Welcome to your Qonto business account

Thank you for choosing a shelf company with Qonto.

  1. Manage your finances digitally and transparently - all in one place.
  2. Your business account is ready to go, without unnecessary paperwork.
  3. Our team is by your side every step of the way.

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More than 500,000 companies rely on Qonto.

Steps for taking over your account

Submit your documents

All the documents we need should be sent by your shelf company provider. You shouldn’t need to give us anything else.

Verify your identity

At this stage, you’ll receive a link to carry out a digital identity verification.

Activate your account

Get started managing your business finances right away.

Submit your Trade Register extract

Send us your Trade Register extract within 10 weeks to enjoy full account access.

Any questions?

Our team’s on hand to help you every step of the way with your new shelf company business account. Simply email us at vorratsgesellschaften@qonto.com.

More than 500,000 companies rely on Qonto.

1 of 4

“I can say with conviction that the decision to switch to Qonto was one of the best decisions for our financial management. Qonto has streamlined our payments and given us complete control over our finances.”

Marc Peter Dauter

GF Le Wagon GmbH
View customer story
2 of 4

“With Qonto, we don't need an extra tool for expense reporting or invoice management. We have it all in our business account.”

Hans-Peter Frank 

Country Manager Germany Fleet 

View customer story
3 of 4

“Qonto helps us process payments in real time while optimally distributing incoming payment flows across our various accounts.”

Klemens Witte

Gründer & CEO GreenHomeNow

View customer story
4 of 4

“We use five cards in our team. Our employees can use them to pay independently within their budgets. At the same time, we can also define cost categories in advance. This gives our employees autonomy and we keep track of t...”

Benita Krahforst

CFO Meine Erde

View customer story
black and white Photo Testimonial Marc Peter Dauter Wagon
black and white Photo Testimonial Hans Peter Frank Fleet
WEB Photo Testimonial Benita Krahforst Meine Erde

Requirements and rules for account takeover

What identification documents and other documents do I need to submit to Qonto to take over my account?

Various documents and proofs are required to take over an account with Qonto in order to meet the legal and security standards. The documents required depend heavily on the legal framework and the identification and legitimation requirements of the new account holder. The following documents and proofs in particular are required for the account takeover:

  • Proof of identity

A valid EU/EFTA identity document (identity card or passport) or a German residence permit (for non-EU/EFTA citizens) to confirm the identity of the new account holder.

To request video identification, we require the e-mail address and the full name of the managing director.

  • Company documents

These include the purchase agreement confirming the transfer of the company shares, the commercial register application as proof of proper registration of the company and a list of shareholders to show the current ownership structure. These documents ensure that the takeover complies with legal requirements and that the new account holder is legitimate.

All the necessary evidence and documents are sent to us directly by your provider. It is therefore not necessary for you to forward them yourself.

What data and documents do I need for identity verification via IDnow?

Some important data and documents are required for the identity check at Qonto in order to verify the identity of the new account holder or managing director and to comply with the legal requirements. Here is an overview of the required documents and information:

Valid identification document

For identity verification, the managing director or account holder must present a valid identification document. Accepted are:

  • Identity card or passport from an EU or EFTA member state (e.g. Germany, France, Switzerland).
  • German residence permit (for citizens outside the EU/EFTA), which must also be valid.

The identity document is used for personal identification and must be completely legible and undamaged in order to meet the requirements of the identity check.

Please also find the criteria for identity documents here.

What happens if verification via IDNow is not possible? Are there alternatives?

If verification via IDNow is not possible, there is an alternative: you can authorize another person to carry out the verification on your behalf. This person must meet all the aforementioned requirements for identity verification. To do this, you need a general power of attorney that allows this person to carry out the verification for you.

You can obtain the power of attorney from your provider. 

What requirements must a new managing director or the shareholders fulfill, especially with regard to countries of origin?

A new managing director must fulfill the following requirements:

  • The managing director must have a valid identity card or passport from an EU or EFTA country. Alternatively, a German residence permit is also sufficient if the managing director comes from another country.

The following applies to the new shareholders of the company:

  • The shareholders may not come from countries that are on a restricted list of countries. This list is updated regularly.

If there are any uncertainties or an individual check is necessary, our support team will be happy to help you at vorratsgesellschaften@qonto.com.

Does the authorized representative have to speak German or English?

The authorized representative must speak one of the following languages in order to be able to carry out the video identification: German, English, Spanish, Italian, French, Dutch, Portuguese or Flemish.


For the account takeover, it is advantageous to speak English or German. 

How long does the account transfer take? When will the credit be available?

The account transfer usually only takes one day. The prerequisite for this is that all the necessary documents and identification steps have been completed within this period. As soon as everything has been checked, the credit is immediately available.

Can payments be made to the account before the transfer has been completed?

Yes, incoming payments can be made to the account at any time, even before the transfer has been completed. However, outgoing payments are only possible once the account transfer has been fully completed.

What activities are prohibited on a Qonto account?

Activities in certain areas are not permitted on a Qonto account, including business with drugs, financial and transfer services without official registration, gambling, arms trading, mining, blockchain services without a license and certain trading activities (e.g. tobacco, sex products, chemical substances). All illegal activities and some specialized trading sectors are also excluded.


For a complete overview, please visit our Help Center.