Verify your identity or payment info

For specific Google Account activities, like sign-ups for Google products or services, transactions or payment method changes, you may need to verify your identity or ownership of the payment method used.

Tip: To verify your identity in the Google Pay app, follow these instructions.

How to verify your identity or payment information for YouTube purchases

About verification

Why we might ask you to verify

• To verify that your info is correct when you access specific content.
• To verify your identity when you complete a transaction with Google.
• If we find unusual activity or transactions.
• When we need more info for legal or regulatory reasons.

Important: If we ask you to verify your account, any pending transactions are cancelled. Pending charges on your bank statement disappear within 14 working days.

What info you may be asked to provide

To complete verification, you may be asked to verify each payment method. To do so, you can request a verification code.

You may also be asked to provide:

• Legal name
• The name used on your Payments profile
• Address
• Date of birth
• An image of your government ID
• Proof of address
• An image of your payment method

How we use your info

Google uses the info you provide to:

• Verify your identity or payment method.
• Protect against fraud and abuse.
• Improve verification services for Google products.

Your verified info, like name and address, is stored with your Google Account. You can manage your verified info at payments.google.com.

When applicable, the info that you submit is treated in accordance with the Google Privacy Policy and the Google Payments Privacy Notice.

How to complete verification

To verify your info, you may need to submit documents or request a code. Some verification methods may not be available based on the product or activity that you want to complete.

1. Go to payments.google.com.
2. Sign in to your account.
3. At the top right, click Alerts Verify.
   • If there are no alerts, click Payment methods.

     Where to find the critical alert

     

4. Next to the card that must be verified, click Verify.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions for your verification method.
6. Repeat the steps above for each payment method that must be verified.

Verification methods

To complete verification, you'll be asked to use one of the following methods.

Request a verification code

1. Click Get code.
2. Go to your payment method issuer's website and sign in to your account.
3. In your transaction history, find a temporary charge of less than $1.95 USD called 'GOOGLE'. The verification code is the last six digits.
   • The amount of the temporary charge varies by the type of currency.
   • You should get the code right away, but it can take up to seven days.
   • Tip: The charge or hold on your account is temporary. Charges are refunded within 30 days.
4. Enter the six-digit code.
5. Click Verify.

Upload documents

Important:

• Info that you upload for this process is used only for identification purposes and is handled in accordance with local regulatory requirements.
• The upload document method isn't available for YouTube and Google Store purchase verification.

To verify your identity or payment method, find the verification request. To find a list of accepted documents and instructions, use the link in the verification request.

Make sure that your documents:

• Use the same full name in all documents that you submit.
• Are updated and not expired.
• Are legible.

Make sure the image that you upload:

• Is an image of a document and nothing else
• Is legible
• Is in colour, not black and white
• Doesn't have blurring, glare or dim light
• Shows all four corners of the full document

If you redact info from documents:

• For bank statements, redact:
  • Full account numbers so that only the last four digits are visible
  • Any account balances or transactions. Account balances and transactions are not required for verification purposes
• To redact, you can draw a dark box to cover sensitive info before you upload it.

Tips:

• Make sure that your name, address and payment info are up to date at payments.google.com.
• After you've submitted your documents, verification may take a few days.

Verify with a bank statement (Play developers only)

In certain countries or regions, Google Play developers may have to verify their disbursement payment method with a bank statement. The bank statements that you upload can't be older than 180 days.

1. Sign in to payments.google.com.
2. Click Subscriptions and services.
3. Under 'Google Play apps', click Manage.
4. Under 'How you get paid', click Add payment method.
5. Find the bank account that you added as your payment method for disbursement.
6. Click Verify.
7. Upload a copy of your bank statement. You can upload an image or a PDF.
   • Redact sensitive info from the bank statement but make sure that the info below is clearly visible:
     • The last four digits of the bank account number
     • Complete details of the sort code, bank code, IFSC code, SWIFT code or similar ID.
     • Depending on which part of the world you're in, the bank identification code may have a different name.

After you've submitted your bank statement, verification may take a few days.

Fix issues with verification

Fix issues with verification codes and temporary holds

Learn how to fix issues when you try to verify payment methods with a verification code.

Fix issues with document verification

To resolve the issue:

• If you receive an email or get an error message: Follow the instructions in the message.
• If you need help from our team to resolve the issue: We'll contact you after we have reviewed your info.

Failed verification

If you failed verification, you'll receive an email shortly after the decision. To appeal the decision, follow the instructions in the email.