---
title: Client onboarding
description: Recording Wwft client acceptance and giving the client access to the portal.
---

> Nederlandse versie: [/handleiding/client-onboarding](/handleiding/client-onboarding)

**What is this?** Before a firm starts work for a client, that client's identity must be established and checked. This is a legal requirement (**Wwft**, the Dutch anti-money-laundering law) — not an optional step. After acceptance you can give the client access to the **client portal** ("cliëntenportaal"), so they can view their own documents, messages, and invoices. The interface is in Dutch; on-screen names are quoted below.

## Part 1 — Client acceptance (Wwft)

### When is a check required?

For (almost) every new client you must establish who the client is before substantive work starts. This is called client due diligence, or **CDD**. Unsure in a specific situation? Check with a partner or your firm's compliance lead.

### How to record the acceptance

1. Create the client as a relation (see [Relations](/guides/relations)) and open that relation's **"Compliance"** tab.
2. Is it a company? Pull the registry data via **"KvK-import"** → **"Importeren uit KvK"** → **"Opzoeken"** (look up) → **"Toepassen"** (apply). Registered **"Ultimate beneficial owners"** (UBOs) are shown as part of this.
3. For an individual, record the **"BSN"** if needed via **"BSN instellen"** → **"Valideren en opslaan"**. The BSN is stored with extra protection and only visible with a separate permission.
4. Assess the risk and record the decision under **"Cliëntacceptatie (Wwft)"**: choose the status (**"Geaccepteerd"**, **"Afgewezen"**, or **"In behandeling"**), the **"Wwft-risico"** (**"Laag"**, **"Middel"**, or **"Hoog"**) and the valid-until date, optionally add a **"Notitie"**, and click **"Beslissing bevestigen"** (confirm decision).

![Recording the Wwft client-acceptance decision](/media/guides/client-onboarding-compliance.png)

### What to pay extra attention to

- **UBO** — for organizations, the person who ultimately controls the organization (the ultimate beneficial owner) must be established too.
- **PEP** — if a client or UBO holds (or held) a politically prominent position, enhanced checks are required; the **"PEP-status"** lives on the Compliance tab.
- **BSN** — never copy it loose into emails or documents outside the matter.
- If the check surfaces anything unusual (PEP signal, unclear UBO structure, sanctions hit), report it to a partner or the compliance lead before the matter proceeds.

### How to see whether acceptance is complete

Open the relation → **"Compliance"** tab. There you find the **"Acceptatiestatus"** (acceptance status), the validity date, and the **"Eerdere beslissingen"** (earlier decisions). If the status isn't Geaccepteerd, complete the acceptance first.

## Part 2 — Giving the client portal access

1. Click **"Cliëntportaal"** in the left rail. You land on **"Portaalbeheer"** (portal administration) — "Beheer cliënttoegang en onboarding per dossier" (manage client access and onboarding per matter).
2. Open the matter you want to arrange access for.
3. Under **"Cliënttoegang"** (client access) you see who already has access. Click **"Nieuwe cliënt toevoegen"** (add new client) and enter the client's email address.
4. Want to walk the client step by step through the intake (verify details, supply documents)? Start the **"Begeleide onboarding"** (guided onboarding) — the client receives a personal link.

![Granting a client access to the client portal](/media/guides/client-onboarding-portal-access.png)

The client then logs in with a one-time login link by email — no password. What the client sees exactly is described on the [Client portal](/guides/portal) page, which you can share with clients.

Which documents the client sees is up to you: only items with **"Publiceren naar portaal"** set to Yes (see [Documents & email](/guides/documents-and-email)) and appointments with the **"Zichtbaar voor cliënt in portaal"** checkbox ticked.