Document Verification vs Identity Verification:
What Does Each Check Prove?
When businesses onboard new customers, they need to establish that people are who they claim to be. Two important checks help with this process: document verification and identity verification.
Although these terms are often used interchangeably, they serve different purposes. Understanding the difference helps businesses make better onboarding decisions, reduce fraud risks and strengthen their Know Your Customer (KYC) processes.
What Is Document Verification?
Document verification checks whether an identity document appears genuine, valid and unaltered. This may involve examining details such as the document number, expiry date, photograph and security features.
For example, when a customer uploads a passport or national identity card, verification technology can check whether the document meets expected requirements and whether the information can be read and assessed.
However, a genuine document does not automatically prove that the person presenting it is the rightful owner. A fraudster could potentially use a stolen or borrowed document.
Document verification is therefore an important first step, but it may not be enough on its own.
What Is Identity Verification?
Identity verification aims to establish whether a person is who they claim to be. Depending on the verification process, this can involve checking an identity document, comparing the person's face with the document photograph and using biometric or liveness checks.
Facial matching assesses whether the person’s face corresponds with the image on the identity document. Liveness checks help determine whether the verification is being completed by a live person rather than a photograph, video or other presentation intended to deceive the system.
These checks provide additional evidence to support the verification decision. However, their effectiveness depends on the technology used, the quality of the information supplied and the overall verification process.
Document Verification vs Identity Verification: The Key Differences
The main difference is what each check is designed to establish.
| Document verification | Identity verification |
|---|---|
| Checks whether a document appears genuine and valid | Assesses whether the person is who they claim to be |
| Examines document details and security features | May combine document checks, facial matching and liveness |
| Helps identify altered, expired or suspicious documents | Helps identify potential impersonation and identity fraud |
| Focuses primarily on the document | Considers the person and the evidence linking them to the document |
In practice, document verification can form part of a wider identity verification process. The checks used should reflect the risks involved and the requirements that apply to the business.
Why Are Facial Matching and Liveness Checks Important?
A document can appear legitimate while being presented by someone other than its rightful owner. This is why businesses may use additional checks during remote onboarding.
Facial matching compares the customer's face with the photograph on their identity document. Liveness detection helps assess whether the person is physically present during the check.
Together with document verification, these measures can provide stronger evidence of identity and help businesses detect certain types of impersonation. No single check can eliminate every risk, so businesses should choose appropriate controls for their circumstances.
When Do Businesses Need Both Checks?
The right approach depends on the service being offered, the level of risk and any applicable regulatory requirements.
Businesses operating in financial services, recruitment, professional services and other sectors that need to establish customer identities may benefit from combining document and identity verification.
For example, a business onboarding a new customer remotely may check their identity document, compare their face with the document photograph and use liveness checks before deciding whether the verification evidence is sufficient.
Where KYC or anti-money laundering (AML) obligations apply, identity verification may also need to be supported by other measures, such as customer due diligence, beneficial ownership checks, sanctions screening or ongoing monitoring. These serve different purposes and should not be treated as automatically completed by verifying an identity document.
How Goidentity Can Help
Goidentity supports digital identity verification by bringing together document checks and biometric verification, including facial matching and liveness checks.
This can help businesses gather and assess identity evidence during remote customer onboarding. Depending on their requirements, businesses can also use additional capabilities such as PEP and sanctions screening and customer questionnaires to support their wider onboarding and due diligence processes.
The checks required will depend on the business, its risk assessment and the regulations that apply. Verification results should be reviewed appropriately rather than treated as a guarantee that fraud or compliance risks have been eliminated.
How Goidentity Makes Identity Verification Simple
Checking an identity document is important. Making sure it belongs to the person presenting it is just as important.
Goidentity brings both checks together in one straightforward verification journey.
Powered by Thales technology, Goidentity combines identity document verification, facial matching and active liveness detection to help businesses establish confidence in their customers' identities.
But identity verification is often only one part of the onboarding process.
With Goidentity, businesses can also:
- Screen for sanctions and PEPs to support their customer due diligence processes.
- Capture GPS location information to provide additional context about where a verification took place.
- Create custom questionnaires to gather additional customer information.
- Review everything in one report, with a clear record of the selected checks and their results.
And because Goidentity operates on a pay-as-you-go basis, there are no monthly subscriptions or long-term commitments. Businesses can select the checks they need and pay only for what they use.
Ready to Make Customer Verification Easier?
Whether you're a solicitor onboarding a new client, an accountant completing due diligence or a business looking to reduce identity fraud risk, Goidentity helps you bring your verification checks together in one place.
Create your free Goidentity account or book a demonstration to see how it works.
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