Identity Data

Physical ID&V

Verify physical identity documents with biometric matching. Document authentication combined with facial recognition for higher-confidence identity verification across 200+ countries.

Overview

How Physical ID&V Works

Physical ID&V combines document authentication and biometric verification to deliver higher-confidence identity checks. It's designed for scenarios where electronic verification alone isn't sufficient.

Document Authentication

Verifies security features, MRZ codes, and physical characteristics of passports, driving licences, and national ID cards.

Biometric Matching

Compares live selfie with document photo using advanced facial recognition to confirm the applicant is the document holder.

Global Coverage

Supports passports, driving licences, and national ID cards from 200+ countries with real-time results.

Capabilities

What's Included

Document Capture

Photograph or scan of identity document

Security Feature Check

Holographic elements, microprinting, watermarks

MRZ/Barcode Reading

Machine-readable zone & barcode extraction

Facial Comparison

AI-powered face matching between selfie and ID

Liveness Detection

Confirms live person, prevents spoofing attempts

Tamper Detection

Identifies forged or altered documents

Data Extraction

Full name, DOB, document number, expiry date

NFC Chip Reading

Verification of biometric data on ePassports

Pricing

Simple Per-Check Pricing

£2.50

per check, ex VAT

Document authentication
Facial biometric comparison
Liveness detection
Global document support
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Why Credit Canary

Built for Scale and Compliance

Single API

One endpoint for document verification, biometric matching, and liveness detection. No complex integrations required.

Fast Results

Real-time verification typically returns results within seconds. Instant decision making for onboarding flows.

Compliance Ready

Meets KYC/AML requirements. Suitable for higher-risk onboarding and regulatory-driven use cases.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Which documents are supported?

Physical ID&V supports passports, driving licences, and national ID cards from 200+ countries. Each document goes through document-specific security feature validation and MRZ/barcode reading.

How does liveness detection work?

Liveness detection uses advanced biometric algorithms to verify a live person is performing the selfie, preventing spoofing attacks using photos or videos. Real-time checks ensure the applicant is physically present.

How fast are results returned?

Results are typically returned within seconds. The entire verification process — document authentication, biometric comparison, and liveness detection — runs in parallel to deliver instant outcomes for real-time decision making.

Can it work on mobile or web?

Yes. Physical ID&V can be deployed as a mobile-first flow or web-based integration. Applicants can photograph/scan their document and take a live selfie via their device camera. Our SDKs support both iOS and Android.

What happens if the document fails?

The API returns granular failure reasons — e.g., "document not authentic", "facial match failed", "liveness check inconclusive". This allows for tailored user messaging and optional fallback verification flows like manual review or alternative ID&V methods.

API

Sample Request & Response

A typical Physical ID&V verification request and the structured response.

POST /api/v1/identity/physical-idv
// Request { "document_image": "base64_encoded_image", "selfie_image": "base64_encoded_selfie", "document_type": "passport", "detect_liveness": true, "check_nfc": true }
200 OK
// Response { "status": "verified", "document_authentic": true, "facial_match": 0.98, "liveness": true, "extracted_data": { "name": "John Doe", "dob": "1990-01-15", "expiry": "2030-12-31" } }

Ready to Verify Documents?

Start protecting your business with document-based identity verification. Get in touch with our team to discuss your requirements.