Starting in 2026, we are redefining what it means to be Verified on Couchsurfing.
Being Verified now means confirming you are who you say you are by completing government-issued ID verification.
What is changing?
Verification will now be based on government-issued ID only. The Verified badge will have one clear and consistent meaning across the platform: the member’s identity has been confirmed.
Why are we making this change?
This update strengthens trust across the Couchsurfing community and responds to feedback from members who asked for a clearer standard behind the Verified badge.
By focusing Verification on identity confirmation, we can:
Ensure the badge has one consistent meaning
Strengthen trust between members
Provide a clearer signal of confirmed identity
This allows Verification to remain meaningful and straightforward.
What does this mean for members?
If you are already Verified and have completed government-issued ID verification, your status remains active and no further action is needed.
If you have not yet uploaded your government-issued ID, you will be asked to complete ID verification to maintain your Verified status.
If you would like to become Verified, you can do so by completing government-issued ID verification.
Verified members:
Demonstrate they are a real person behind the profile
Stand out to other members across the platform
Receive priority access to our Support team
For details about how ID verification works, please see: Why Couchsurfing Now Requires Government ID Verification.
Need more help? Get in touch. You can also reach us anytime through Settings → Contact Support.