Step 2: Add associates

Use this endpoint to add individual associates (natural persons, not legal entities) to an existing corporate onboarding request.

POST
/corporates/associates

This step links required individuals to the corporate profile created in Step 1.

You must include the previously returned externalReference to associate the individual with the correct onboarding session.

What this step does

This endpoint allows you to:

Specify the associate type (Director, Beneficial Owner, Partner, Sole Trader, etc.)

Define ownership type and ownership percentage (where applicable)

Provide personal identification and contact details

Declare PEP (Politically Exposed Person) status and submit supporting information if required

Submit residential address and nationality using valid ISO country codes

All associate data is validated against:

The declared legal entity type

Ownership thresholds

Residency and jurisdiction rules

The assigned due diligence model

Successful response

On success, the API returns a unique:

associateId

This ID represents the individual associate within the onboarding session.

You must store each associateId securely. It is required to upload documents for that associate.

Use the associateId to:

Upload Proof of Identity (POI)

Upload Proof of Address (POA), where applicable

Without the correct associateId, associate documents cannot be linked to the onboarding application.

Important: Associate structure rules

Associate requirements depend on the legal entity type declared during corporate creation (see Create Onboarding Request).

For example:

LTD / LLC / PLC / Pty Ltd
Minimum: 1 Director and 1 Beneficial Owner
(Or 1 individual performing both roles)

LLP
Minimum: 2 Partners
OR 1 Partner and 1 Corporate Partner

Sole Trader
Exactly 1 Sole Trader
No additional associates permitted

Ownership threshold requirement

All individuals with 25% or more ownership must be included in the onboarding application.

Associates with less than 25% ownership may be included but are not mandatory unless required by structure.

Failure to include mandatory ownership-level associates will prevent the application from progressing.

What this step does — and does not do

At this stage:

The associate is linked to the onboarding application

Ownership structure is incrementally built

Model eligibility may be re-evaluated

The onboarding remains in DRAFT status until:

All required associates are added

Required documents are uploaded

The application is finalised

Next steps

After adding all required associates:

Upload associate documents using the returned associateId

Add parent entities (if layered ownership applies)

Finalise the onboarding request

Refer to:

Document requirements by model

Parent entity onboarding guide

Finalise onboarding guide

What this step does#

Successful response#

Important: Associate structure rules#

Ownership threshold requirement#