# idv

Source: https://startwithidentity.com/glossary/idv/
Last updated: 2026-08-29
License: content by Start with Identity. Cite the source URL.

---

The process of confirming that a person is who they claim to be, typically at account opening. Common signals: government ID document scan, selfie with liveness, address verification, device and behavior signals.

Identity verification is a fraud problem with an accuracy budget: every control that stops a fraudster also rejects some genuine customers, and the right operating point differs between a bank and a marketplace. Document plus liveness is the current baseline, deepfake-resistant liveness is the active arms race, and reusable credentials are the direction of travel, because verifying once and presenting many times is cheaper and less invasive than re-proofing at every relationship.

See also: [KYC](https://startwithidentity.com/glossary/kyc/), [IAL](https://startwithidentity.com/glossary/ial/), [identity verification vendors](https://startwithidentity.com/vendors/identity-verification/), [reusable identity and KYC with verifiable credentials](https://startwithidentity.com/guides/decentralized-identity/reusable-identity-and-kyc-with-verifiable-credentials/)