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Scanning IDs

My state ID won’t scan

Fix a state ID that will not scan during verification, from lighting and framing to supported document types.

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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 state ID fails to scan

State IDs are plastic cards with a barcode, and they are scanned like any other ID. A scan fails when the camera cannot see the whole card, the barcode is damaged, or the card is worn.

Get the scan to take

  • Put the ID on a flat surface and photograph it from directly above, filling the frame with the whole card.
  • Hold the camera still and use good light without glare.
  • If the barcode is part of the scan, keep it inside the frame and unglazed.
  • Wipe the card clean; scratches and smudges confuse the reader.

If the barcode is the failing part, see no barcode shows up and why the barcode is not captured clearly. Your card may also match the driver’s license guide.

Who can help

The business that asked you to verify

They set up the verification, see the result, and decide what happens next, so they are the ones who can help with your result, what they need from you, or another try. Look for their help or contact page in the app, site, or email where your verification started.

Need to reach Persona instead?

Persona provides the verification tool for the business that asked you to verify, but it cannot approve, re-run, or override their decision. For any problem with your verification, including a page that will not load or a button that does nothing, we recommend contacting the app or service you are trying to access, which is named in the verification flow.

If you would still like to reach Persona, you can contact Persona support.

Contact Persona support Contact Persona support