Verify your identity on Upwork by uploading a valid government-issued ID such as a passport, driver’s license, or national ID. Follow photo guidelines to ensure fast verification.
Important:
If you’re asked to verify your identity, follow the link in the email you receive to begin the process. This is a secure and encrypted link that will remain active for 30 days. However, you will need to verify your identity within seven days or we will put a hold on your account until you do.
What type of ID do I need to have?
The acceptable forms of ID vary by country and will be listed on the form. In general, we accept any valid government-issued photo ID that includes your picture, signature, name, date of birth, and address, with the exception of passports, which don't need your address. This includes:
- Passports
- National ID cards (NIC/CNIC)
- Driver's licenses
- NBI Clearance (Philippines only)
- Tax ID
- Voter ID
- Postal ID
- Any other valid government-issued photo ID that meets these criteria
Important:
The ID photo must be the same person that's in your Upwork profile photo and the address on the ID must match the one on your Upwork profile. We cannot accept student IDs, employee IDs, library cards, handwritten IDs, temporary IDs, photocopied IDs, military IDs, and health cards.
What if I don’t have one of the requested IDs?
If you don’t have a government-issued photo ID or we request additional proof of identity, you can submit a:
- A long-term visa
- A green card or residence permit
- Utility bill
- Bank or credit card statement
- An employment authorization document or work permit
- College enrollment papers
- Tax registration documents
How do I take a photo of my ID so it gets accepted?
Here’s how to make sure your ID photo goes through smoothly:
- Lay your ID flat on a surface and take the photo from directly above
- Use natural lighting (no flash) to avoid glare
- Make sure all four corners of the ID are clearly visible
- Keep the photo in full color and high quality (at least 200 dpi)
- Save it as a PNG, JPEG, PDF, or BMP file
- Don’t crop, edit, rotate, or adjust the image — just keep it as-is
How long does it take Upwork to review and verify my government ID?
In most cases, we can verify your identity within minutes. If we can’t complete verification automatically, we’ll review your information manually and may ask for additional supporting documents. Manual reviews typically take three to five business days. If anything else is needed, we’ll email you with next steps.