An update on identity verification on Airbnb

Our aim is for guests and Hosts on Airbnb to be able to trust that people on our platform are who they say they are, and identity verification is an important part of building that trust within our community. By the end of June 2023, 100 percent of guests booking homes and primary Hosts getting booked globally on Airbnb will be required to have undergone the verification process.

This update builds on our 2022 Winter Release, when we implemented an identity verification process for booking guests traveling to the top 35 countries and regions on Airbnb. Now, we have expanded this verification step worldwide, and all guests booking homes and primary Hosts getting booked are required to go through our ID verification process before they either book a stay or list their home on the platform.

By the end of June, any primary Hosts who have not completed the verification process will have their calendars blocked, preventing them from accepting any more bookings. Similarly, guests who have not completed the verification process will not be able to book a reservation on Airbnb.

“As a platform that works to build trust, the identity verification process is a foundational aspect of what we do. We will continue to provide this service at no cost to our Hosts and guests.”

Nabarupa Banerjee, Director of Trust.

There are a number of ways that we seek to verify a user’s identity including comparing identification, such as a government ID like a driver’s license, a passport or a national identity card, with the information provided by a user, sometimes with a selfie for photo matching. We may also use information such as a name, phone number, address, date of birth, or in the US, a Social Security number, and match this information with secure third-party databases.

Accounts that have completed the ID verification process can be identified by the “identity verified” badge on their profile.

Some professional businesses with multiple Airbnb hosting accounts also are connected — when a business has completed identity verification for one or more accounts, we may not show an identity badge for all connected accounts.

To respect local laws, we provide users in certain locations with additional guidance about uploading an ID, and the processing of government ID is handled in accordance with our privacy policy.

While no identification process is foolproof, verification is an important step in helping users feel confident that guests and Hosts on Airbnb are genuine, and to continue to build trust within our global community.