Opening a Trading Account FAQs
- How do I open an account with FOREX.com?
- What information do I need when opening an account?
- Why do I need to provide my financial information?
- How much money do I need to open an account?
- How do I know if my account has been opened?
- Can I add more accounts?
- How can I send my documentation to FOREX.com?
- My documents are not in English. Will this be a problem?
- Can Alberta residents open a FOREX.com account?
- Whose name and address should be on the confirmation documents for a corporate account application?
- What are Articles of Incorporation in regards to a corporate account?
- How can I provide the breakdown of shares/Share Registry for my corporate account?
- What is a Certification of Incorporation in regards to a corporate account?
- For a joint account, do I need documentation for both account holders?
How do I open an account with FOREX.com?
You can apply for an account with FOREX.com online. Start your application now.
What information do I need when opening an account?
We will attempt to electronically verify the identification of all Canadian residents. If we are unable to verify, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation to verify name, address, date of birth and/or financial account. Below is a list of acceptable documents for each validation category.
Address Verification (Name and Address)
- Utility bill (electricity, telecommunications, water, etc.)
- CPP (Canada Pension Plan) statement
- T4 statement
Other acceptable documents
- Benefits statement (federal, provincial, territorial, or municipal)
- Record of employment
- Registered account statement (RRSP, GIC, etc.)
- Identification product from a Canadian credit bureau (containing two trade lines in existence for at least six months)
- CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) documents (see example)
Identity Verification (Name and Date of Birth)
- Insurance document (home, auto, life)
- CPP (Canada Pension Plan) statement of contributions
Other acceptable documents
- Canadian credit file that has been in existence for at least six months
- Identification product from a Canadian credit bureau (containing two trade lines in existence for at least six months)
- Original documents (must be physically mailed for review)
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate or long-form proof of marriage document
- Divorce documentation
General Verification (Name and Financial Account)
Other acceptable documents
- Loan account statement (such as mortgage)
- Identification product from a Canadian credit bureau (containing two trade lines in existence for at least six months)
- Cheque that has been cleared by a financial institution
- Cheque drawn from your own personal checking account at a Canadian bank in the amount as little as $1.00, payable to FOREX.com for deposit into your new account
- All documents received must be original (physical or electronic) and cannot be provided as a scan or photo, except photo IDs
- Physical documents must be mailed – refer to Original Documents under Identity Verification
- All documents must be in good standing (must include your name, residential address, and dated within the past 3 months and includes your residential address)
If required to submit documentation to verify identification, the quickest way to submit is via MyAccount, our secure online account management portal. Simply log into MyAccount using credentials provided to you during account opening process.
Why do I need to provide my financial information?
FOREX.com’s Customer Due Diligence (‘CDD’) program requires that we verify the source of our clients' funds. This is fundamental in complying with anti-money laundering laws and managing fraud risks. Therefore, we may request you to provide a bank statement or card account statement.
How much money do I need to open an account?
The minimum initial deposit required is at least $100. However, we recommend you deposit at least $2,500 to allow you more flexibility and better risk management when trading your account.
How do I know if my account has been opened?
We will email you as soon as your application has been approved. Alternatively, you can always log into MyAccount to check on the status of your account application.
Can I add more accounts?
Adding additional accounts, such as our MT5 or RAW Pricing accounts, is quick and easy. Simply visit the My Accounts page and choose Add Account to auto-fill a new application with just one click.
How can I send my documentation to FOREX.com?
The fastest way to provide us with supporting documentation is via MyAccount: Log in and follow the instructions to upload your documents.
You can also email or mail us your documentation:
Email: [email protected]
Mail: 30 Independence Blvd, Suite 300 (3rd floor), Warren, NJ 07059
My documents are not in English. Will this be a problem?
No, FOREX.com has staff available to translate documents from many languages.
Can Alberta residents open a FOREX.com account?
To open a Trading Account account as a resident of Alberta, you must be an Accredited Investor.
An Accredited Investor must fall under one of the following statements:
- An individual whose net income before taxes exceeds $200,000 CAD or whose net income before taxes combined with that of a spouse exceeds $300,000 CAD
- An individual who, either alone or with a spouse, has net assets of at least $5,000,000 CAD
- An individual who, either alone or with a spouse, beneficially owns financial assets having an aggregate realizable value that before taxes, but net of any related liabilities, exceeds $1,000,000 CAD
- An entity, other than an individual or investment fund, that has net assets of at least $5,000,000 CAD
- An individual or entity registered under the securities legislation of a jurisdiction of Canada as an Adviser or Dealer, other than a person registered solely as a Limited Market Dealer under the Securities Act of Ontario or Newfoundland and Labrador.
For more information, please view the Accredited Investor document.
Whose name and address should be on the confirmation documents for a corporate account application?
The address verification document for a corporate account application should display the entity’s name and primary business address.
What are Articles of Incorporation in regard to a corporate account?
Articles of Incorporation state the purpose for which the company was formed, indicate the members of the company, and sets forth its purpose according to the laws of the state in which it is established. These documents are sometimes referred to as Articles of Association and Memorandum of Association and should also include a breakdown of the shares of the company. If any shareholder owns more than 10% of the company, we will require full verification for that shareholder.
How can I provide the breakdown of shares/Share Registry for my corporate account?
The corporate breakdown of shares or Share Registry should be within the official Articles of Incorporation. If the details are not within the corporate documentation, please provide the Share Register and/or Share Certificates for all shareholders.
What is a Certification of Incorporation in regard to a corporate account?
A Certificate of Incorporation is a statement which confirms that a new company has fulfilled the necessary legal requirements for incorporation and is duly incorporated according to the local government or other regulatory agency.
For a joint account, do I need documentation for both account holders?
Yes, both account holders must provide the required documentation.