This guide is for individuals going through a Persona-powered identity verification flow. While we’ve included helpful tips, the verification was set up by the business, service, or organization that asked you to verify. They use Persona as a tool, and they ultimately decide what’s required and can assist with your specific situation, if you’re having trouble.
Why a barcode may not read
When a step asks for the back of a card, it is usually after the barcode or chip, which carries details the printed front does not. A barcode fails to appear when:
- The document has no barcode at all, or the readable zone is worn or damaged.
- The barcode sits a little outside the frame or is cut off.
- Glare or shadows make the barcode too washed out to decode.
- The document type is not supported for that verification flow’s barcode step.
Improve the capture
- Fill the frame with the entire document so the barcode and edges are visible.
- Keep the document flat and steady, directly facing the camera.
- Use even lighting and remove glare. See no glare and barcode capture tips.
- Some documents encode data differently; see state ID won’t scan or driver’s license won’t scan.