# Business verification requirements for government entities

Government-owned entities and agencies must provide information about their Stripe account representatives. Designated account representatives must be individuals.
Users in the United States, EU/UK, and Canada must designate an account representative, but may not be required to provide the account representative's personal information, such as identification number and date of birth, or identification document.
For government entities to be exempt from providing a representative’s personal information, they must submit a document during onboarding.
In Singapore, publicly-traded companies and government entities must provide their account representative’s identity information. See 2025 updates to Singapore verification requirements - Government Entities.
### What is a government entity?
- **Country**
- **Government entity eligibility**
---
- **United States (US)**
- Federal, state, and local bodies responsible for public administration and services.
  Examples:
  * Department of Education which oversees national education policy.
  * City councils which manage local governance and community initiatives.
---
- **European Union (EU)**
- Institutions that implement policies and regulations across member states.
  Examples:
  * The European Commission which proposes legislation and manages the EU’s policies
  * The European Parliament which represents citizens and discusses legislative proposals.
---
- **United Kingdom (UK)**
- Government departments and local authorities that provide public services and regulation.
  Examples:
  * The Home Office which manages immigration, security, and law enforcement.
  * Local councils which handle community services like waste management and housing.
---
- **Canada**
- Federal, provincial, and municipal organizations responsible for enacting laws and delivering public services.
  Examples:
  * Health Canada which oversees health regulations at the federal level.
  * City governments which implement local laws and provide services such as public transit.
### Onboarding a government entity in the US
1. Begin the Stripe account onboarding flow.
1. On the **Business type** screen, select **Government entity**.
1. On the **Account representative** screen, you'll see a notice that a signed authorization letter on official government letterhead is required to activate your account. You will **not** be asked to provide your representative's Social Security number, date of birth, or home address.
1. Contact Stripe Support through our chat [Assistant](https://support.stripe.com/contact?refcode=e1Sd) and ask to be directed to a support agent to submit a government entity letterhead. Follow the instructions under “Letterhead Format” below to create your letter.
1. After your letterhead is approved return to the account application and complete onboarding.
### Onboarding a government entity outside the US
1. [When setting up an account](https://dashboard.stripe.com/account/onboarding/business-structure), select **Government entity** as the business type. Availability depends on your country and account configuration.
   * If the **Government entity** option is not available, select **Company** as the business type and **Other/I’m not sure** as the business structure.
1. In the **Account representative** section, you may skip providing personal details. Instead, provide placeholder data such as “01-01-1930” for date of birth or “1111” for the last 4 digits of the Social Security number.
1. _Outside the US only_: In the **Business owners** section, select **Continue with no owners**. All other information must be provided for the company.
1. Complete the rest of the onboarding process.
1. After submitting your onboarding forms, you'll see a notice on the Stripe Dashboard saying that the data you entered failed verification. This is expected if you entered placeholder data.
1. Contact Stripe Support through our chat [Assistant](https://support.stripe.com/contact?refcode=e1Sd) and ask to be directed to a support agent to submit a government entity [letterhead](#letterhead).
### Letterhead Format
The official documentation must include:
* The name of the entity or agency matching the Stripe account’s legal entity name.
* Date.
* Government entity’s address.
* An affirmation confirming the representative’s authority.
  * **Example:** “To whom it may concern: I, [user employee name, title], authorize account representative [name, title] to manage the Stripe account."
* Stripe account ID.
  * **Example:** acct_123456.
* Website URLs.
* Business tax IDs.
  * **Example**: EIN: 01-1234567
* Signed by someone with authority to act on behalf of the entity and who **isn't** the account representative.
  * Ensure that the document is signed by an employee holding a position of responsibility and authority within the government entity.
Below is a sample of the letterhead format accepted by Stripe:
Example of authorization letter on company letterhead
## Authorization letter template
Use this fill-in-the-blank template to prepare your authorization letter. Print or reproduce it on your organization's official letterhead, complete all fields, and submit to Stripe Support.
### Letter requirements
Before submitting, confirm your letter meets the following requirements:
- Printed on the entity's official letterhead
- Stripe legal entity name matches across the form and the letterhead
- All account fields filled in including Stripe Account ID, business address, tax ID, website, and account representative email
- Signed by an authorized senior official of the entity (see [acceptable titles](#acceptable-signer-titles) below)
- The signer is not the account representative themselves
A letter that meets all above requirements is considered "valid." After submitting a valid letter, you can expect a response from our support team within 24 hours, and full verification within 2–3 business days.
### Acceptable signer titles for government entities
The signer should hold a senior position that is verifiable via your organization's public directory or official website. Acceptable roles include:
- **Top executive:** Mayor, City Manager, County Manager, Town Manager
- **Department head:** Police Chief, Fire Chief, Department Director, Commissioner
- **Education (school districts only):** Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent
- **Finance:** City Treasurer, County Treasurer, Comptroller, Director of Finance
- **Legal:** City Attorney, County Attorney, Legal Counsel
- **Council / Board** (when not also acting as the account representative): Chair of City Council, Chair of County Board, Board President
If your organization's structure isn't represented above, choose the title most analogous to one of these categories.
## Template
[Print on official organization letterhead — letterhead entity name must match the Stripe legal entity name]
**Date:** ____________________
To Whom It May Concern,
I, [Authorizing Official Full Name], [Authorizing Official Title — e.g., Mayor, City Manager, Department Director], hereby authorize [Account Representative Full Name], [Account Representative Title], to manage the Stripe account on behalf of [Government Entity Legal Name].
### Account details
| Field                                 | Value                     |
| ------------------------------------- | ------------------------- |
| Stripe Account ID(s)                  | acct_____________________ |
| Government Entity Legal Name          | _____________________     |
| Business Address                      | _____________________     |
| Website URL(s)                        | _____________________     |
| Business Tax ID                       | _____________________     |
| Account Representative Business Email | _____________________     |
I confirm that the information provided above is complete and accurate.
**Authorizing Official**
| Printed Name | Title | Date |
| ------------ | ----- | ---- |
|              |       |      |
**Signed:** _________________________________________