How to Open a DEGIRO Account
(2026, EU Investors)
DEGIRO is one of Europe’s most widely used low-cost brokers: €3 per trade on stocks and non-Core ETFs, 1,000+ Core Selection ETFs for just €1 handling fee, and no platform or custody charge. Registration is app-based and takes around 20 minutes — but you need a smartphone with camera, your passport or EU ID, and your Tax Identification Number before you start.
What you’ll need to open a DEGIRO account
Get these four things ready before starting registration. Missing any of them mid-flow will interrupt the process — the Tax ID in particular catches a lot of people off-guard.
DEGIRO’s verification system strictly rejects driver’s licences. A valid passport or national EU identity card is the only accepted document.
Required at Step 3. Netherlands: BSN. UK: National Insurance Number. Switzerland: AHV number. Italy: Codice Fiscale. Portugal/Spain: NIF. Find your country’s equivalent before starting.
DEGIRO’s ID scan and selfie step requires the mobile app. You cannot complete identity verification on a desktop browser alone. Download the DEGIRO app before starting.
Must be a bank account in your own name. Deposits from Revolut, Wise, Monese, or joint accounts are rejected by DEGIRO’s compliance checks. Use a traditional personal current account.
Create your credentials and verify your email
You can start on the DEGIRO website or directly in the app. Since the app is required for the ID scan later anyway, starting there avoids switching devices mid-flow.
- Go to the DEGIRO sign-up page or open the DEGIRO app and tap Open an account.
- Enter your email address, choose a username (minimum 6 alphanumeric characters), and set a strong password.
- Check your inbox for the verification email and click the confirmation link. Check your spam folder if it does not arrive within a few minutes — the link expires.
- Log back in with your new username and password to continue registration.
Enter personal details and verify your identity
This is where most registration delays happen. The biometric check is automated — but it does fail if lighting or positioning is off. Read the troubleshooting note before starting the ID scan.
- Enter your full legal name exactly as it appears on your ID document — including any middle names. Name mismatches are a common rejection reason.
- Enter your date of birth, residential address, and mobile phone number.
- Grant camera permissions to the app. Scan the photo page of your passport or EU national ID card. Driver’s licences are not accepted and will cause immediate rejection.
- Take a live selfie inside the app. Use a plain background with even lighting and keep only yourself in frame.
- Enable location permissions when prompted — DEGIRO runs a geolocation check to confirm you are physically present in your declared country of residence.
If the scan fails: disable flash, move to even natural light, and hold the document flat with all four corners visible inside the frame. For selfie failures, step back, use a plain white or grey wall as background, and avoid shadows across your face. If a specific handset consistently fails, DEGIRO’s verification system accepts the scan from a different device — log back into your account on your own phone afterwards. Also ensure your phone OS language is consistent with the DEGIRO app region and that both are fully updated.
Tax information, legal agreements, and appropriateness test
Three sub-steps happen here in sequence. Have your Tax Identification Number ready — without it you cannot proceed past the tax section.
- Select your country of tax residence from the dropdown. It must match the DEGIRO platform you registered on (e.g. DEGIRO.nl for Dutch residents, DEGIRO.de for German residents).
- Enter your Tax Identification Number: BSN (NL), National Insurance Number (UK), AHV (CH), Codice Fiscale (IT), NIF (PT/ES), Steueridentifikationsnummer (DE).
- Digitally accept the Investment Services Agreement, Privacy Policy, and Software Licence.
- Complete the appropriateness test — multiple-choice questions about your financial education level, profession, and prior experience with stocks, ETFs, bonds, and derivatives.
- Complete the W-8BEN declaration confirming you are not a US tax person.
Link your bank account and activate trading
This step is what most delays account activation. DEGIRO requires a token transfer from your registered bank account to verify ownership before trading is unlocked. The amount is symbolic — the purpose is identity confirmation, not funding.
- Enter the IBAN of your personal bank account. The name on the account must exactly match your DEGIRO registered name.
- Send a token transfer of any amount (minimum €0.01) from that bank account to the DEGIRO account number shown in-app. This does not fund your investments — it only verifies account ownership.
- Wait 24 to 48 business hours for DEGIRO’s compliance team to verify the deposit and approve your account.
- Once approved, send the amount you plan to invest. Bank transfers typically arrive in 1 to 3 business days.
