Venmo is a money transfer business regulated by the United States Treasury Department. As such, we are obligated to collect certain information from our users to verify their identities.
Why are you asking me to do this?
Verifying your identity allows you to make payments using the money in your Venmo account and can enable you to send and transfer greater amounts of money on Venmo.
Venmo is required by federal law to collect certain information from all its users that have access to a balance. We may also ask to verify your identity if you attempt to do any of the following:
- Send $300.00 or more in one week (rolling 7 day period)
- Transfer $1000.00 or more to your bank in one week
- Be added as a manager for a group account
- Receive payments for goods & services through either a personal or business profile
I got an email from Venmo asking to verify my identity. Is this legit?
Venmo has been notifying our users that we need to verify their identity in the Venmo app. We appreciate you being careful with your personal information and always advise avoiding emails that may seem suspicious. In this case, handling identity verification in your Venmo app helps confirm the request is really from us.
If we’re unable to verify your identity by the date specified in the email you received, we won’t be able to continue offering you the use of a Venmo balance for making payments. You’ll still be able to receive payments and transfer the money you receive out to a bank account. You’ll also still be able to make payments to others using a linked debit card, credit card, or bank account. You just won’t be able to use money in your Venmo account to make payments.
How do I verify my identity in the app?
- In your Venmo app, go to the “Me” tab tapping your picture or initials
- Tap the Settings gear in the top right
- Tap “Identity Verification”
The on-screen prompts will guide you through the process. You can only do this in the Venmo mobile app, not the Venmo website.
How long will this take?
Typically, the identity verification process only takes a few minutes.
Sometimes, our automated ID verification process doesn’t work because the information is unavailable or your name/address has changed. In that case, we’ll ask you to send us documentation in the app that confirms your identity.
I didn’t verify my identity, and now I can’t make payments using the money in my Venmo account
You can still complete the verification process. Once your identity is verified, you’ll be able to resume using the money in your Venmo account to make payments to others.
What should I do if I made a typo or submitted the wrong documentation?
Keep an eye on your Venmo app — our team will follow up with you to get the correct information if needed.
Why do I have to do this if my friend didn’t need to do it?
We’re asking all users to complete this process. If your friend didn’t receive this email, it’s possible that they completed this process previously (for instance, by signing up for a Venmo Debit Card). Otherwise, it’s possible that we’ll be sending them a similar email in the future.
I’m new to Venmo. What do I do if I want to make payments with the money in my Venmo account?
You can go ahead and verify your identity. Then, you’ll have access to a Venmo balance, which means you can use the money you’ve received to make payments. Any money you had in your Venmo account before you verified your identity will automatically be available on your new Venmo balance. Learn more about how the Venmo balance works.
My Venmo app isn't working correctly and I can't complete this process
Make sure you have the latest version of the app:
- Delete the Venmo app from your device. (This will not affect your Venmo account or your funds in Venmo)
- Download the latest version of the Venmo app from the Google Play Store
Once you have downloaded the latest version of the app, you should be able to complete the Identity Verification process.
I’m trying to verify my identity, but the wrong name populated and I can’t change it
The identity verification process starts with the legal name you provided when you signed up for Venmo. If this name isn’t current or is incorrect for any reason, please contact us for assistance. Please note, you may be asked to provide documentation showing your correct legal name before we can make any updates in our system.
I don’t have a social security number (SSN) or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN)
If you don’t have an SSN or ITIN, you won’t be able to complete identity verification. You’re welcome to continue using Venmo without verifying your identity. You can still make payments to other users or businesses funded by your chosen payment method (bank account, credit card, or debit card). You can also receive payments from other Venmo users and transfer that money out to a bank account.
I use a group account as well as a personal account. Is the verification process different?
Venmo’s Group Account beta has closed, but users with group accounts will still need to verify their identity with Venmo. You only need to verify your identity on your personal profile.
If you’re the owner of a Group Account and you aren’t able to verify your identity by the date specified in the email you received, both your personal account and your Group Account would no longer be able to use a Venmo balance. You’ll still be able to receive payments and transfer the money you receive out to a bank account. You’ll also still be able to make payments to others using a linked debit card, credit card, or bank account. You just won’t be able to use money in your Venmo account to make payments.
If you’re the manager of a Group Account and you aren’t able to verify your identity by the date specified in the email you received, you will be removed as a manager of the Group Account.