Amazon account deactivated for verification: what is required and how to prepare

New account or existing account?

Seller verification is Amazon checking a seller's identity, address and business details against documents. On a new account this happens before you can start selling; the document requirements and first verification steps are covered in our account opening guide.

This guide is about the second situation: an account that is already selling being restricted or deactivated with a request to verify again. The difference is that Amazon now compares the information you gave earlier with fresh documents, and often with a video call. Consistency matters as much as the documents themselves.

Why does an existing account get sent back to verification?

According to Amazon's 2024 Brand Protection Report, existing accounts are monitored for changes in account information, unusual behavior and other risk signals. Amazon does not say which change triggers a review, so no single cause can be pointed to.

Sellers report re-verification following changes like these. This is not an official list:

• Changing the credit card, bank account or payment account.
• A change of business address, company name or company officer.
• A mismatch that later appears between account information and the company registry or documents.

What does the notice say, and where is the link?

In a verification-related deactivation, the notice usually says you must first complete identity verification before the account can be reactivated. According to Amazon staff on the Seller Forums, if a video call is required, the booking link is in the performance notification on the Account Health page or in the email Amazon sent.

Read the notice in full: it states which documents are needed, whether a call is required and any deadline. The instructions in the notice take priority over anything you read on the forums or in this guide.

In the same forum thread, another Amazon staff member reported that after review an account was no longer eligible for reactivation. Verification is not always a formality; the outcome is Amazon's decision.

How do you prepare for the video call?

On the call, an Amazon representative wants to see your documents on camera. General rules such as document quality and signatures are the same as at account opening. For reactivation, also pay attention to the following:

• Have the original of the document on file with your account ready. Sellers report being asked for the original of the ID used at registration and that a different document may not be accepted; this could not be confirmed on an official page, so follow the instructions in your notice.
• If your ID has expired since registration, ask through the channel given in the notice before the call; follow the instructions rather than presenting a new document unprompted.
• Your proof of address should be recent, with the address written the same way as in Seller Central.
• For a company account, the person registered on the account should join the call. According to Amazon's registration guide, if you are not the company's legal representative, a letter of authorization from the company may be requested.
• Don't miss the appointment. Sellers report that a missed appointment can keep the account deactivated.

What is the most common reason for rejection?

Amazon's UK Selling Partner Compliance Hub states plainly that the most common reason for rejection is a name mismatch: the name on the ID, proof of address and company documents not matching each other or the account information. Differences that look minor (a missing middle name, an abbreviation, a spelling difference, an old company name) fall into this category.

Before the call or before uploading documents, run this comparison yourself:

What if the call goes badly or more documents are requested?

Sellers report that after an unsuccessful call Amazon sometimes asks for additional documents that match the account information exactly, such as an invoice, business license or registry document. Requests for additional documents are answered through the same appeal on the Account Health page.

Watch the deadline in the notice. Amazon replies quoted by sellers say the account will remain deactivated if the requested information does not arrive within a set period; the period is stated in the notice.

If there really is an error in your account information (a misspelled name, an old address), say so clearly in your appeal and attach documents supporting the correct information. The goal is not to change information to fit a document, but to show the correct information with its documents.

How do you reactivate an inactive account?

Accounts with no sales for a long time can be moved to inactive status. According to Amazon staff on the Seller Forums, the Account Info page then shows a notice saying you have limited access to selling services, with a "Reactivate Account" link below it. The same reply notes that you may need to update or confirm various account details even if you believe nothing has changed. If the link is not there, contact Seller Support.

Amazon does not officially say how many days without sales lead to inactive status, or whether reactivation requires full verification. If you are thinking of opening a new account instead of reactivating an inactive one, get written confirmation from Seller Support first; otherwise the new account may be treated as related to the old one.

How does verification work on the payment provider's side?

Amazon's verification and your payment provider's verification are separate processes. For example, according to Payoneer's help center, it may request ID, bank and address documents for security purposes; reasons for rejection include low image quality, the full document not being visible, missing information and name or address mismatches.

Using the same name and address, written the same way, with Amazon and your payment provider reduces the risk of a mismatch-related rejection. If you plan to change your payment account, allow for the possibility that Amazon asks you to verify again and prepare your documents in advance.

Can you use an account verified in someone else's name?

No. The point of verification is to know the person who actually runs the account. Buying, renting or using an account opened and verified in someone else's name comes to light at re-verification and makes an appeal impossible. Amazon's 2025 report describes action taken against brokers who set up fake seller registrations.

If the owner or officer of the business has changed (for example, after a company transfer), reflect the change consistently in your account information and documents; prepare the documents before making the change and make it in one go.