Verify your identity to recover account access

Last updated: 4 days ago

Recover your account using a government issued ID

If you can’t recover or access your account or if your account has been restricted, follow the guidance below to learn how to regain access to your account by verifying your identity through Persona, LinkedIn's identity verification provider. We need to verify your identity to ensure that only you regain access to your account and not any unauthorized person.

To verify your identity, Persona will ask you to upload a clear photo of your valid government issued ID card, driver’s license, or passport. In some instances, Persona may ask you to take a photo of yourself to verify that your face matches your ID portrait. If you do not want to submit your government issued ID card or a photo of yourself, see “Other ways to recover your account” below for alternative forms of verification accepted by LinkedIn.

Although you’ll access Persona’s verification process through the LinkedIn app, Persona will be collecting the personal data required to verify your identity and such collection is done pursuant to Persona’s policies. Persona only shares information about you with LinkedIn if you consent to the sharing. Persona will ask for your permission to send the following data to LinkedIn:

  • Verification result
  • Full name
  • Year of birth
  • City, state/province, country
  • ID type and issuer
  • Redacted copy of ID, with only the full name and face portrait being visible

LinkedIn doesn’t receive your biometric data or numbers, expiry dates, or issue dates associated with your ID.

LinkedIn processes this data for the purpose of account recovery and retains it only while your account issues are being resolved. They’re generally permanently deleted within 14 days of submission. We may retain non-identifying data about your ID for fraud prevention purposes. You can read our privacy policy here.

How to verify your identity with Persona:

To verify your ID through Persona, you’ll need access to a smartphone to take a photo of your ID. To regain access to your account quickly, you’ll need to ensure that you take a clear and unobstructed photo of a valid and unexpired government issued ID, driver’s license, or passport. Be sure that all parts of your ID are clear and legible.

When verifying your identity, you will go through the steps below:

  1. If you are using a desktop device, you will be prompted to scan the QR code on your screen with your mobile device to begin ID verification.
  2. Select the country that your government ID is from.
  3. Agree to Persona’s Identity Service Terms of Use and Persona’s Privacy Policy.
  4. You may be prompted by your mobile device to enable camera access. This permission is required to complete your identity verification.
  5. If prompted, take a photo of yourself.
  6. Select your government ID type. 
  7. Take a clear photo of your valid government-issued ID card, driver’s license, or passport. Accepted documents may vary by country. Note: Documents such as library or school ID cards cannot be used for verification. 
  8. Persona will ask for your permission before sharing information with LinkedIn. Click Yes, share to share the verification and certain related information with LinkedIn. 
Example of an image that would be accepted:
snapshot
Examples of images that would be rejected:
snapshot

Other ways to recover your account

Through an Affidavit of Identity

If you don't wish to provide your ID, you can print the Affidavit of Identity and sign before a Notary Public. Once notarized, this form can be scanned and attached in your support case.

Through a work email address

If the job currently listed on your profile is up-to-date and accurate, you may be asked to verify your identity using the work email address associated with this company. 

The work email you provide will only be used for the purpose of your account recovery and won’t be added to your account.

If you’re asked to verify your identity through your work email, please follow the steps below:

  • Enter the email address associated with the job currently listed on your profile.
  • Click Send code.
  • Access your verification code in your work email account. If you don’t receive a code, click Resend code. Try our additional troubleshooting tips, if needed.
  • Enter the code and click Submit.
  • Click Sign in to get back into your account.

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