What FICA, Proof of Residence, Banking & Verification Documents covers
This section covers the documents South African banks and financial institutions ask for: FICA requirements, proof of residence, tax certificates such as IT3(b), the RE5 regulatory examination certificate, and the verification steps that go with opening or maintaining a financial account.
FICA is the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, and it is the reason your bank periodically asks you to prove who you are and where you live. Institutions are legally required to identify and verify their customers, which is why the request arrives even after twenty years as a customer. It is not a judgement about you; it is a statutory obligation on them.
Two documents cause most of the confusion. IT3(b) is a certificate of investment income issued by a bank or investment house, showing interest and dividends earned in a tax year. It goes to SARS at tax time, and it is not an employment document. RE5 is entirely different — a regulatory examination certificate for people working in financial services, proving competence to give financial advice. They sit in the same section because both are “certificates a financial institution asks about”, and they answer completely different questions.
Proof of residence is where most people get stuck, and the honest answer is that requirements vary by institution.
Browse individual used-for guides
- A Tax Certificate used for
- A Visa Card used for
- An It3b Certificate used for
- FICA used for
- Google Verification Code used for
- It3b Certificate used for
- It3b Tax Certificate used for
- My Phone Number Cannot Be used for
- Phone Number used for
- Re5 Certificate used for
- Rr102 used for
- Tax Certificate used for
- This Number Cannot Be used for
- This Phone Number Cannot Be used for
- Visa Card used for
Most searched questions in this topic
- It3b Certificate used for
- Re5 Certificate used for
- Tax Certificate used for
- This Phone Number Cannot Be used for
- A Tax Certificate used for
- FICA used for
- It3b Tax Certificate used for
- My Phone Number Cannot Be used for
How the guides in this section differ
Identity or address. FICA verification covers both, and the acceptable documents differ for each.
Personal or professional. IT3(b) and tax certificates concern your own finances. RE5 concerns qualification to work in the industry.
Bank-issued or you-provide. Some documents are issued to you by an institution; others you must supply. Knowing which you are dealing with saves a wasted trip.
Institution-specific. What one bank accepts as proof of residence, another may not. There is no single national list, which is why guides here point you to your own institution to confirm.
| Document | Issued by | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| IT3(b) | Bank or investment house | Declaring investment income to SARS |
| Tax certificate (general) | Various institutions | Supporting a tax return |
| RE5 certificate | Regulatory examination body | Qualification to give financial advice |
| Proof of residence | Utility, bank, landlord, others | FICA address verification |
| Identity document | Home Affairs | FICA identity verification |
Related topics and alternatives
- Explore Immigration, Visas & Permits
- Explore SARS, Tax, eFiling & Tax Compliance
- Explore Home Affairs, Identity, Passport & Civil Records
Safety, accuracy and next-step checks
UsedFor is an independent explainer with no affiliation to any bank, regulator or government department. Requirements change, and they differ between institutions.
Points worth carrying:
- Confirm with your own institution. FICA acceptance criteria vary between banks. Ask yours what it will accept before gathering documents, rather than after being turned away.
- Where the account is not in your name, recognised alternatives usually exist — an affidavit, a letter from the account holder with their documents, or a landlord’s letter with a lease. Ask what your institution requires.
- Check how recent a document must be. Many institutions require proof of residence issued within the last three months, and certified copies are often treated as valid for a similar period.
- Never share banking credentials, PINs or one-time codes with anyone contacting you about FICA. Impersonating a bank’s compliance department is a common approach — see our security guides.
- Beware of anyone charging to “complete FICA for you” or asking you to submit documents through an unofficial channel. Use the bank’s own branch, app or verified website.
- Do not send documents to a link in an SMS or email. Go to the institution directly.
- Keep copies of what you submit, and note the date.
- An IT3(b) is not an IRP5. IT3(b) covers investment income; IRP5 covers employment income. Our SARS and tax guides cover the latter.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my bank keep asking for FICA documents? Because the Financial Intelligence Centre Act requires institutions to verify customer identity and address, and to keep that information current. It applies regardless of how long you have banked there.
What counts as proof of residence? It varies by institution. A recent utility bill or bank statement in your name is commonly accepted, with recognised alternatives where the account is in someone else’s name. Confirm with your bank.
What is an IT3(b) used for? It reports investment income — interest and dividends — for a tax year, and is used when completing your tax return.
What is the RE5 certificate for? It is a regulatory examination certificate for financial services professionals, evidencing competence to provide financial advice. It is unrelated to personal banking documents.
Someone phoned about my FICA and asked for an OTP. Is that legitimate? No. No bank will ask for a one-time code. End the call and phone the bank on the number on your card.