diff --git a/src/disbursements.ts b/src/disbursements.ts
index 4ecbdc1..355d2b6 100644
--- a/src/disbursements.ts
+++ b/src/disbursements.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@ import {
 } from "./common";
 
 export interface TransferRequest {
+  /**
+   * Unique Transfer Reference (UUID v4), will be automatically generated if not explicitly supplied
+   */
+  referenceId?: string;
   /**
    * Amount that will be debited from the payer account.
    */
@@ -114,10 +118,10 @@ export default class Disbursements {
    */
   public transfer({
     callbackUrl,
+    referenceId = uuid(),
     ...payoutRequest
   }: TransferRequest): Promise<string> {
-    return validateTransfer(payoutRequest).then(() => {
-      const referenceId: string = uuid();
+    return validateTransfer({ referenceId, ...payoutRequest }).then(() => {
       return this.client
         .post<void>("/disbursement/v1_0/transfer", payoutRequest, {
           headers: {
diff --git a/src/validate.ts b/src/validate.ts
index fd97701..b875983 100644
--- a/src/validate.ts
+++ b/src/validate.ts
@@ -32,8 +32,10 @@ export function validateRequestToPay(
 export function validateTransfer(
   payoutRequest: TransferRequest
 ): Promise<void> {
-  const { amount, currency, payee }: TransferRequest = payoutRequest || {};
+  const { amount, currency, payee, referenceId }: TransferRequest = payoutRequest || {};
   return Promise.resolve().then(() => {
+    strictEqual(isTruthy(referenceId), true, "referenceId is required");
+    strictEqual(isUuid4(referenceId as string), true, "referenceId must be a valid uuid v4");
     strictEqual(isTruthy(amount), true, "amount is required");
     strictEqual(isNumeric(amount), true, "amount must be a number");
     strictEqual(isTruthy(currency), true, "currency is required");
diff --git a/test/validate.test.ts b/test/validate.test.ts
index d7163fd..8b74f5b 100644
--- a/test/validate.test.ts
+++ b/test/validate.test.ts
@@ -271,9 +271,27 @@ describe("Validate", function() {
   });
 
   describe("validateTransfer", function() {
-    context("when the amount is missing", function() {
+    context("when the referenceId is missing", function() {
       it("throws an error", function() {
         const request = {} as TransferRequest;
+        return expect(validateTransfer(request)).to.be.rejectedWith(
+          "referenceId is required"
+        );
+      });
+    });
+      
+    context("when referenceId is not a valid uuid", function() {
+      it("throws an error", function () {
+        const request = { referenceId: "test reference id" } as TransferRequest;
+        return expect(validateTransfer(request)).to.be.rejectedWith(
+          "referenceId must be a valid uuid v4"
+        );
+      });
+    });
+      
+    context("when the amount is missing", function() {
+      it("throws an error", function() {
+        const request = { referenceId: uuid() } as TransferRequest;
         return expect(validateTransfer(request)).to.be.rejectedWith(
           "amount is required"
         );
@@ -282,7 +300,7 @@ describe("Validate", function() {
 
     context("when the amount is not numeric", function() {
       it("throws an error", function() {
-        const request = { amount: "alphabetic" } as TransferRequest;
+        const request = { referenceId: uuid(), amount: "alphabetic" } as TransferRequest;
         return expect(validateTransfer(request)).to.be.rejectedWith(
           "amount must be a number"
         );
@@ -292,6 +310,7 @@ describe("Validate", function() {
     context("when the currency is missing", function() {
       it("throws an error", function() {
         const request = {
+          referenceId: uuid(),
           amount: "1000"
         } as TransferRequest;
         return expect(validateTransfer(request)).to.be.rejectedWith(
@@ -303,6 +322,7 @@ describe("Validate", function() {
     context("when the payee is missing", function() {
       it("throws an error", function() {
         const request = {
+          referenceId: uuid(),
           amount: "1000",
           currency: "UGX"
         } as TransferRequest;
@@ -315,6 +335,7 @@ describe("Validate", function() {
     context("when the party id is missing", function() {
       it("throws an error", function() {
         const request = {
+          referenceId: uuid(),
           amount: "1000",
           currency: "UGX",
           payee: {}
@@ -328,6 +349,7 @@ describe("Validate", function() {
     context("when the party id type is missing", function() {
       it("throws an error", function() {
         const request = {
+          referenceId: uuid(),
           amount: "1000",
           currency: "UGX",
           payee: {
@@ -343,6 +365,7 @@ describe("Validate", function() {
     context("when the request is valid", function() {
       it("fulfills", function() {
         const request = {
+          referenceId: uuid(),
           amount: "1000",
           currency: "UGX",
           payee: {