OTAs
Airbnb Identity Verification 101
Airbnb identity verification is a critical step to joining the platform introduced to help maintain security and fight fraud.
Trust and safety are Airbnb's top priorities, so they are constantly working to make their community as secure as possible for everyone. That’s why Airbnb introduced its identity verification process for hosts and guests. Read to discover how and why Airbnb ID verification works.
Read on to find out why and how you should complete the identity verification and what measures Airbnb has in place to protect your data.
You may also want to learn how Airbnb protects hosts when something happens at their rental property. Check out the article about Airbnb insurance for hosts.
What Is Airbnb ID Verification?
Airbnb ID verification is the process of validating a user profile by confirming their identity with trusted third-party sources or a government ID. Identity verification allows the platform to check that everyone is who they say they are.
Airbnb will ask you to provide a government-issued ID or confirm your legal name and add your address. They do this to build trust and ensure safety for all platform users.
The verification process was introduced to add a layer of security. Today, every host, new co-host, and booking guest must verify their identity to use Airbnb. By verifying their identity via the platform itself, Airbnb hosts and guests can be more confident about who they are renting to or from. Airbnb notes that the process has safeguards but doesn’t guarantee that someone is who they say they are.
Pro tip: if you’re looking for an extra layer of security, especially for longer-stay bookings, request an ad-hoc guest verification.
For even more protection, you can add an optional security deposit. Hospitable collects refundable deposits automatically for Direct bookings, Airbnb, Vrbo Partner connection, and Booking.com reservations.
Airbnb ID Verification: What Are the Benefits?
Airbnb ID verification has benefits for both hosts and guests. Airbnb verifies hosts’ IDs so guests can be sure a listing they want to book isn’t a scam and that a real person is behind it.
For hosts and Airbnb, ID verification helps prevent fraud. It also helps Airbnb uphold its community guidelines, respond to safety issues, and comply with applicable laws, including payments and tax laws.
By verifying your host profile, you reduce potential guests' worries. It builds trust because prospective guests know you are a real person and have someone to contact if any problems arise with their reservation.
That will add more credibility to your account and help increase the occupancy rate and your income. It’s also essential to continuously improve the guest experience to keep guests happy, avoid complaints, and earn 5-star reviews. Then you’ll be able to maintain a constant influx of bookings.
The key to a perfect guest experience is clear communication and keeping the hosting process under control. Hosting routine involves a lot of work, but Hospitable can help you handle your workload.
Airbnb Identity Verification: How Does It Work?
Airbnb asks users to verify their identity in these situations.
Guests verify their identity when they book a stay, service, or experience, usually during checkout. If they don’t finish by the deadline, the reservation isn’t confirmed.
Hosts verify their identity when they create their first listing or accept an invitation to co-host. A listing isn’t published until the host is verified.
Hosts and guests may need to verify again if they change their legal name or other account details, or if Airbnb detects risk.
Airbnb doesn’t share guests’ government IDs with hosts. A host can ask a guest for an ID after booking only if the listing description explains what’s required and why, and only for legal or compliance reasons.
When users confirm their identity, they’ll need to provide either their legal name and address or a photo of their government ID. This could be a driver’s license, passport, national or state ID card, or residence permit.
Sometimes, Airbnb may ask you to take a new photo of yourself. It is different from your profile photo, which you may also be asked to provide.
In some cases, guests may not need to add a government ID. Airbnb will confirm their identity when they add their legal name and address (this should match where users get banking documents or utility bills). Airbnb will match this information with secure third-party databases.
How Long Does Airbnb Take to Verify ID?
After you submit your information, Airbnb typically verifies your identity in less than an hour, though it can take longer depending on your country and the information you provide. Guests who verify while booking get a deadline. They have 12 hours after booking, or 1 hour if check-in is less than 12 hours away. Once you’re verified, an Identity verified badge appears next to your profile photo. And if you have any issues with your Airbnb ID verification, you should contact Airbnb customer service.
How Airbnb Keeps Your ID Secure
Sharing personal information may seem risky because identity theft is a real issue, but Airbnb's top priority is keeping its community safe and secure. So they take the necessary measures to protect user data. You may check out their Privacy Policy to learn how they use your information and protect your human right to privacy.
Airbnb doesn’t disclose any data to its users. So when a host uploads their ID, guests will never see it. The same also applies to guest IDs—hosts won’t see the full ID of their guests (even if they ask Airbnb to provide it).
Airbnb stores and transmits the identification information you provide securely. Most users only need to verify their identity once.
Airbnb only allows authorized employees to access your original documentation for troubleshooting or internal purposes. Airbnb also uses this information to comply with applicable laws, including payments and tax laws, and to assist law enforcement investigations.
Airbnb does a great job protecting your data and helps hosts screen potential guests, so you can feel more comfortable renting your property to strangers. That means you’ll feel more confident and will be able to focus on growing your vacation rental business. And using short-term rental software like Hospitable can help make your business even more efficient.
Final Word
Airbnb identity verification is a critical step for joining the platform. It protects hosts and guests from fraud and other industry-related risks. Airbnb’s approach to fighting security threats helps build trust between hosts and guests and assures them that interacting with one another will be safe.
