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How-to

What happens when your ID is checked

Our aim is for guests and Hosts on Airbnb to be able to trust each other.

Although no identification process is foolproof and we cannot guarantee someone’s identity, we take steps to help everyone to feel confident that guests and Hosts on Airbnb are genuine. This is why we have procedures in place to attempt to verify the identity of our users.

Verifying the identity of guests and Hosts helps us to:

  • Scan for fraudulent behavior
  • Do background checks where permitted under applicable laws
  • Understand if a malicious actor has taken control of an account

Find out more about how we’re helping create a sense of trust within our community around the world.

How we check IDs

When you book a stay or Experience – or when you become a Host – we may ask you to verify your personal information, such as your legal name and address, phone number and other contact details.

We may also ask you to provide us with:

  • Legal name, address and/or other personal information: In some cases, these are sufficient for us to verify your identity.
  • Photo of your government ID: This could be a driving licence, passport, identity card or visa. Learn more about types of government ID.
  • Selfie: We may need to ask you for a photograph in case we are unable to verify your government ID. If you can’t provide a selfie that matches your government ID, you can contact us for an alternative verification method.

Learn more about the identity verification process.

How we manage your data

Only authorized Airbnb personnel and authorized third party suppliers may access the information you submit. All information is stored and transmitted using secure encryption. We keep your data only for as long as needed to comply with applicable laws and other legal requirements, including:

  • Time necessary to meet safety and anti-fraud requirements
  • Upholding Airbnb’s community guidelines
  • Compliance with anti-money laundering requirements
  • Compliance with payments and tax laws

We delete personal data consistent with applicable law when a data subject rights deletion request is processed. Check out our Privacy Policy.

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