Identity Verification in Germany: A 2026 Compliance Guide

Germany’s customer identity verification requirements tightened in early 2025 when BaFin updated its GwG guidance in February, clarifying which digital methods meet the legal threshold for remote onboarding. The guide covers the converging BaFin GwG, eIDAS 2.0, and GDPR frameworks, notes cyberattacks caused €178.6 billion in damage to the German economy in 2024, and reviews methods from database checks under three seconds to VideoIdent.