Want more responses from hosts and stronger connections on the road? Getting verified is one of the best ways to stand out and build trust on Couchsurfing.
It's a quick way to confirm your identity with a government-issued ID, and it only takes a couple of minutes. Once verified, you'll receive a Verification Badge that appears on your profile and across the platform, helping other members trust who they're connecting with.
Why Get Verified?
It shows you're who you say you are. The Verification Badge signals to other members that your identity has been confirmed. Hosts and travelers are more likely to respond to and trust a verified profile.
It makes a stronger first impression. Your Verification Badge appears on your profile and across your activity on the platform, so other members can see at a glance that you've taken the extra step.
It strengthens the community. A community built on real connections depends on real people. Verification helps keep the platform safe and trustworthy for everyone.
Where Can I Find the Get Verified Option?
You'll see prompts to get verified in several places across the platform:
- The Get Verified banner in your Library
- The Get Verified card in Complete Your Profile
- Your profile
-
Settings
- When sending or receiving a stay request
- When viewing another member's Verification Badge (if you're not yet verified, tapping or clicking their badge will start the verification process)
No matter where you start, all of these lead to the same verification process.
How Do I Get Verified?
Here's the quickest way to start verification. The identity verification step is completed on the mobile app.
On mobile:
- Tap Verify Now from any Get Verified prompt
- Review the verification details and tap Continue
- Complete the payment
- Follow the onscreen prompts to complete the verification process
On the web:
- Click Verify Now from any Get Verified prompt
- Review the verification details and click Continue
- Complete the payment
- Scan the QR code with your phone to download or open the Couchsurfing mobile app
- Open the app and go to the Library
- Tap Finish Verification
- Follow the onscreen prompts to complete the verification process
You'll receive an in-app notification once your verification is complete, and your profile will display a green Verified badge next to your name.
How Long Does It Take?
Automated checks usually take just a few minutes. If your submission needs additional review, it may take longer depending on support availability.
What ID Types Are Accepted?
You can verify using any of the following government-issued photo IDs:
- Passport
- Driver's license
- National identity card
- Residence permit
Your ID must be valid and not expired. Accepted types may vary depending on your region.
What If My Name or Date of Birth Doesn't Match?
If you use a preferred name on your profile, that's fine. As long as your ID is valid and belongs to you, your verification can still be approved.
Your date of birth must match your government ID exactly. Since your date of birth can't be updated directly on the platform, you'll need to reach out to our support team to update it before starting verification if there's a discrepancy.
What If My Verification Fails?
You'll receive a notification letting you know. From there, you can contact our support team to request a manual review.
Submitting a manual review request does not guarantee a different outcome.
Is My Information Secure?
Yes. We've partnered with Entrust for secure ID verification. All identification documents and photos are encrypted and securely stored via Entrust only for the duration of your verification. Your information is used only to verify your identity. It is not shared with other members and is not used for marketing or advertising.
A Couple Things to Know:
- The identity verification step is completed on the Couchsurfing mobile app. You can start the process and complete payment on the web, but you'll need a mobile device to finish.
- Submitting a manual review request does not guarantee a different outcome.
- You'll need to allow camera and microphone access on your device to complete the ID photo and video selfie steps.
Need more help? Get in touch. You can also reach us anytime through Settings → Contact Support.