# Adds proof of ultimate beneficial ownership as a document type ## What’s new You can now use the `proof_of_ultimate_beneficial_ownership` document type on the [Accounts API](https://docs.stripe.com/api/accounts/object.md?api-version=2025-01-27.acacia) to upload documentation that identifies [ultimate beneficial owners](https://support.stripe.com/questions/beneficial-owner-and-director-definitions) (UBOs) of a business. This helps fulfill [Know Your Customer](https://support.stripe.com/questions/know-your-customer-obligations) (KYC) requirements. [Ultimate beneficial owners](https://support.stripe.com/questions/beneficial-owner-and-director-definitions) are persons that, directly or indirectly, own a significant share or exercise significant control over your business. These persons are usually represented as [owners](https://docs.stripe.com/api/persons/object.md?api-version=2025-01-27.acacia#person_object-relationship-owner), [directors](https://docs.stripe.com/api/persons/object.md?api-version=2025-01-27.acacia#person_object-relationship-director), or [executives](https://docs.stripe.com/api/persons/object.md?api-version=2025-01-27.acacia#person_object-relationship-executive) on a Stripe account. To satisfy UBO requirements, Stripe is required to [identify, collect, and verify](https://support.stripe.com/questions/company-beneficial-ownership-and-director-requirement) all owners that have a significant ownership stake or control in the business (for most businesses, this is defined as having 25% or more ownership). When businesses are owned by other businesses (holding companies) that have significant ownership, Stripe is required to identify, collect, and verify all significant owners of each holding company. The proof of ultimate beneficial ownership document type isn’t supported in all countries. Accounts that can use this document type receive the `proof_of_ultimate_beneficial_ownership` requirement in their requirements field. If the account supports providing a document for ultimate beneficial ownership, you can validate the relationship by choosing one document from the list of [Acceptable verification documents by country](https://docs.stripe.com/acceptable-verification-documents.md). After [uploading a file](https://docs.stripe.com/file-upload.md), you can attach it to an account: ```curl curl https://api.stripe.com/v1/accounts/{{CONNECTEDACCOUNT_ID}} \ -u "<>:" \ -d "documents[proof_of_ultimate_beneficial_ownership][files][]"=file_5dtoJkOhAxrMWb ``` ## Impact If your business has a complex ownership structure or involves foreign holding companies, the existing KYC fields might not sufficiently capture your company’s UBO declaration. The `proof_of_ultimate_beneficial_ownership` document provides flexibility by providing an alternative method to comply with KYC requirements. Some accounts might see a new proof of ultimate beneficial ownership requirement as part of the [Upcoming requirement updates](https://docs.stripe.com/connect/upcoming-requirements-updates.md). ## Changes #### REST API #### Ruby This change does not affect the Ruby SDK. #### Python #### PHP This change does not affect the PHP SDK. #### Java #### Node.js #### Go #### .NET ## Upgrade #### REST API 1. [View your current API version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#view-your-api-version-and-the-latest-available-upgrade-in-workbench) in Workbench. 1. If you use an SDK, upgrade to the corresponding SDK version for this API version. - If you don’t use an SDK, update your [API requests](https://docs.stripe.com/api/versioning.md) to include `Stripe-Version: 2025-01-27.acacia` 1. Upgrade the API version used for [webhook endpoints](https://docs.stripe.com/webhooks/versioning.md). 1. [Test your integration](https://docs.stripe.com/testing.md) against the new version. 1. If you use Connect, [test your Connect integration](https://docs.stripe.com/connect/testing.md). 1. In Workbench, [perform the upgrade](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#perform-the-upgrade). You can [roll back the version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#roll-back-your-api-version) for 72 hours. Learn more about [Stripe API upgrades](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md). #### Ruby 1. [View your current API version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#view-your-api-version-and-the-latest-available-upgrade-in-workbench) in Workbench. 1. Upgrade your Ruby SDK to [v13.4.0](https://github.com/stripe/stripe-ruby/releases/tag/v13.4.0) 1. Upgrade the API version used for [webhook endpoints](https://docs.stripe.com/webhooks/versioning.md). 1. [Test your integration](https://docs.stripe.com/testing.md) against the new version. 1. If you use Connect, [test your Connect integration](https://docs.stripe.com/connect/testing.md). 1. In Workbench, [perform the upgrade](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#perform-the-upgrade). You can [roll back the version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#roll-back-your-api-version) for 72 hours. Learn more about [Stripe API upgrades](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md). #### Python 1. [View your current API version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#view-your-api-version-and-the-latest-available-upgrade-in-workbench) in Workbench. 1. Upgrade your Python SDK to [v11.5.0](https://github.com/stripe/stripe-python/releases/tag/v11.5.0) 1. Upgrade the API version used for [webhook endpoints](https://docs.stripe.com/webhooks/versioning.md). 