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 is Venmo asking me for my personal information?
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 an organization 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?
We'll notify you in the Venmo app and via email if we need to verify your identity. 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 can help confirm whether 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. In this case, here's what you should keep in mind:
- You can still receive payments and transfer money from your Venmo account to a bank
- You can still make payments on Venmo using a debit card, credit card, or bank account
- You will not be able to use money in your Venmo account to make payments
How do I verify my identity in the Venmo app?
- Go to the Me tab by 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 it take to verify my identity?
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 or address has changed. In that case, we’ll ask you to send us documentation in the app that confirms your identity.
Learn about which documents are accepted for identity verification.
What happens to this information after you’ve used it to verify my identity?
Learn more about Venmo security.
Why can't I make payments using the money in my Venmo account?
You didn't complete the verification process in the timeframe provided, but you can still verify your identity. Once your identity is verified, you can resume using the money in your Venmo account to make payments.
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 an email, it’s possible that they completed this process previously (for instance, by signing up for a Venmo Debit Card). Otherwise, we may send 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 verify your identity in the Venmo app to gain access to a Venmo balance. This 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 Venmo balance.
Learn more about how the Venmo balance works.
My Venmo app isn't working correctly and I can't verify my identity
Make sure you have the latest version of the Venmo app installed on your device. Here's how:
- 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 App Store or Google Play Store
Once you've downloaded the latest version of Venmo, 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. You may be asked to provide documentation showing your correct legal name before we can make any updates in our system. Please note, there is no way to change or trade ownership of a Venmo account.
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 an organization account as well as a personal account. Is the verification process different?
Venmo’s Organization Account beta has closed, but users with organization 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 an Organization 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 Organization 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 an Organization 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 Organization Account.