✅ How to Add Identity Verification to Your Web App (Complete Guide for Developers)

Identity verification has become a core feature of modern web applications. Whether you’re building a marketplace, SaaS platform, fintech app, or any service that deals with user trust, verifying users helps protect your platform from fraud, fake accounts, and misuse.

In this guide, you’ll learn what identity verification is, why it matters, and how to integrate it into your web app using practical examples.

🔍 What Is Identity Verification?

Identity verification is the process of confirming that a user is a real person and that the documents they provide are genuine and valid.
It commonly uses:

• Government ID (Aadhaar, PAN, passport, driving license)
• Selfie or face match
• Liveness detection
• OTP verification
• Biometric checks

Identity verification is widely used in financial apps, social platforms, job portals, and marketplaces.

⭐ Why Identity Verification Is Important?

Adding identity verification to your web app provides several benefits:

• Prevents fraudulent accounts
• Builds trust between users
• Helps you comply with KYC/KYB regulations (if required)
• Reduces spam and bot registrations
• Keeps your platform secure

🧩 Methods of Identity Verification

Below are the most commonly used verification methods:

1. Document Verification

User uploads:

• Aadhaar
• Passport
• Driving license
• National ID

The system extracts text (OCR) and checks validity.

2. Face Verification

User takes a selfie.
AI checks:

• Face match with ID
• Liveness to ensure the person is real

3. Phone/Email OTP Verification

Simple and widely used for basic authentication.

4. Biometric Verification

Advanced method using fingerprint or facial scan (mobile apps mostly).

🥇 Best Identity Verification APIs

Here are trusted APIs you can integrate directly:

• Stripe Identity – https://stripe.com/identity
• Onfido – https://onfido.com
• IDfy (India) – https://www.idfy.com

These links are minimal, clean, and helpful for readers.

🚀 How to Add Identity Verification to Your Web App

🛠 Step 1: Choose a Verification Provider

Pick a service based on your region and requirements.
For Indian apps, IDfy or Aadhaar-based APIs work best.
For global apps, Stripe Identity and Onfido are popular.

🛠 Step 2: Create a Verification Session (Node.js Example)

Install Stripe:

npm install stripe

npm install stripe

Create verification endpoint:

const stripe = require('stripe')('YOUR_SECRET_KEY');

app.post('/create-verification', async (req, res) => {
  const session = await stripe.identity.verificationSessions.create({
    type: 'document',
  });

  res.json({ url: session.url });
});

const stripe = require('stripe')('YOUR_SECRET_KEY');

app.post('/create-verification', async (req, res) => {
  const session = await stripe.identity.verificationSessions.create({
    type: 'document',
  });

  res.json({ url: session.url });
});

This URL opens the Stripe identity verification screen for users.

🛠 Step 3: Check Verification Status

const result = await stripe.identity.verificationSessions.retrieve(sessionId);

if (result.status === "verified") {
  // Mark user as verified in the database
}

const result = await stripe.identity.verificationSessions.retrieve(sessionId);

if (result.status === "verified") {
  // Mark user as verified in the database
}

🛠 PHP Example (Using IDfy API)

$curl = curl_init();
curl_setopt_array($curl, [
  CURLOPT_URL => "https://api.idfy.com/v3/tasks/async/verify_identity",
  CURLOPT_POST => true,
  CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS => json_encode([
    "task_id" => "unique_id",
    "id_number" => "AADHAAR_NUMBER"
  ])
]);

$response = curl_exec($curl);
curl_close($curl);

$curl = curl_init();
curl_setopt_array($curl, [
  CURLOPT_URL => "https://api.idfy.com/v3/tasks/async/verify_identity",
  CURLOPT_POST => true,
  CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS => json_encode([
    "task_id" => "unique_id",
    "id_number" => "AADHAAR_NUMBER"
  ])
]);

$response = curl_exec($curl);
curl_close($curl);

🧮 Where to Display the Verified Badge?

After verification, show the badge on:

• User profile
• Dashboard
• Account settings
• Application status pages
• Premium or restricted features

A simple green “Verified” icon helps build user trust.

🔐 Security Best Practices

✔ Encrypt ID documents
✔ Use HTTPS everywhere
✔ Store only necessary information
✔ Delete ID images after verification (recommended)
✔ Log all verification attempts

Following these practices helps maintain both security and privacy.

📌 Final Thoughts

Identity verification is no longer optional — it’s a must-have for any platform that values trust and safety. By integrating third-party APIs like Stripe Identity, Onfido, or IDfy, you can add reliable verification to your web app in just a few hours.

If you are building a web app with Node.js, React, PHP, WordPress, or Express, you can easily plug in these services and secure your platform.

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Nasim Khan

I’m Nasim Khan, is a Software Engineer focused on building efficient and user-friendly web applications. SHe writes about web development, programming fundamentals, and modern technologies, sharing practical insights for developers and learners.