Introduction
To verify your business on Raenest, you'll upload three documents: your Certificate of Incorporation, your Memorandum and Articles of Association, and a record of who owns your business, such as a Shareholder Register. Together, they show us that your business is legally registered and that we know who owns or controls it.
Below, you'll find what each document is, why we ask for it, what it should show, and where to get it. Document names can differ from country to country. If yours has a different name, upload the official document that serves the same purpose.
1. Certificate of Incorporation
What it is: An official document from your country's business registration authority confirming that your company is legally registered. In Nigeria, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) issues it.
Why we need it: It confirms your business legally exists and that the name and registration details you gave us match official records.
What it should show: Your company's registered name, registration number, date of incorporation and the authority that issued it.
Where to get it:
Download it from your business registration authority's online portal.
Request a copy from the registration authority.
Ask the lawyer, accountant or agent who registered your business.
Don't have a copy? Search your email for documents from when you registered, or log in to your registration authority's portal to download it again.
2. Memorandum and Articles of Association
What they are: Two legal documents that set out how your company is structured and run. In Nigeria, they're often combined and called the MEMART.
Memorandum of Association: Your company's identity and basic details, such as its name, purpose and, where applicable, its first shareholders and share capital.
Articles of Association: The rules your company runs by, including directors' responsibilities, shareholders' rights, how decisions are made and how shares are transferred.
Some countries combine both into one document, sometimes called a constitution or Memorandum of Incorporation. Upload whichever version your country uses.
Why we need them: They show us how your company is governed and who has the authority to make decisions for it.
What they should show: Your company's name and purpose, its share capital where applicable, and the rules covering directors, shareholders and share transfers.
Where to get them:
Download them from your business registration authority's online portal, if available.
Ask the lawyer or legal firm that registered your company.
Ask your company secretary or whoever keeps your company's statutory records.
Don't have a copy? Contact the professional who handled your registration, or request a copy from your country's business registration authority.
3. Shareholder Register
What it is: An official company record listing the people or companies that own shares in your business, and how much each one owns. Some countries call it a Register of Members.
Why we need it: It shows us who owns your business and how ownership is split, so we can identify the people we need to verify.
What it should show:
The full name or registered name of each shareholder
The number of shares each one holds
Each shareholder's percentage of ownership
The date the shares were issued or acquired, where applicable
Make sure it reflects your company's current ownership.
Where to get it:
Your company secretary
Your lawyer or legal representative
Your accountant or whoever keeps your company's statutory records
Your company's internal records, if you keep the register yourself
Your business registration authority, in some countries
Don't have a Shareholder Register? You can upload another official document that shows your current shareholders and their ownership percentages, such as:
A CAC status report (for businesses registered in Nigeria)
A shareholding structure document
A share allotment return or statement
An official company ownership record
Before you upload
A quick check helps your verification go through without delays:
Your documents show your company's current registration details and ownership. If anything is outdated, update it with the relevant authority first.
Each file is a clear, readable copy. Scans are fine, as long as nothing is cropped, blurred or altered.
Every shareholder's name and ownership percentage is visible.
Documents not in English need a certified translation.
Frequently asked questions
1. Do I need to upload every document listed here?
Yes. Upload your Certificate of Incorporation, your Memorandum and Articles of Association (or your country's equivalent), and a document showing your current ownership.
2. What if my business has only one shareholder?
You still need to upload a document showing your ownership structure, even if one person owns 100% of the business.
3. What if someone manages or controls my business but doesn't own shares?
Declare them during verification. A director or senior executive can have significant control over a business without holding any shares.
4. What happens after I submit my documents?
Our team reviews them within 24-48 hours as part of your business verification. If we need anything else, we'll let you know.