How to deposit.
This guide is for anyone paying into a live account for the first time. A live account uses real money. It covers what to check, the ways to pay in, when money shows, and how to get it out.
Before you deposit.
Four things to check before you send any money.
Your live account must be open and your identity check (ID plus proof of address) approved.
A demo is a practice account, so it takes no money and no card.
Only deposit money you can afford to lose, because every loss on a live account is real.
Pay in the currency your account is kept in, or you pay a fee to change it.
The identity check is a photo ID plus proof of address (a bill or bank statement) dated within three months. It usually clears within one working day. If it takes more than two working days, message the support desk. On a demo there is nothing to pay, so keep practising.
The ways to pay in.
Every method with its minimum and speed. An e-wallet is an online payment account. Crypto is digital money.
| Minimum deposit | Time until it shows | |
|---|---|---|
| Visa, Mastercard or UnionPay | $50 | Straight away |
| Apple Pay or Google Pay | $50 | Straight away |
| Skrill (an e-wallet) | $50 | Straight away |
| POLi (Australian and New Zealand banks that support it) | $50 | Straight away |
| Bank transfer | No minimum | 1 to 3 working days |
| Crypto (USDT only, sent over the TRC20 network) | $50 | 10 to 30 minutes |
How to make a deposit.
Five steps, starting in your client area, where you manage your account and money.
Log in.
Sign in to your client area. If your identity check is not yet approved, wait for that before you go on.
Choose deposit.
In the client area, choose to make a deposit. The methods are the ones in the table above.
Pick a method.
Choose how to pay. Bank transfer: put your MT5 account number in the payment reference. MT5 is MetaTrader 5, the trading platform. Crypto: copy the address from the client area and check it says TRC20.
Enter the amount.
At least $50 by card, e-wallet or crypto; any amount by bank transfer. Only use money you can afford to lose.
Confirm and wait. Now to 3 working days
Check the details and submit. You are done when the money shows in your client area balance. Cards show straight away; bank transfers take 1 to 3 working days. Next, read Access the markets.
What happens after you pay?
Three things to know once the money has left your bank or card.
It shows in your balance.
Your balance is in your client area. Cards and e-wallets show straight away. Crypto takes 10 to 30 minutes, bank transfers 1 to 3 working days.
It is kept separate.
Client money is held in segregated accounts, which means kept legally separate from Clarity's own money. Read more on the segregated funds page.
You can trade.
Open MT5 (MetaTrader 5), the trading platform, on desktop, phone or in the browser. Every live trade can lose real money. Read Access the markets first.
Getting your money out.
Withdrawals follow a few fixed rules. Here are the six that matter to a first-time trader.
Ask in the client area.
Choose a method and an amount, then submit. Clarity then sends you an email. Confirm from that email within one hour, or the request expires and you start again.
Sent within one working day.
Clarity checks and sends the money within one working day. Send your request before 1pm UTC and it leaves the same working day. UTC is London time in winter.
Same method back.
Money goes back the way it came in, up to what you deposited. Profit can go to any other verified method. Card withdrawals return to the original card where possible.
No Clarity fee.
Clarity does not charge a withdrawal fee. Your bank or payment provider may add its own charge, especially on international transfers.
Your bank may take longer.
After Clarity sends it, money typically arrives within 1 to 5 working days: cards 1 to 3, bank transfers 3 to 5, Skrill within 24 hours, crypto within 30 minutes.
Watch your email.
You get an email at each step. If money has not arrived after the times above, message the support desk.
What can delay a deposit or withdrawal?
Most money moves on time. When it does not, it is usually one of these.
A deposit can fail for five common reasons. Your card has expired or is blocked. Your bank account is short of money. The name does not match your trading account. Your bank blocks payments to trading firms. Or your card's bank blocks a first payment to a new firm. Try again, switch card, or pay by bank transfer.
A deposit that arrives can still be held for a check. This happens with a large amount, a payment method not in your name, or a rule against money laundering (hiding criminal money). Most checks finish within one working day. Withdrawals slow down at weekends, on public holidays, or because of your bank's timetable. Times are typical, not a promise.
Money questions, answered.
The questions first-time depositors ask most. If yours is not here, message the support desk.
01What is the minimum deposit?
02Does Clarity charge a deposit fee?
03Can I withdraw my whole balance?
04Do card withdrawals go back to my card?
05Why is my withdrawal taking longer?
06Can I deposit into a demo?
Practise first. Deposit when you are ready.
A demo needs no deposit and no card. When you want a live account, pass the identity check, then pay in by any of the methods above.
Trading CFDs on a live account puts your capital at risk and you can lose money. A demo does not.