Deposits from Revolut, Wise, Monese, or any e-money institution are automatically rejected — DEGIRO cannot verify identity from these accounts. Joint accounts are problematic unless your full name is listed as the primary account holder. Corporate accounts are not accepted. A standard personal current account at a traditional bank is the only reliable option. If a deposit arrives from a non-registered account it will be held or returned.
DEGIRO fees at a glance
DEGIRO is genuinely low-cost — but the structure has nuances worth understanding before your first trade. For the complete breakdown with worked examples, see the DEGIRO fees explained page.
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Commission — stocks and non-Core ETFs | €3.00 | €2.00 base + €1.00 handling fee per trade |
| Commission — Core Selection ETFs | €1.00 | Handling fee only; base commission waived. Must trade via Tradegate. 1,000+ eligible ETFs. |
| Platform fee | €0 | No monthly or annual platform charge |
| Custody fee | €0 | No annual custody or account maintenance fee |
| FX conversion (AutoFX) | 0.25% | Applied automatically on foreign-currency trades. EUR-denominated UCITS ETFs on EU exchanges: no FX charge. |
| Manual FX conversion | €10 + 0.25% | Only relevant if you convert currencies manually within the platform |
| Connectivity fee | 0.25% of position, max €2.50/year per exchange | One charge per non-home exchange per calendar year. Your home market exchange is free. |
| Minimum deposit | €0 | Token transfer of €0.01 required to verify bank account and activate trading |
| Fractional shares | Not available | Whole units only — your deposit must cover at least one full share or ETF unit |
| Savings plans / recurring orders | Not available | Execution-only broker; all trades placed manually |
What to do after your account is approved
Once DEGIRO confirms approval and your funds have cleared, three things are worth doing before placing your first trade.
DEGIRO assigns a Basic profile by default. This is the standard choice for ETF investors. The old Custody profile (which disabled securities lending) is no longer available to new accounts opened from 2024 onwards.
Filter the product search by Core Selection to see which ETFs trade for just €1.00. Most broad-market UCITS ETFs are included. Always confirm Core eligibility before placing the order — the filter is the fastest check.
DEGIRO defaults to market orders. For ETF investors, limit orders protect against adverse fill prices — especially on less liquid ETFs or at market open. Set your limit at or just above the current ask for a prompt fill.
Ready to open your DEGIRO account?
Registration takes around 20 minutes. Have your passport or EU ID, Tax ID number, and a personal IBAN ready. Disable any VPN before starting.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to open a DEGIRO account?
Registration takes around 15 to 20 minutes on your smartphone. After you send the activation deposit, DEGIRO typically approves the account within 24 to 48 business hours. Bank transfers to fund the account then take a further 1 to 3 business days before cash is available to invest.
What documents do I need to open a DEGIRO account?
A valid passport or EU national identity card is required. Driver’s licences are strictly rejected by DEGIRO’s verification system. You also need your Tax Identification Number for your country (e.g. BSN for Netherlands, National Insurance Number for UK, AHV number for Switzerland, Codice Fiscale for Italy, NIF for Portugal and Spain) and the IBAN of a personal bank account in your name.
Is there a minimum deposit to open a DEGIRO account?
There is no published minimum deposit. DEGIRO requires a small token transfer (as little as €0.01) from your registered bank account to verify ownership and activate trading. DEGIRO does not offer fractional shares, so once you are ready to invest your deposit needs to cover at least one full share or ETF unit plus any applicable commission.
Can a US person open a DEGIRO account?
No. DEGIRO does not accept US persons. You must be a tax resident in one of DEGIRO’s supported countries across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore, and complete the W-8BEN declaration confirming you are not a US tax person. Minors and corporate accounts are also not accepted.
Does DEGIRO offer automatic savings plans or recurring investing?
No. DEGIRO is an execution-only broker and does not support automated savings plans or scheduled recurring purchase orders. Every trade must be placed manually. If automated monthly investing is important to you, Trade Republic and Scalable Capital both offer free savings plan functionality on a wide range of UCITS ETFs — see the related pages above for how to open accounts with either broker.
What should I do if my ID scan fails during registration?
Common causes are camera glare, low lighting, truncated document edges, or uneven shadows in the selfie. Ensure the full document is in frame with no reflections, use even natural indirect lighting, and keep only yourself in the selfie frame. Disable any active VPN, make sure your phone OS language is consistent with the DEGIRO app region, and update both the OS and app before retrying. If the same handset consistently fails, DEGIRO’s system accepts the scan from a different device — log back into your account on your own phone afterwards.
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