To verify your identity on a video call with an ID.me Video Chat Agent, you'll need to provide either primary documents or a combination of primary and secondary documents. ID.me follows NIST identity verification standards, which requires documents to help prove your identity.
This article includes examples of accepted primary and secondary documents you can use, and documents we don’t accept.
Documents you need
To verify your identity on a video call, you need:
- Two primary identification documents or
- One primary and one secondary document
For example, you could use your driver's license or state ID as a primary document, along with your Social Security card or utility bill as a secondary document.
Other documents you may need
You may need to provide additional documentation:
- To prove your Social Security number
- To prove your current address
- To prove your name recently changed
If you live outside of the U.S.
The required documents are different if you live outside of the United States. For a list of documents, visit Documents to verify if you live outside of the US.
Primary documents
Primary documents prove your identity with information like your name, photo, and date of birth. Common examples include driver's licenses, passports, passport cards, and state IDs.
Frequently used primary documents
Below are primary documents that most ID.me members use to verify their identity. Any document you submit must include your information and be presented during the video call. When showing your documents, make sure there isn’t a glare or object blocking any information on your document.
| Document | Requirements and tips |
|---|---|
|
Driver’s license (U.S. state/territory or Canada) |
First and last name, date of birth, photo, valid expiration date, and Identification number.
Tip: An expired driver's license is acceptable for identity verification in some cases.
|
| Passport or passport card (U.S. or non-U.S.) |
First and last name, date of birth, photo, valid expiration date, and Full Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) code. |
| State ID (U.S. state or territory) |
First and last name, date of birth, photo, valid expiration date, and Identification number.
Tip: An expired state ID is acceptable for identity verification in some cases.
|
| Other government-issued photo IDs |
First and last name, date of birth, photo, valid expiration date, and Identification number. Military IDs, temporary, and paper documents are not accepted. |
| U.S. Permanent resident card |
First and last name, date of birth, photo, and valid expiration date. We accept I-551 form or paper extension I-797A if it says “approved” or “notice of receipt.” |
Other primary documents
If you don’t have any of the primary documents listed above, review the list of other primary documents you can use.
Secondary documents
Secondary documents indirectly prove your identity by connecting your personal information to something official like an account or government record. Examples include utility bills, vehicle registration, and tax forms.
Frequently used secondary documents
Below are secondary documents that most people use to verify their identity. Any document you submit must include your information.
| Document | Requirements and tips |
|---|---|
|
U.S. Social Security card |
First and last name and your full Social Security number. A full-color scan or PDF is acceptable.
Note: If you use a Social Security card as one of your secondary documents, you must present your original Social Security Card during the video call. Make sure there’s no glare or object blocking your card’s information.
|
| U.S. Health insurance card |
First and last name, your insurer’s company name, and identification, policy, or card control number. Acceptable variations include medical, dental, vision, Medicare, Medicaid, state cards, prescription cards, and temporary cards. |
| W-2 form |
First and last name of employee, your address, your employer’s company and address. When using a W-2 or other tax forms, the last four digits of your Social Security Number.
Note: If you’re using your W-2 to prove your Social Security number, your full SSN must be present on the W2.
We also accept W-2C, W-2G, 499R-2 / W-2PR, etc. |
| U.S. Birth certificate with official seal |
First and last name, date of birth, place of birth, signature of the city, county, or state official, and a seal or stamp of the issuing authority (State, county, or city of birth). Other acceptable birth documents include abstract, amended, and delayed birth certificates, birth registration cards, verified transcripts of birth, and documents showing VOID watermarks.
Note: Hospital certificates are not acceptable.
|
|
Bank, loan, or financial Institution statement |
First and last name, your current address, at least four digits of identification, account, card, or customer number. Only statements issued or sent from a bank or financial institution are accepted. Other forms, like a letter, notification, or documents you complete yourself (deposit slip, application, etc.) aren’t accepted. Tips:
|
|
Pay stub |
First and last name, your employer or company’s name, your address or employer’s address. It must be an actual pay stub, not a paycheck and cannot be older than one year. Also, make sure all information in your pay stub is visible; don’t cross out information or alter the pay stub.
Note: If you’re using your pay stub to verify your address, your full home address must display on the stub.
|
|
Electric bill |
First and last name, your current address, the electric company’s name, and at least the last four digits of your identification, account, card, or customer number. Only bills from an electric company are acceptable. Other forms of communication, like letters or notifications, cannot be accepted. Tips:
|
Other secondary documents
If you don’t have any of the secondary documents listed above, review the list of other secondary documents you can use.
Unacceptable documents
You cannot use the following documents for verification:
- Photocopies of any primary documents and select secondary documents
- Expired or invalid documents, except in scenarios specified above. In some cases, you can use an expired driver’s license or state ID.
- Company employee ID cards. We do not accept employee ID badges, building passes, etc.
- Digital driver’s license or state IDs
- Documents that are temporary or voided. We can accept temporary driver’s licenses and state IDs. In some cases, we can also accept expired driver’s licenses and state IDs.
- Forms you fill out yourself, including tax forms
- Letters from banks
- Unemployment documentation
- Unofficial student records