> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.afarapay.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create your account

> Sign up for an Afara merchant account and log in for the first time.

An Afara merchant account gives you a dashboard to see your payments, your **API keys** for connecting your website, and the settings for your settlements. Creating one takes about two minutes, and you can start taking **test payments** straight away.

**1. Open the merchant portal**

Go to [merchant.afarapartners.com](https://merchant.afarapartners.com/login) and click **Create Account**.

**2. Choose: As a new user**

On the "Create Account" screen, select **As a new user** and click **Continue**.

![The Create Account screen with the options As an existing user and As a new user](https://mintcdn.com/afara-partners/s82ssgOffWCaJZX_/images/01-create-account-choose.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=s82ssgOffWCaJZX_\&q=85\&s=a1f1f6ead9df156011d8351c85e7647b)

Select As a new user, then click Continue.

**3. Fill in your details**

Enter the details below, tick the box to agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy, then click **Create Account**.

| Field | What to enter |
| - | - |
| Business Name | The name of your business, for example "John Doe Enterprise". |
| First Name and Last Name | Your name **exactly as it appears on your BVN**. |
| Business Email Address | An email address you can access. We send your verification code here. |
| Nationality | Your country. |
| Gender | Select from the list. |
| Phone Number | Your mobile number. |
| Password | A strong password you do not use anywhere else. |

![The Create Account form with business name, name, email, nationality, gender, phone number and password fields](https://mintcdn.com/afara-partners/s82ssgOffWCaJZX_/images/02-create-account-form.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=s82ssgOffWCaJZX_\&q=85\&s=88508fd999986cbc158bb4710e69a792)

Fill in the form. Your name must match your BVN exactly.

**4. Enter the verification code**

We email you a **5-digit one-time password (OTP)**. Type it in and click **Continue**. The code expires after about 10 minutes. If it does not arrive, check your spam folder or click **Resend**.

![03 Otp Verification](https://mintcdn.com/afara-partners/s82ssgOffWCaJZX_/images/03-otp-verification.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=s82ssgOffWCaJZX_\&q=85\&s=3d790c81b37b2ee4b7cc6e199bd0c7c4)

Enter the 5-digit code we sent to your email.

**5. Log in**

When you see **"You have successfully created your account"**, click **Continue** and log in with your email address and password.

![04 Account Created](https://mintcdn.com/afara-partners/s82ssgOffWCaJZX_/images/04-account-created.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=s82ssgOffWCaJZX_\&q=85\&s=41bf21b049fc22927fab729f901ea2ee)

Your account is ready. Click Continue to log in.

> [!NOTE]
>
> Your name must match your BVN exactly. A mismatch is the most common reason a business verification is delayed later on.

## What you see after you log in

You land on the **Get started** page. It shows:

* A **Complete your profile** checklist with four sections: Business profile, Business operations, Contact details and Bank information.
* Your API keys for trying things out.
* Answers to common questions, plus phone and email contacts for help.

At the top right there is a **Test / Live** switch. New accounts start in **Test mode**, where no real money moves. You can switch to **Live mode** once your business profile is approved.

> [card] [Complete your business profile](https://docs.afarapay.com/guides/business-profile.md)
>
> Unlock live payments by finishing the four profile sections.

> [card] [Get your API keys](https://docs.afarapay.com/guides/api-keys.md)
>
> Find the keys you need to connect your website.


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