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Bright Data offers two distinct modes for accessing its Residential network:

Immediate access (default)

Begin targeting with our Residential network immediately after sign up, without the need for KYC

Full access (recommended)

Expand your Residential network access for your approved use case by completing KYC
On initial setup of your Residential proxy, by default you are given Immediate access and can get started targeting a wide range of domains right away. If during your initial targeting you encounter a 402 Residential Failed (bad_endpoint) or robots.txt error, you will need to request Full access, which can be granted once we get to know you and your use case better through KYC.

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Immediate access

An SSL certificate must be installed on your device when accessing our Residential network with Immediate access.
  • Access a wide range of domains without KYC, under the following limitations:
    • Domains restricted by their own ‘robots.txt’ rules.
    • Domains restricted by Bright Data’s compliance policy for Immediate access.
    • Use of certain HTTP methods (POST, PUT, DELETE) is not permitted.
    • Automatic throttling may be applied if request volume exceeds acceptable thresholds (status code: 502, error: sr_rate_limit).
    • Note: Attempting to access restricted domains or methods will result in a 402 Residential Failed (bad_endpoint) error and you’ll need to apply for Full access mode instead.
Completing KYC removes the above restrictions and automatically grants you Full access to domains under the Residential network, tailored to your approved use case.

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Secure and Ethical Usage

Our SSL certificate ensures compliance with Bright Data’s ethical guidelines while providing secure encryption. Since Immediate Access does not require KYC, the SSL certificate acts as an added layer of assurance, enabling Bright Data to enforce compliance and safeguard the ethical use of our Residential network. This ensures that the network is used responsibly while protecting both users and our infrastructure.If you don’t install our SSL certificate, your requests may be rejected with security errors like “SSL/TLS handshake failure” or “certificate validation error”, indicating an insecure connection. While you can bypass and ignore SSL errors, this is not recommended as it compromises your long-term security.
By installing the SSL certificate, you can immediately start using the Residential network with minimal friction, while enjoying the peace of mind that your traffic is handled ethically and securely.Installing an SSL certificate may sound daunting, but it’s a quick, secure, and one-time setup process that unlocks Immediate Access. Here’s why it’s worth considering:

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Temporary and Limited Data Handling

Bright Data accesses minimal data (e.g., web pages visited, access times) only for troubleshooting and compliance purposes. This data is stored temporarily and is not shared with third parties, except where legally required.

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Privacy-Focused Approach

We prioritize your privacy above all else. Learn more in our Privacy Policy

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Still prefer not to install an SSL certificate?

If you prefer not to install an SSL certificate, you can complete the KYC process to unlock Full Access, eliminating the need for SSL while enabling broader network capabilities.
robots.txt is a file that website owners use to define which areas of their site can be accessed by automated systems. In Immediate access mode, Bright Data adheres to these rules to ensure ethical compliance. Requests to blocked areas will return a 402 Residential Failed (bad_endpoint) error. For unrestricted Full access, complete KYC.
Our dedicated residential proxies are available only to customers who complete our verification process. In Bright Data control panel, when you add a residential proxies zone, under “Proxy type” selection, the “Dedicated” proxies will appear disabled until you pass our verification process. You can use our “Shared” residential proxies in immediate access mode, after installing our certificate or ignoring SSL errors.

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Full access

  • After completing KYC, you will have Full Access to the Residential network, tailored to your approved use case.
  • Allows the use of HTTP methods in your request
  • SSL certificate is not required
  • The option to submit a KYC form is only open to customers that signed up on behalf of a registered company. You will be required to add a user with a company email domain to your account and submit a company registration document during the process.

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FAQ: What is Bright Data KYC (Know Your Customer) verification process?

