When can a Teen User switch to a personal account?
When a Teen User with a Teen Account turns 18, they will have the ability to switch the Teen Account to a personal Venmo account. To be eligible for a personal account the Teen Account must be in good standing with no recent losses or open disputes, and the parent or guardian's account must also be active and in good standing.
The parent or guardian will receive an email 30 days before the Teen Account is eligible, and the Teen User will see a push notification when the Teen Account is eligible for the switch.
This switch lets the Teen User keep everything from the Teen Account—the balance, transaction history, friends, and connected payment methods—while giving the Teen User access to the Venmo experience without parental controls.
How does a Teen User switch to a personal account?
Steps for a Teen User to switch to a personal account:
- Tap the Switch account notification
- Review the benefits of upgrading
- Complete identity verification (learn more about identity verification)
- Select your privacy settings
- Choose a new debit card design (your new card will be mailed to your verified address)
- Review and agree to Venmo's User Agreement and Privacy Statement
Submissions typically process quickly once you have finished the verification. You should see a confirmation screen when it's complete.
If you miss the notification, you will be able to find the switch option in your Settings.
What is identity verification, and why does a Teen User need to complete it?
Identity verification confirms that you are who you say you are. This is necessary to comply with federal regulations when a Teen User becomes the owner of their Venmo account.
If a Teen User doesn't pass identity verification immediately:
The Teen User can continue using the Teen Account for up to 90 days while they work through the steps to verify their identity. We'll send them reminder notifications at 30 and 60 days following the identity verification attempt. If they don't complete verification within 90 days, the Teen Account will be frozen until they provide the required documents. Until the Teen User passes identity verification, the account will remain a Teen Account.
What happens to the Teen User’s Teen Account when they switch to a personal account?
What the Teen User keeps:
- Their Venmo balance
- Their complete transaction history
- Their friends list
- Their connected bank accounts and cards
- Their transaction history
- Their Direct Deposit account and routing number (you typically won't need to update this with your employer)
What changes:
- The Teen User becomes the legal owner of the account
- Their parent or guardian will no longer have visibility into the Teen User’s transactions or account activity after the Teen User successfully transitions into a personal account.
- They'll receive a new Venmo Debit Card with the design they selected
- They'll have access to Venmo's full range of features
The Venmo Mastercard® is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license by Mastercard International Incorporated. Card may be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated. The Bancorp Bank, N.A. is issuer of the Card only and not responsible for the associated accounts or other products, services, or offers from Venmo.