What Do Long-Term Overseas Residents Need to Prepare When Registering for OKX?
For long-term overseas residents registering on OKX, the key is not a "foreign phone number" or a "VPN", but whether your identity documents (passport/ID) and proof of residence (address proof) can meet the platform's requirements. Where you are doesn't matter; what matters is the documents you can provide to verify your identity.
Prerequisites: Three Things to Prepare Before Registration
An email and a phone number that can receive verification codes (most countries/regions worldwide are supported; a Chinese phone number is not required)
A valid government-issued ID (ID card, passport, or driver's license, depending on region requirements)
Proof of address issued within the last 3 months (utility bill, bank statement, etc.), for completing advanced verification
Steps
Step 1: Check if your current country/region of residence is supported by OKX
OKX's "restricted regions" refer to your Country of Residence, not your nationality. After logging into the OKX App or website, if a restriction notice appears, it means your current location cannot use OKX services. For example, OKX ceased providing services in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region starting from May 2024.
When is this step complete? You have confirmed that your country of residence is on OKX's supported list, or no regional restriction pop-up appears on the page.
Step 2: Choose the correct registration channel
Go to the OKX official website (www.okx.com) or the official App, and click [Sign Up]. If you reside in the United States, visit the US portal (okx.com/us); global and US accounts are not interoperable.
When is this step complete? You have entered the registration page, filled in your email and phone number, and received the verification code.
Step 3: Complete basic registration
Enter your email address, click [Sign Up], and input the 6-digit verification code sent to your email. Then add your phone number (select the corresponding country code) and enter the SMS verification code. Set a password (8-20 characters, must include uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols).
When is this step complete? You receive a registration success message and can log in to your account.
The referral code during registration is optional; leaving it blank does not affect account functionality.
Step 4: Complete identity verification (KYC) — this is where expatriate users most often get stuck
Accounts that have not completed identity verification cannot buy/sell coins, deposit/withdraw, or transfer funds.
Submit the following documents:
Government-issued photo ID: Passport, national ID, or driver's license. The document must be valid.
Proof of address: Utility bill, bank statement, or property management fee receipt issued within the last 3 months, clearly showing your name and current residential address. If the proof of address is not in English or the local official language, a translation may be required.
Selfie or facial scan: The system will prompt you to perform a liveness check to confirm it's really you.
Additional requirement for US users: A Social Security Number (SSN) is required.
Scenario A / Scenario B
Scenario A: The address on your ID document matches your current residence (e.g., you returned home and didn't move) — simply submit that ID document along with a bill showing that address; the process is simplest.
Scenario B: The address on your ID document is different from your current residence (e.g., your ID shows your hometown address, but you live long-term in Japan/Singapore/Europe) — submit your passport (which doesn't have an address) as proof of identity, and a recent 3-month bill from your current residence as proof of address. The two are submitted separately; they don't need to match.
When is this step complete? The verification page shows "Under Review" or "Verified". Review is usually quick, but the exact time depends on the quality of submitted documents.
Common Failure Reasons and Risk Reminders
Common failure reason: Address proof does not meet requirements. Many people casually submit a screenshot of an app bill or a delivery note, but OKX explicitly only accepts official documents issued within the last 3 months (utility bills, bank statements, property management fee receipts), which must show your name and full address. Unclear, expired, or mismatched documents will be rejected.
Risk reminder — account compliance risk: Using false information or someone else's identity to register will result in account restriction or freezing once discovered. Only one account can be linked to one ID on OKX; it cannot be changed or canceled after verification.
How to Verify You Have Completed Correctly
Log in to OKX and go to [User Center] - [Identity Verification]. If the page shows "Verified" or your verification level (e.g., video verification), it means you have completed all necessary steps. Then you can make deposits and trades normally — but note that different verification levels have different withdrawal limits; the highest level, video verification, has a 24-hour withdrawal limit of 10 million USD.
FAQ
Q1: I don't have an overseas phone number. Can I register with a domestic (Chinese) phone number?
Yes. You must bind a phone number that can receive verification codes, and most country codes worldwide are supported. If you are overseas and register with a Chinese phone number, as long as you can receive the code, it's fine.
Q2: What if the bill for proof of address is in Chinese?
If the proof of address is not in English, OKX may require a translation. It is recommended to use a local bank or utility bill from your country of residence (usually in the local official language) to avoid language-related rejection.
Q3: If my current residence is in an OKX restricted region, is there any way to register?
No. Restricted regions are based on your residence, not nationality. If you see a restriction notice, you can only wait for the platform to resume services in that area, or use a compliant alternative.
