Types of ID for verification

At Airbnb, the privacy and security of our community is a top priority for us.

We’re always identifying ways to help make our community as secure as possible for everyone. Our aim is for everyone to feel confident that guests and Hosts on Airbnb are who they say they are.

Often, your legal name and address and/or other personal information are enough for us to verify your identity. We may also ask you to provide a copy of your Government ID that includes a photo of you.

Check out our Privacy Policy and our guidelines on verifying your identity.

Types of Government ID

Depending on your location and what country you’re from, you may be able to verify your identity with one of the following types of Government ID:

• National identity card: Must include name, photograph, and date of birth
• Driver’s license: Two photos—one of the front of the license and one of the back
• Passport: Photo must include the numbers located at the bottom of the page with your picture

Selfies

Sometimes we may ask for a selfie to match it with your Government ID. If you can’t provide a selfie that matches your Government ID, you can contact us for an alternative verification method. Note: When submitting a selfie, make sure there are no other people in the photograph.

Invalid IDs

Don’t use IDs for school, college, library, gym or similar. These aren’t government-issued – and we can’t use them to verify your identity.

Submitting your ID

For most countries, you can provide a standard, unedited photograph or copy of your ID. However, for these countries, some conditions apply: Germany, the Netherlands, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan and Korea.

Machine readable zone (MRZ)

Most ID cards feature a section that is machine readable. Often this is at the bottom on the front or reverse of the card. The machine readable zone is recognisable by the repeated use of the arrow (<) character. Eg. <<<<<<<<<<<. If you are covering any of this section of the card, make sure that only the necessary digits or alphanumeric characters are covered.

Country-specific guidelines for IDs

Germany

• National Identity Card: Front of card, cover the 9 digit document number (Serienummer) and the 6 digit Card Access Number (Zugangsnummer), midway down the card on the right. Reverse of card, cover the 9 digit document number in the machine readable zone.
• Residence card: Front top right, cover the 9 digit document number. Bottom left, cover the 6 digit Card Access Number. Reverse of card, cover the 9 digit document number in the machine readable zone

For more information, check out the website of the German government.

The Netherlands

• Passport: Cover the 9 digit BSN number (burgerservicenummer) number in the machine readable zone.
• Identity card: Cover the 9 digit BSN number. Depending on when your identity card was issued, the BSN number can be located on the front mid section or the back top right corner of the card.
• Drivers license: Cover the 9 digit BSN number located on the upper left of the card.

For more information, check out the government website of The Netherlands.

Singapore

National Registration Identity Card (NRIC): Front top right, cover the 9 digit NRIC number. Back, cover the matching set of 9 digits in the machine readable zone on the back. For more information, check out the website of the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority of Singapore.

South Korea

Identity card: Cover the last 7 digits of the 13 digit Resident Registration Number (RRN). Cover the matching set of 7 digits within the machine readable zone on the bottom of the card. Note: In all cases, the first 6 digits (your date of birth) of your RRN should be clearly visible.

Japan

Identity card: Front, top right corner, cover the 12 digit My Number. Cover the matching set of 12 digits in the machine readable zone on the bottom. For more information, check out the website of the Japan Agency for Local Authority Information Systems.

Hong Kong

Identity card: Bottom right-hand corner, cover the 7 or 8 digit HKID number only. For more information, check out the website of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.

Photographing your ID

• Make sure the picture is in color and is clearly legible.
• Only cover information when specifically requested to do so. (On this page, see the county specific list of countries with restrictions.) 
• No part of the ID should be cut off by the edge of the frame.