# Create and activate your account

This guide takes you from signing up to accepting your first payment.

## Step 1: Create your account[​](#register "Direct link to Step 1: Create your account")

[Register here](https://dashboard.monei.com/signup) to create your MONEI account and access your dashboard — where you manage activation, payment methods, team members, and real-time analytics.

Even before activation, you can [test your integration and payments](https://docs.monei.com/testing/.md) in **test mode**.

## Step 2: Activate your account[​](#activate "Direct link to Step 2: Activate your account")

Before you can accept real payments, you must activate your account. As a regulated payment provider, MONEI is legally required to verify your business (KYC). In your dashboard, select **Activate account** and complete the application:

* **Business details** — your legal entity, address, and business activity.
* **Business representative** — the owner or legal representative, and any beneficial owners.
* **Payment details** — the bank account (IBAN) where your payouts are settled.
* **Two-step authentication** — secure your account and verify your identity.
* **Additional documents** — only if your business or products need extra verification (for example, [high-risk activities](https://docs.monei.com/onboarding/restricted-and-high-risk-businesses/.md)).
* **Contract** — review and sign the MONEI services agreement.

Before you apply, it helps to [prepare the required documents](https://docs.monei.com/onboarding/verification/.md#documents-we-need), check that MONEI is [available in your country](https://docs.monei.com/onboarding/onboarding-by-country/.md#availability), and confirm your business isn't [restricted](https://docs.monei.com/onboarding/restricted-and-high-risk-businesses/.md#restricted-businesses). For a walkthrough of the forms, see [Verify your business and activate your account](https://docs.monei.com/onboarding/verification/.md#activate).

## Step 3: Get approved[​](#approval "Direct link to Step 3: Get approved")

Most applications are reviewed **automatically**. If all your checks pass, your account is approved in about **10 minutes** and you can start accepting payments right away.

If your application needs a manual review — for example, additional documents or a high-risk activity — it goes **under review** and you'll get an email update, usually within **1–2 business days**. Live mode is enabled as soon as you're approved, and we notify you by email.

## Step 4: Configure payment methods[​](#payment-methods "Direct link to Step 4: Configure payment methods")

Once approved, [card payments](https://docs.monei.com/payment-methods/card/.md) — and the digital wallets built on them, [Apple Pay](https://docs.monei.com/payment-methods/apple-pay/.md), [Google Pay](https://docs.monei.com/payment-methods/google-pay/.md), and [Click to Pay](https://docs.monei.com/payment-methods/click-to-pay/.md) — are configured automatically. We recommend also enabling [PayPal](https://docs.monei.com/payment-methods/paypal/.md) and [Bizum](https://docs.monei.com/payment-methods/bizum/.md). See [how to configure payment methods](https://docs.monei.com/payments/configure-payment-methods/.md).

## Step 5: Start accepting payments[​](#accept "Direct link to Step 5: Start accepting payments")

Choose how you'll accept payments:

* **Without writing code** — [accept payments in person with MONEI Pay](https://docs.monei.com/monei-pay/overview/.md), or add a [plugin for your e-commerce platform](https://docs.monei.com/getting-started/.md#ecommerce-platforms).
* **Online** — [use a prebuilt payment page](https://docs.monei.com/integrations/use-prebuilt-payment-page/.md) or [build a custom checkout](https://docs.monei.com/integrations/build-custom-checkout/.md).

## Find your account ID[​](#account-id "Direct link to Find your account ID")

Log in to your dashboard and go to **Settings → Account** to see your account information, including your Account ID. [Go directly to settings](https://dashboard.monei.com/settings).

![Where to find your Account ID](/assets/images/360017315158-Where_can_I_find_my_Account_ID__-a357f2c12cb14416e3444795a8de0833.png)