Note
If your Checkr account is integrated with a partner, international background checks might be unavailable. To determine whether your account supports this feature, contact Checkr.
This article contains the following FAQs:
- What is Identity Document Validation (IDV)?
- What does Identity Document Validation (IDV) validate?
- What is the difference between Identity Document Validation (IDV) and United Kingdom Identity Verification?
- Is Identity Document Validation (IDV) available in the US?
- Is Identity Document Validation (IDV) run before the background check?
- How long does International Identity Document Validation (IDV) take to complete?
What is Identity Document Validation (IDV)?
IDV verifies that the candidate’s passport, national ID, or driver’s license is authentic and valid in circulation. This check provides a multi-level validation process by inspecting document data and positioning for authenticity, scanning the Machine Readable Zone (if available), and cross-checking the information provided against government databases to discover if the document is stolen, lost, expired or invalid.
What does Identity Document Validation (IDV) validate?
IDV offers multiple levels of validation for authenticity, though not all documents will go through all of the steps.
- A visual inspection of personal information and positioning on the candidate’s provided document
- Scan of the Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) on the candidate’s provided document*
- Cross-check against government databases to ensure the document is not stolen, lost, expired, or invalid
- Ensures that the candidate details on the documents match the candidate’s IDV application
*MRZ is limited to passports and certain national IDs, and Driver's Licenses
What is the difference between Identity Document Validation (IDV) and United Kingdom Identity Verification?
Identity Document Validation (IDV) validates that the identity document provided by the candidate is authentic and valid in circulation. IDV is available globally as a screening.
UK Identity Verification validates the identity document belonging to the candidate and conducts a liveness check that is certified by the UK Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). UK Identity Verification is required for candidates with an England or Wales work location or constituent country.
Is Identity Document Validation (IDV) available in the US?
With SSN trace available in the US, IDV is not currently offered for US background checks*.
*This also includes US background checks with out-of-country address history.
Is Identity Document Validation (IDV) run before the background check?
Identity Document Validation (IDV) will run simultaneously with the candidate’s background check to avoid hiring delays. It is important to note that background check completion and report status are not dependent on IDV completion.
How long does International Identity Document Validation (IDV) take to complete?
The standard turnaround time is 3-5 business days, though you may see quicker results (1-2 business days) with candidates submitting a passport.
Resources
For more information about non-US screenings, visit the International Screenings section of the Checkr Help Center.
If you'd like to add new packages to your account, contact Checkr Customer Support.