect necessary information from you and guide you through the whole process.
We recommend you to familiarise yourself with the Onboarding process and Quick Start before you start the WorldFirst integration.

Global Spend-specific onboarding

For Global Spend, the onboarding flow is streamlined for single-entity clients:
  1. Register your entity — Provide your business registration details, director information, and proof of business.
  2. Complete KYB — WorldFirst's compliance team reviews your submission (typically 1–3 business days).
  3. Account activates — Once approved, your World Account is created with multi-currency VA capabilities.
  4. Enable value-add capabilities — If you need Pay CNY to China or Virtual Card, contact your account manager to have these features enabled.
Note: Global Spend accounts are single-entity accounts — there is no Parent-Child hierarchy. If you need multi-entity management, refer to the Business Account Overview product instead.