Amazon.ca has rolled out stricter identity and beneficial ownership verification in 2025 to meet Canada’s updated FINTRAC (KYC/AML) rules. If you’ve opened Seller Central lately and seen a red banner in Account Health with a countdown timer, you are not alone. Thousands of sellers, both new and established are now required to prove exactly who owns and controls their selling account.

This guide breaks down everything that changed, who is affected, exactly what documents Amazon wants, and most importantly, how to get verified quickly and avoid suspension.

1. What Actually Changed on Amazon.ca in 2025?
Amazon Canada is now enforcing enhanced verification that goes far beyond the old “upload your ID and a utility bill” process. Key new requirements include:

1. Full disclosure of beneficial owners (anyone with ≥25% ownership or significant control).

2. Supporting documents such as self-attestation letters and authorization letters.

3.Proof of a verifiable business address (not just PO boxes; must match banking and formation documents)​.

4. A recent bank statement in the entity’s name confirming payout details​.

5. Tax identification numbers (Business Number and EIN/ITIN ) and documentation showing consistent details across bank, registration, and Amazon records.

6. Strict consistency checks across legal name, address, bank account, and tax IDs.

7. Hard deadlines (often 30–60 days) shown directly in Account Health.

Ignore the notice and your payouts will be paused, listings suppressed, or the account deactivated.

2. What is the impact on Sellers?
Officially, the new rules target “business” accounts. In reality:

• Many Individual sellers are receiving the same verification requests.
• Some get the issue resolved by support reclassifying them correctly.
• Others are told they must supply full company documents to proceed.

But generally, if your sales volume is meaningful or you sell in multiple categories, converting to a proper company account is often the fastest (and safest) way to regain full privileges

3. Documents Amazon.ca Now Requests – The 2025 Checklist
The new account verification requirements emphasize the need for the following documents:

Formation / Registration Extract:  This proves your company legally exists. It could be your Certificate of Incorporation, Articles of Organization, etc.

Beneficial Owner Details: These includes the full names, Date Of Birth, citizenship, % ownership, passport/ID scans of every shareholder with ≥25% ownership. 

Self-Attestation Letter: This is a signed confirmation of ownership structure & authority. It must be on company letterhead.

Letter of Authorization (LOA): This is needed if someone other than the original business owner is submitting.  You should include Amazon account email & Merchant Token.

Proof of Entity Address: This could be a valid utility bill, lease, or bank statement in company name that is not less than 180 days old, no PO boxes if possible. 

Bank Statement / Void Cheque: This must show exact legal entity name & address
Required for payout validation.

Tax ID (GST/HST, EIN, etc.):  Ensure this matches the entity name exactly and the dates and spelling are identical.
Use this exact list. Keep every name, address, and date 100% identical across all files. 

4. Step-by-Step: How to Respond to a Verification Request

• Open Account Health → read the exact wording and deadline.
• Confirm your entity type (Individual vs Business) in Seller Central. If flagged as Individual but asked for company docs → open a case immediately. 
• Gather every document from the checklist above in one clean folder.
• Submit everything in a single upload (avoid “drip-feeding” documents).
• If fields are locked (country, legal entity, etc.), escalate with Seller Support and keep case IDs
  Keep Amazon.ca and Amazon.com 100% aligned—same entity, address, and bank details.

5. Company vs Individual Account in 2025 – Which Is Safer?
Amazon does not mandate that every seller form a company. However:

Company-backed accounts are far more resilient to verification waves.
You can provide standardized, verifiable documents Amazon recognizes instantly
Non-residents frequently choose a U.S. LLC because formation is fast, banking is global-friendly, and paperwork is clean. 

6. The Most Common Pitfalls (and How to Avoid Them)

• Address mismatches → Pick ONE canonical physical address and use it everywhere.
• Bank account in wrong name → Payout account must match the verified entity exactly.
• Missing or unsigned self-attestation → Always on letterhead, signed with title.
• Using PO boxes or virtual addresses where physical proof is required.
• Name variations or abbreviations → Use the exact legal name from formation documents only.
• Locked country/entity fields → Escalate early; some accounts require full re-onboarding

7. Non-Resident Sellers: The Fastest Practical Path
If you live outside Canada and need clean documents quickly:

• Form a U.S. LLC (or Canadian corporation)
• Obtain EIN (and ITIN if required).
• Open a business bank account in the LLC’s name.
• Generate matching formation docs, bank statements, and address proof.
• Submit the entire consistent package to Amazon.ca
  This route routinely clears verification in 3–10 days when done correctly.

8. Sample Self-Attestation Letter (Copy-Paste Template)
[Place on your company letterhead]

Subject: Self-Attestation of Beneficial Ownership – [Exact Legal Company Name]

Date: 2025-XX-XX

I, [Full Name], holding the position of [Director / Managing Member] of [Exact Legal Company Name], hereby attest that:

2. Beneficial Owners (≥25% ownership or control):

• [Owner 1 Full Name] – [XX]% – [Citizenship]
• [Owner 2 Full Name] – [XX]% – [Citizenship]

3. I am duly authorized to act on behalf of the company in connection with Amazon Seller Central verification.

4. Company Details:

• Legal Name: [Exact Legal Company Name]
• Registered Address: [Full Physical Address – no PO box if possible]
• Date & Jurisdiction of Formation: [YYYY-MM-DD], [State/Province, Country]
• Amazon Seller Account Email / Merchant Token: [your-email@example.com]

I declare the information provided is true and correct.

Signature: _______________________________
Name: [Full Name]

Title: [Director / Managing Member]
Phone: [XXX-XXX-XXXX] |Email: [email]

9. Quick FAQs
Q. Do I have to form a company now?
A. Not strictly required, but many Individual sellers are effectively forced to. Forming a company is often faster than fighting support.

Q. How long does verification take?
A. Complete, consistent submissions are often approved in 3–10 business days. Incomplete ones drag on for weeks.

Q. Can I change my registered country or entity?
A. Sometimes fields are locked. Support may require you to create a new account with correct details.

Q. What if my bank statement shows a slightly different address?
A. Fix it before submitting—Amazon rejects mismatches instantly.

Treat the recent verification wave as a one-time cleanup opportunity. Crosborda can help you get your legal entity registered and fast-track your bank account opening to ensure your address, and documents perfectly aligned.  Open Account Health, screenshot the exact request, and begin assembling your complete package to sail through future checks on Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, and beyond. The sellers who act fast keep selling; the ones who wait risk weeks or months of downtime.