Amazon Canada Business Verification (2025): What Changed

1) What changed on Amazon.ca?

Amazon Canada is enforcing enhanced verification aligned with KYC/AML expectations. Business sellers are asked for more detailed identity and beneficial ownership information and supporting documents (for example, self-attestation and authorization letters). Notices appear in Account Health with a time-limited window to respond.

2) Are Individual sellers affected?

The official language focuses on business accounts, but in practice some Individual sellers report being asked for company-level documents (e.g., a “registration extract”).

• In some cases, support corrects a misclassification.
  
• In others, verification proceeds only after business documents are supplied.
  
  If your sales are meaningful and time is tight, forming a company and re-submitting a clean, consistent set of documents can be the fastest path to restore or protect selling privileges.
  

3) Documents Amazon may request (checklist)

Use this as a working list and keep names, addresses, and dates consistent across all documents.

• Formation / Registration Document (e.g., Certificate of Formation, Registration Extract)
  
  Proves the legal existence of the entity.
  
  
• Beneficial Ownership Details (owners’ names, IDs, ownership percentages)
  
  Shows who ultimately controls the company.
  
  
• Self-Attestation Letter
  
  Confirms ownership structure and who is authorized to act for the entity.
  
  
• Authorization Letter (if a third party submits documents)
  
  Grants delegated authority; include the Amazon account email/merchant ID.
  
  
• Proof of Address (Entity)
  
  A real, verifiable address (avoid PO boxes where possible).
  
  
• Bank Evidence in the Entity’s Name
  
  Recent statement that shows the entity name and address for payouts.
  
  
• Tax IDs (EIN/ITIN, if applicable)
  
  Ensure names and dates match formation and banking.
  

4) Step-by-step: Responding to a verification request

1. Open Account Health and read the exact request + deadline.
   
2. Confirm your legal entity in Seller Central (Individual vs. Company).
   
   • If Amazon is asking for company docs and you are Individual, open a case to clarify.
     
3. Assemble a complete doc pack: formation, BO details, self-attestation, proof of address, bank evidence, tax IDs (if any).
   
4. Submit once, complete: avoid drip uploads; include an authorization letter if a third party is submitting.
   
5. Escalate if fields are locked (country or legal entity). Some accounts can’t change these; support may advise re-onboarding with the correct entity/country.
   
6. Keep marketplaces consistent: align data across Amazon.ca and Amazon.com (same entity, address, banking).
   

5) Company vs. Individual: Which is safer now?

Amazon does not say every seller must form a company. However, current enforcement makes company-backed accounts more resilient because you can provide standard, verifiable documentation (formation records, bank statements in the entity name, BO details).

For non-residents, a U.S. LLC is popular due to fast setup, global-friendly banking, and clean paperwork Amazon recognizes.

6) Common pitfalls & how to avoid them

• Address mismatches: adopt one canonical business address across formation, bank, tax, and Amazon.
  
• Wrong entity on bank account: payout account must be in the same entity name you present to Amazon.
  
• Missing self-attestation: if requested, provide it on letterhead and sign with role/title.
  
• Country/legal-entity lock: escalate early; document all case IDs.
  
• P.O. boxes or virtual mail issues: where policy requires, use a verifiable physical address.
  
• Name variations: use the exact legal name everywhere (no abbreviations unless they appear on formation docs).
  

7) Non-resident sellers: A practical path

If you sell cross-border and need company documentation quickly, consider:

• Forming a U.S. LLC with standardized formation records.
  
• Obtaining EIN/ITIN (as applicable) for tax identity.
  
• Opening a business bank account in the entity’s name for Amazon payouts.
  
• Setting up compliance (bookkeeping, annual reports, tax filings) so your details stay consistent across Amazon, banking, and tax.
  

8) Sample Self-Attestation Letter

(Place on your company letterhead. Replace bracketed items.)

Subject: Self-Attestation of Ownership and Authorization – [Company Legal Name]

Date: [YYYY-MM-DD]

I, [Full Name], as [Title/Role] of [Company Legal Name], hereby attest that:

1. Ownership: The beneficial owners of [Company Legal Name] are:
   

• [Owner 1 Full Name] – [XX%]
  
• [Owner 2 Full Name] – [XX%]
  
  (If applicable, add more owners.)
  

2. Authority: I am authorized to act on behalf of the company for Amazon Seller Central verification and to submit the required information and documents.
   
3. Company Details:
   

• Legal name: [Company Legal Name]
  
• Registered address: [Full Address]
  
• Formation date & state/country: [YYYY-MM-DD, State/Country]
  
• Amazon account email / Merchant Token (if available):
  

I declare the above is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.

Signature: ____________________

Name: [Full Name]

Title: [Title/Role]

Email: [Email] • Phone: [Phone]

9) FAQs

Do I have to form a company to sell on Amazon.ca now?

Not strictly, but many sellers are being asked for company-style documents. If support will not accept Individual documentation, forming a company can be the fastest route to complete verification.

How long does verification take?

Timelines vary based on workload and completeness. Submitting a complete, consistent pack typically shortens review.

Can I change my country/legal entity in Seller Central?

Sometimes these fields are locked. Open a case; in edge cases, Amazon may recommend re-registering with the correct entity/country.

What is “beneficial ownership”?

It identifies the people who ultimately own or control the company (often above a certain ownership threshold).

What if my bank statement shows a slightly different name or address?

Fix the mismatch before submitting. Amazon expects the same legal name and address across formation, banking, tax, and Seller Central.

10) How Clemta helps

• Fast company setup for non-U.S. founders (LLC or C-Corp) and a clean document pack aligned to Amazon verification asks.
  
• Banking & compliance (EIN/ITIN, bookkeeping, annual reports) to keep data consistent across Amazon, banking, and tax.