Verifying Your Identity on Sofaree
At Sofaree, trust is everything. Whether you’re booking a stay or listing your property, everyone should feel confident about who they’re dealing with. That’s why we ask users to verify their identity.
Below is a simple guide to how our identity verification works for both Hosts and Guests.
Why we verify identity
Identity verification helps keep Sofaree safe by:
- Making sure users are real people
- Preventing fraud and suspicious activity
- Building trust between Hosts and Guests
- Meeting legal and payment-related requirements
You’ll only go through this process when needed, and usually just once.
What verification involves
Depending on your situation, Sofaree may verify you using:
- Your legal name and address
- A valid government-issued ID (like a passport, driver’s license, or national ID)
- A quick selfie to confirm the ID belongs to you
Sometimes, if we can confirm your identity using public or third-party information, we may not ask you to upload anything at all.
For Hosts
When Hosts need to verify
We’ll ask Hosts (and Co-hosts) to verify identity:
- When creating a listing
- When being added as a Co-host
- Occasionally when updating certain account details
Your listing won’t go live until your identity check is complete. This helps guests feel safe booking with you.
What Hosts may need to submit
- Your full legal name and address
- A photo of your valid, unexpired ID
- A selfie to match with your ID
- In rare cases, extra documents (for example, proof of address or business documents if required by local regulations)
Once verified, you’ll see a Verified Host badge on your profile and listings.
For Guests
When Guests need to verify
Guests may be asked to verify their identity:
- When booking a stay, resort, or tour package
- When making certain changes to their account
- If we detect unusual activity
Most Guests only verify once. If you book often, verification makes future bookings smoother.
What Guests may need to submit
- Full legal name
- A valid government-issued ID
- A selfie to confirm it’s really you
Don’t worry — your selfie and ID are never shown to Hosts or other users.
How long it takes
Verification is usually fast. Most people complete it in a few minutes, and results often come back quickly depending on your region and the ID you use.
Tips if you’re having trouble
- Make sure the name you enter matches the name on your ID
- Use a clear, well-lit photo of your ID (front and back if needed)
- Take a live selfie with good lighting
- Use a device with a working camera and allow camera permissions
Your privacy is protected
Your ID photos, selfies, and personal information are:
- Stored securely
- Never shared publicly
- Never shown to other users
- Only used for verification purposes
We take your privacy seriously and follow all applicable data protection standards.
If verification fails
If something doesn’t match or the photo isn’t clear, we’ll let you know and guide you through the next steps. You can always try again.