ID.me

On This Page

• What is ID.me?
• ID.me User Guides
• Benefits
• Frequently Asked Questions

FINRA is implementing ID.me as a mandatory step to verify identity for users who grant access to or who have access to sensitive data on FINRA-owned or managed systems. FINRA’s regulatory and contractual obligations require FINRA to maintain rigorous security standards designed to safeguard sensitive data from potential security vulnerabilities and unauthorized access. 

What is ID.me?

ID.me is a third-party identity verification service that FINRA selected to integrate with the FINRA Entitlement Platform. ID.me is certified against federal standards for identity verification—a critical security function to confirm that the person logging into your FINRA Gateway account is you, not an imposter attempting to gain unauthorized access to your account. This additional verification layer protects both your account and the sensitive data you access.

Benefits of ID.me

• Prevents fraud – ID.me has a robust identity verification system to help prevent fraud and identity theft by ensuring the appropriate user accesses the account.
• Offers bank-grade security – ID.me uses advanced encryption to keep your personal information safe and secure.
• Provides 24/7 U.S.-based support – Access round-the-clock customer support for any log-in assistance you may need.  Visit help.id.me for more information.
• Meets federal standards – ID.me meets the requirements for Identity Assurance Level 2 (IAL2) verification.

Frequently Asked Questions

Early Access ID.me FAQs

Q1: How long is the Early Access Period?

A1: Early Access participants can use the ID.me identity services from December 15, 2025, through February 13, 2026.

Q2: What is the validation criteria for Early Access?

A2: ID.me and FINRA will validate against your legal first and last name (exact match). 

Note: ID.me uses your legal name (first and last) to verify your identity using the name on the document(s) you provide to verify your identity. The name used for your FINRA Entitlement Platform account must use your legal name for the information to match. If you did not use your legal name on your FINRA Entitlement Platform account, please contact your Super Account Administrator (SAA) or Account Administrator (AA) to update your name before ID.me validates your identity. Note that the full deployed version of identity services will include other identifiers for matching purposes, which will eliminate using your legal name on your FINRA Entitlement account.

Q3: Why has FINRA implemented ID.me?

A3: FINRA has mandated the use of identity verification through ID.me as FINRA’s regulatory and contractual obligations require us to meet certain security standards to protect data and systems from being exposed to security vulnerabilities. ID.me provides a NIST-compliant identity verification solution with identity assurance level 2 (IAL2) compliant credentials. IAL2 is a digital identity standard that requires users to provide evidence to prove their identity with a high degree of confidence.

Q4: Will identity verification be mandatory for users of the FINRA Entitlement Platform?

A4: Eventually, yes. With the 2026 FINRA Entitlement Certification Period, scheduled to begin in May, all SAAs, AAs and users with entitlement to specific sensitive data will be required to verify their identity by meeting the FINRA ID.me requirement. Later in 2026, identity verification will be required for account recovery of all users.

Q5: What do I need to do to complete identity verification between ID.me and FINRA?

A5: Once you complete the identity verification upload process with ID.me, you must ‘Allow’ for sharing of data and verification status with FINRA.

Q6: What data will be transmitted to FINRA from ID.me when I complete my identity verification and select ‘Allow’?

A6: Your name, email, phone number and verification date time stamp will be transmitted to FINRA.

Q7: How do I access ID.me from FINRA Gateway?

A7: You will be presented with a screen containing a button to ‘Continue to ID.me’ and be systematically transferred to ID.me.

Q8: I already have an ID.me account to access the Social Security Administration or IRS site. Can I use this account?

A8: Yes, a user has only one ID.me account. If you already have an ID.me account, you will use your existing credentials. Do not create a new account. If you accidentally create a new account, you must either merge the account or delete the duplicate account. If you do not have an ID.me account, you must create one when prompted.

Q9: When will I be required to complete the identification verification steps in ID.me?

A9: You will be required to complete the verification steps in ID.me when:

• you first create an account;
• if your account was deleted and recreated; and
• every two years to comply with FINRA’s reverification requirements.

Q10: As a U.S. citizen, what documentation will I need to complete the ID.me verification process?

A10: You will need:

1. a smart phone with a camera;
2. a photo ID (U.S. driver’s license or state ID, U.S. passport, or U.S. passport card); and
3. your Social Security number.

At times, a Secondary Document is required. If so, you will need a Social Security card, utility bill or vehicle registration information.

Q:11 What do I need to complete verification through ID.me Self Service (i.e., no video call or human intervention)?

A11: You will need:

1. a smart phone with a camera;
2. a photo ID (U.S. driver’s license or state ID, U.S. passport, or U.S. passport card);
3. your Social Security number; and
4. a live photo of your face with your camera.

Q12: As a non-US resident living in the USA, what documentation will I need to complete the ID.me verification process?

A12: You will need:

1. a smart phone or computer with a camera;
2. a valid foreign (non-U.S.) passport or state issued driver’s license; and
3. must complete a video call with ID.me to complete the identity verification process.

Q13: As a non-US citizen living internationally, what documentation will I need to complete the ID.me verification process?

A13: You will need:

1. a smart phone or computer with a camera;
2. a valid foreign (non-U.S.) passport;
3. proof of your international address; and
4. must complete a video call with ID.me to complete the identity verification.

Q14: Is there a cost for an ID.me account?

A14: At this time, there is no cost assessed to a user for identity verification.

Q15: What tips or best practices are there for taking pictures with a phone?

A15: You can locate tips and best practices for taking pictures with your phone on the ID.me website.

Q16: I’m having issues creating or using my ID.me account, who can I contact for support?

A16: Go to help.id.me to interact with ID.me’s virtual assistant or submit a help request in the ‘How Can We Help’ search bar. ID.me’s support team is available 24 hours a day and will respond to you as soon as possible.