1. [Test your integration](https://docs.stripe.com/testing.md) against the new version. 1. If you use Connect, [test your Connect integration](https://docs.stripe.com/connect/testing.md). 1. In Workbench, [perform the upgrade](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#perform-the-upgrade). You can [roll back the version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#roll-back-your-api-version) for 72 hours. Learn more about [Stripe API upgrades](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md). #### PHP 1. [View your current API version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#view-your-api-version-and-the-latest-available-upgrade-in-workbench) in Workbench. 1. Upgrade your PHP SDK to [v16.5.0](https://github.com/stripe/stripe-php/releases/tag/v16.5.0) 1. Upgrade the API version used for [webhook endpoints](https://docs.stripe.com/webhooks/versioning.md). 1. [Test your integration](https://docs.stripe.com/testing.md) against the new version. 1. If you use Connect, [test your Connect integration](https://docs.stripe.com/connect/testing.md). 1. In Workbench, [perform the upgrade](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#perform-the-upgrade). You can [roll back the version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#roll-back-your-api-version) for 72 hours. Learn more about [Stripe API upgrades](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md). #### Java 1. [View your current API version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#view-your-api-version-and-the-latest-available-upgrade-in-workbench) in Workbench. 1. Upgrade your Java SDK to [v28.3.0](https://github.com/stripe/stripe-java/releases/tag/v28.3.0) 1. Upgrade the API version used for [webhook endpoints](https://docs.stripe.com/webhooks/versioning.md). 1. [Test your integration](https://docs.stripe.com/testing.md) against the new version. 1. If you use Connect, [test your Connect integration](https://docs.stripe.com/connect/testing.md). 1. In Workbench, [perform the upgrade](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#perform-the-upgrade). You can [roll back the version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#roll-back-your-api-version) for 72 hours. Learn more about [Stripe API upgrades](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md). #### Node.js 1. [View your current API version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#view-your-api-version-and-the-latest-available-upgrade-in-workbench) in Workbench. 1. Upgrade your Node SDK to [v17.6.0](https://github.com/stripe/stripe-node/releases/tag/v17.6.0) 1. Upgrade the API version used for [webhook endpoints](https://docs.stripe.com/webhooks/versioning.md). 1. [Test your integration](https://docs.stripe.com/testing.md) against the new version. 1. If you use Connect, [test your Connect integration](https://docs.stripe.com/connect/testing.md). 1. In Workbench, [perform the upgrade](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#perform-the-upgrade). You can [roll back the version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#roll-back-your-api-version) for 72 hours. Learn more about [Stripe API upgrades](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md). #### Go 1. [View your current API version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#view-your-api-version-and-the-latest-available-upgrade-in-workbench) in Workbench. 1. Upgrade your Go SDK to [v81.3.0](https://github.com/stripe/stripe-go/releases/tag/v81.3.0) 1. Upgrade the API version used for [webhook endpoints](https://docs.stripe.com/webhooks/versioning.md). 1. [Test your integration](https://docs.stripe.com/testing.md) against the new version. 1. If you use Connect, [test your Connect integration](https://docs.stripe.com/connect/testing.md). 1. In Workbench, [perform the upgrade](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#perform-the-upgrade). You can [roll back the version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#roll-back-your-api-version) for 72 hours. Learn more about [Stripe API upgrades](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md). #### .NET 1. [View your current API version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#view-your-api-version-and-the-latest-available-upgrade-in-workbench) in Workbench. 1. Upgrade your .NET SDK to [v47.3.0](https://github.com/stripe/stripe-dotnet/releases/tag/v47.3.0) 1. Upgrade the API version used for [webhook endpoints](https://docs.stripe.com/webhooks/versioning.md). 1. [Test your integration](https://docs.stripe.com/testing.md) against the new version. 1. If you use Connect, [test your Connect integration](https://docs.stripe.com/connect/testing.md). 1. In Workbench, [perform the upgrade](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#perform-the-upgrade). You can [roll back the version](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md#roll-back-your-api-version) for 72 hours. Learn more about [Stripe API upgrades](https://docs.stripe.com/upgrades.md). ## Related changes - [Adds support for ownership exemption reason to the Accounts API](https://docs.stripe.com/changelog/acacia/2025-01-27/ownership-exemption-reason-accounts-api.md) - [Adds directorship declaration to the Accounts API](https://docs.stripe.com/changelog/acacia/2025-01-27/directorship-declaration.md)