If you choose to verify your identity for VA.gov using your passport, you will be prompted with two options:
1) Take a picture with my phone
2) Upload a picture from my computer
If you choose to take a picture with your phone, you'll be prompted to enter your mobile phone number. After entering your phone number, click “Continue.”
You will receive a text message on your phone. This will open the ID.me window on your phone, which will allow you to take a picture of your passport and submit it for verification.
Using your phone, take a picture of your passport. It will automatically upload the photo to ID.me. Check the image to make sure it fits the criteria listed and then tap “Submit photo.”
Use these guidelines to take a clean photo of your passport:
- Use landscape orientation
- Turn off the flash on your camera to reduce glare
- Use a dark background
- Take the photo on a flat surface
- Take the photo straight on and not at an angle
Glare, orientation, and other objects in the frame of the picture can affect whether the license is accepted for verification. Improper photos may result in the user having to take additional steps to verify their identity.
When submitted, the passport will be reviewed and verified. Return to your computer to complete the verification process.
Enter your current home address information, and then enter and confirm your SSN.
Note: If you chose to upload the document from your computer instead of taking the picture with your phone, you will be asked to confirm your phone number before reviewing the information for accuracy. If you completed the 2-factor authentication enrollment on your phone, the phone number will be pre-filled for you.
Next, you will be presented with a summary of all of the information collected from your passport and any manually entered information. To make changes, simply click the “Edit” button on the right side of the highlighted sections.
If all of the information is correct, click the checkbox to attest that all of the information is accurate. Accept the use of Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) data to verify your identity.
Your information will be submitted for verification. If approved, you'll see a page that lists the information being requested from partner and will ask you to consent to the release of that information.
If you click “Allow and continue,” you will be redirected back to the benefit you were accessing on the partner's page. If you click “Deny” and do not wish to release the information to the partner, you'll be redirected back to the partner's page and will likely not be able to access the information.