No, the BVI template is just a guide for Financial Institutions. If a Financial Institution decides not to use the BVI’s template, the FI must note that for a self certification form to be valid the FI must collect at a minimum the required information as outlined in the law (this includes, the Account Holder’s

The FI can rely on the information included in the self-certification unless they know or have reason to know that the circumstances affecting the correctness of the self-certification have changed or cannot be relied upon.