  • Our KYC (“Know Your Customer”) process is a mandatory step for all new customers who wish to join our residential proxy network or gain special access rights.
  • The purpose of this stage is to ensure that we maintain the highest possible compliance and ethics standards by verifying your business and use case.
  • If you were asked to complete the process that means you requested access to our residential network or require a special access right that is not allowed by default in our system.
To complete KYC, you’ll need to submit details about your yourself and your scraping use case to verify eligibility by our Compliance team. This process removes the need for an SSL certificate and unlocks access to sites not pre-approved in Immediate Access. Start the KYC process below:Start KYC Verification
The KYC process is not available in Playground/Limited Trial modes. The process can be started only after adding real funds to the account balance.
  • A company submission (“As a company” KYC) will usually take up to 5 minutes while a freelancer submission (“As myself” KYC) will take up to 10 minutes.
  • Following the submission, freelancers are required to set up a quick video call to review their request and validate the information. You can set up the time according to your availability and one of our sales representatives will be happy to assist.
  • Once all the information is collected and updated, our sales team validates the information in the submission and the KYC is sent to our Compliance & Ethics team for review and approval.
  • You can see the status of your request in Bright Data control panel, under “Account” then “Profile” tab.
  • Allow 2 business days to review your request
  • You can check out the status of your KYC process at any time in your control panel. A notification regarding the submission of your KYC and approval or decline of your request will be sent to your email once the process is completed.
  • The status will be under Settings -> Profile , showing “Account verification status”
  • If you have a specific use case in mind, you may want to try our immediate residential proxy access, which provides access to popular domains, without requiring the KYC onboarding process.
  • For all other domains in our residential network, a KYC process is mandatory.
The KYC information is documented in our systems to allow us to review your use case if needed in the future. Although we want to make it a one-time process, we also monitor our network 24/7 and we may reach out to you for additional clarifications or information in order to make sure that our network remains safe.
Freelancers should submit the KYC information under their own name. All other applicants should submit the KYC information under their registered company name. Submitting the KYC information under the wrong type of application can lead to extra requests for information, mismatches, and declined applications.
The KYC process requires some basic information about your business, such as a description of your use case and general contact information.The more information we have about your business and your use case the easier it will be for our Compliance & Ethics team to evaluate and approve your request.We may require further clarification, validation, or identification, so if needed we will follow up accordingly once you complete the KYC.
Submitting a valid form of identification (license, passport, or other government issued ID) is a requirement for freelancers who would like access to the residential/mobile network. All of our IP addresses belong to 100% real peers, and part of our process of keeping everyone safe is to verify the identity of customers who would like to use the residential network.
A video call is a mandatory step for anyone submitting the KYC under their own name (not a company name) in order to verify their identity before allowing any special access rights. If your account is to be used as part of a company activity, we strongly recommend choosing the relevant KYC process option accordingly (set process option as “on behalf of a company”) as it may allow for a faster and smoother process. Please note that you might be required to go on a video call, regardless of the type of KYC submitted, if further verification is required.
A company registration form (also referred to as a “Certificate of incorporation”) is used by government offices as proof of registering new businesses. The form usually contains the company’s official information, including the company’s formal name, registered office address, company registration unique identifier, and more. The form is usually available to the company legal counsel, financial department, or similar and can be publicly shared as part of the company’s routine business activity as proof of registration according to local regulations.
  • You can use all our other products and services while your KYC request is being processed.
  • If your KYC was not approved you may still use one of our other products and services according to Bright Data’s license.
  • Yes, freelancers are welcome to submit a KYC. Just select the “As myself” option in the form and fill in your personal details.
  • You’ll need to upload a valid government-issued ID and schedule a short video call to verify your identity and explain your use case.
  • The video call helps us verify your identity and better understand your use case. It’s a quick process and usually takes just a few minutes.
  • Not at all. As a freelancer, we don’t expect you to have a company website. If you have any online presence (like LinkedIn, portfolio, etc.), feel free to share it.
  • Once you’ve submitted the form and completed the video call, it usually takes up to 3 business days for our Compliance team to review and approve your request.
  • During the call, we’ll ask you to show your ID and walk us through your use case. This includes what kind of data you’re collecting, how you use proxies in your workflow, and what platforms or tools you use. The call is recorded and reviewed by our Compliance team.
  • You’ll need to upload a valid government-issued photo ID (like a passport or driver’s license). We’ll also ask you to show it during the video call to confirm your identity.
  • That’s okay. Freelancers aren’t required to have a company website. If you have any kind of online presence (like a portfolio, GitHub, Fiverr profile, etc.), you can share that, but it’s not mandatory.
  • The video call is required for freelancer KYC. It helps us verify your identity and understand your use case clearly. Without it, we won’t be able to approve your access to the residential network.
  • No. Bright Data is a B2B platform. We only support business-related use cases. If your project is personal (like scraping for a hobby or side project), it won’t be approved.
  • For freelancers we don’t allow scraping behind login, fake engagement, fake account creation, or anything that violates our Acceptable Use Policy. If you’re unsure, feel free to ask before submitting.
  • KYC reviews for freelancers can take up to 3 business days. If it’s been longer, you can check the status in your Control Panel under Account > Profile, or reach out to your account manager or our support team.