Before you start

Prepare one of these identity documents:

National ID.
Passport.
Driver’s licence.

You will also need:

A phone or camera that takes clear pictures.
Good lighting.
The information written on your identity document.
Your business papers, if Tambala Market asks for them.

You must be at least 18 years old to manage a seller account.

Make sure the name on your seller account is the same as the name on your identity document. A different name or spelling mistake may make the check take longer.

1. Open the verification page

Go to Settings, then choose Verification.

You may also see a verification step on your seller setup checklist. Select it to open the same page.

2. Choose the identity document you want to use

Choose one document from the options shown on the page.

National ID

Upload a clear picture of:

The front of the card.
The back of the card.

Driver’s licence

Upload a clear picture of:

The front of the licence.
The back of the licence.

Passport

Upload the main page that shows:

Your photograph.
Your full name.
Your passport number.
Your nationality.
Your date of birth.
The issue and expiry dates.

Do not upload only the outside cover of the passport.

Use a document that is valid and belongs to you.

4. Enter your personal details

The form will ask for the information shown on your document.

Enter each detail carefully.

Full name

Enter your name exactly as it appears on the document.

For example, if your ID says: Thoko Grace Chirwa

Enter: Thoko Grace Chirwa

Do not leave out a middle name or change the order of the names.

ID number

Enter the identity number shown on the document.

Check every letter and number before moving on. Do not enter your phone number, voter number, business number, or another number from the card.

Date of birth

Choose the date shown on your document. Check the day, month, and year carefully.

Sex

Choose the option that matches the information on your document.

Nationality

Choose the country shown on your document. For many sellers, this may be Malawi, but always choose the correct country for you.

Issue and expiry dates

Enter these dates when they appear on the document and the form asks for them.

The issue date is when the document was given to you. The expiry date is when the document stops being valid.

When a field is marked as optional and the date is not shown on your document, you can leave it empty.

Important: Check your name, ID number, and date of birth carefully. Even a small mistake may make the check take longer.

5. Take clear pictures of your document

A clear picture makes it easier for Tambala Market to check your information.

Before taking the picture:

Clean your phone camera.
Find a place with good light.
Put the document on a flat surface.
Use a background that makes the edges easy to see.
Make sure nothing is covering the document.

Hold your phone directly above the document. Make sure the whole document is inside the picture and all four corners can be seen.

Tap the screen to focus before taking the picture.

After taking it, open the picture and check that all the words are easy to read.

A good picture should:

Show the whole document.
Be clear and bright enough.
Show all four corners.
Have no glare or strong shadows.
Have no fingers covering the document.
Show the document in its normal colour.

Take another picture when:

The words are blurry.
The picture is too dark.
Light is shining on the document.
Part of the document is missing.
The picture is taken from too far away.
Your hand is covering important information.

Do not add filters, cover information, or change the picture.

6. Upload your document

Select the upload box and choose the correct picture from your phone or computer.

Wait until the picture has finished uploading before moving to the next step.

For a National ID or driver’s licence, upload both the front and the back. For a passport, upload the main information page.

Before continuing, check that:

You selected the correct picture.
The picture is facing the right way.
The whole document can be seen.
The words are easy to read.
The front and back have not been mixed up.

The page will show the picture types and file sizes it accepts.

When a picture is too large, take a new clear picture using your normal phone camera. Do not make it so small that the words become difficult to read.

7. Add business papers when asked

Tambala Market may ask some sellers to send business papers.

These may include:

A business registration certificate.
A business licence.
A certificate of incorporation.
A tax document.

The page should tell you which documents are required and which ones are optional.

When you upload a business paper, make sure:

The whole page can be seen.
The business name is clear.
The document belongs to your business.
The information is still correct.
The words are easy to read.

Individual sellers may not need to provide every business document. Complete only the parts that apply to you.

8. Check everything before sending

Take a moment to check the form.

Make sure:

Your name matches your identity document.
Your ID number is correct.
Your date of birth is correct.
You chose the correct document type.
The pictures are clear.
You uploaded both sides when needed.
Any business papers belong to the correct business.

When everything is correct, tick the box confirming that the information is true.

Only send documents that belong to you or your business.

9. Send your information

Select Submit and wait for the confirmation message.

Do not select the button several times. Wait for the page to finish sending your information.

After sending it, the status should change to Pending Review.

What happens next

Tambala Market will check the information and documents you sent.

Check your Seller Dashboard and email for updates. You will be told when:

Your identity has been confirmed.
A clearer picture is needed.
Some information needs to be corrected.
Another document is needed.

You can continue adding your business details and setting up your store while you wait.

After sending your information, you do not need to send it again unless Tambala Market asks you to make a change.

How to know you have finished

You have completed this guide when:

You have entered all the required information.
You have uploaded the correct document pictures.
You have sent the form.
Your status shows Pending, Under Review, Approved, or Verified.

Your identity has been fully confirmed when the status shows Approved or Verified.

Common problems

My document will not upload

Check that the picture type and size are accepted by the page. Also make sure your internet is working and wait for one picture to finish uploading before adding another.

Try taking a new picture when the file is damaged or too large.

My picture was not accepted

Take a new picture in good light.

Make sure the whole document can be seen, the words are clear, and there is no glare. Do not send the same unclear picture again.

My name does not match my document

Check whether you left out a name, changed the order of your names, or made a spelling mistake.

Update the name when the page allows you to do so. Contact Tambala Market Support when you cannot change it yourself.

I entered the wrong ID number

Correct it before sending the form.

When the form has already been sent, check whether the page allows you to make a change. Contact Tambala Market Support when you cannot update it.

My document has expired

Use another valid document when you have one.

Contact Tambala Market Support when you do not have another document from the accepted choices.

I sent the wrong side of my ID

Return to the upload section and replace it with the correct picture before sending the form.

When the form has already been sent, wait for Tambala Market to ask for a correction or contact Support for help.

My verification is taking longer than expected

Check your email, Seller Dashboard, and the message on the verification page.

Do not create another account or send the same documents again unless Tambala Market asks you to.

Contact Support when the check has taken longer than the time shown on the verification page.

Tambala Market asked for another document

Read the message carefully and send only the document that was requested.

Ask Tambala Market Support for help when you do not understand what is needed.

Keep your information safe

Only upload your identity document through the official Tambala Market website or app.

Do not send your ID to:

Unknown WhatsApp numbers.
Personal social media accounts.
Unofficial websites.
People who cannot show that they work for Tambala Market.

Tambala Market will never need your account password to check your identity.

Next step

Set up your business profile.