Run your first identity verification in 3 minutes
Overview. The fastest way to see IdentityCheck work is to send a Direct Verification to yourself, open the emailed link on your phone, and complete it. You photograph a government ID, take a selfie, and the platform returns a clear decision that appears on your dashboard. Direct Verification is available on the free plan, so you can test the whole flow before you use it with a real client.
How do I send my first check?
Start with Direct Verification. It is the simplest way to start a single check and it is available on the free plan.
- Log in to IdentityCheck and choose Direct Verification.
- Enter a first name, last name and email address. For your first test, use your own name and an email you can open on your phone.
- If you add a mobile number, the person also receives an SMS with the link. This is optional.
- Send. IdentityCheck emails a secure verification link to that address.
If your firm connects a practice or CRM system, you can look up and auto-fill a contact's details before sending, rather than typing them. For a first test you do not need to. Sending to yourself is the quickest way to experience exactly what your clients will see.
That is the whole "send" step. Within a few seconds you should have an email waiting.
How do I test IdentityCheck?
Testing means completing the check as if you were the client, so you see every screen they see.
- Open the verification email on your phone and tap the link.
- Follow the prompts to photograph a government ID, such as a driver licence or passport.
- Take a selfie when asked. The platform checks that the document is genuine and that the face matches.
- Finish. You will see the flow complete on the device.
Doing this once, on your own phone, tells you more than any amount of reading. You learn how long it takes, what the instructions look like, and where a real client might hesitate. Because Direct Verification is on the free plan, you can run this test at no cost and repeat it as often as you like before you involve real clients.
Tip: use good lighting and a steady hand for the selfie and ID photos, and give the same tip to clients later.
Where do I see the result?
Head back to your IdentityCheck dashboard. The verification you just completed appears against that person with a clear decision, either a pass or a fail, and a report you can open.
- The decision is shown plainly, so anyone on your team can read it at a glance.
- You can Save as PDF to keep a copy for your records or to attach to a file.
- If you have sanctions, PEP and adverse-media screening switched on for your account, those results appear here too.
- Every step is time-stamped, which is what gives you a defensible record of the check.
Once you have done this once, you know the full loop: send, complete, review. That is the same loop you will use for real clients, whether you send checks one at a time, in bulk, or through your practice system.
What next?
- To collect consent, intake and risk information as part of the check, and to switch on the AML flow, see Setting up your Tranche 2 compliance flow.
- For the bigger picture of what the platform does, read What is IdentityCheck?.
Frequently asked
How do I send my first check? Use Direct Verification. Enter a name and email, and IdentityCheck emails that person a secure link (and an SMS if you add a phone number). The quickest way to see the whole flow is to send one to yourself, then open it on your phone and complete it.
How do I test IdentityCheck? Send yourself a Direct Verification and complete it as if you were a client. You will photograph a government ID and take a selfie, and the platform returns a clear pass or fail decision. Direct Verification is available on the free plan, so you can test end to end before rolling it out.
Where do I see the result? The result appears on your IdentityCheck dashboard against that person, with a clear decision and a report you can save as a PDF. If you have screening switched on, sanctions, PEP and adverse-media results show there too. Everything is time-stamped for your records.