Mercor verifies your identity once, through Persona. This guide covers what you need, both ways to verify, and what to do if something goes wrong.
Mercor uses Persona, a third-party identity verification service, to confirm that you are who you say you are. You will upload a government-issued ID and record a short selfie video.This is mandatory and, in most cases, completed only once.
This is not the same as your background check, and not the same as Stripe.
ID Verification (this page) — Persona. Confirms your identity. Required before you can be onboarded to a project, and before referral payouts can be issued.
Background check — a separate process covering employment and education history. See Background Checks.
Stripe identity verification (KYC) — part of setting up payments, run by Stripe, not Persona. See Payments.
• A valid government-issued ID — passport, national ID card, or driver’s licence
• A phone or computer with a working camera
• A few minutes in a well-lit space
Accepted documents
Persona accepts most government-issued identification, including passports and national ID cards. The on-screen instructions adapt to your country.
Turn off any VPN, iCloud Private Relay, or similar privacy tool before you begin. Persona detects your country from your IP address and pre-fills the address form to match. If your traffic is routed through the United States, the form will only accept a US ZIP code. See Address form won’t accept your postal code.
Partway through verification you will reach a screen titled Continue on Persona Wallet. It asks you to install and launch the Persona Wallet app, and it lists a device requirement.This screen offers you three routes. All of them complete the same verification — pick whichever suits you.
Launch App
Use this if you already have Persona Wallet installed. It opens the app straight into your verification.
Get it on Google Play
Installs Persona Wallet, then returns you to your verification.
Continue on another mobile device
At the bottom of the screen there is a QR code. Scan it with another phone to finish there — no install needed on the device you started from.
The screen is written to steer you toward the app, but the QR code at the bottom is a fully supported route, not a workaround. If you would rather not install anything, scan it and carry on.
The Continue on Persona Wallet screen — Launch App, Google Play, and the QR code at the bottom
Device requirement. On Android, the screen states that your device must be Android 9 or later. Your screen may show a different requirement depending on your device.Whatever it says, you are not stuck: if your phone does not meet the requirement, scan the QR code and finish on another mobile device that does.
If you already have the Persona Wallet app installed, make sure it is up to date before you begin. An out-of-date app is a common cause of session errors.
Found in the ID verification item on your onboarding checklist, or in the “Complete ID Verification” notifier on your Home page or Referral dashboard.
2
Begin verifying
You will be redirected to Persona’s secure interface. This is where you choose the app or the QR code.
3
Upload your government ID
Capture a clear photograph of the front, and the back if requested. Make sure the image is well-lit and free from glare.
Photo tips
• Place the ID on a dark, flat surface
• Avoid glare and backlight
• Make sure all four corners are visible
• Move the ID slowly to focus if blurry
Selfie tips
• Use a well-lit space
• Centre your face in the frame
• Follow the instructions to turn your head left and right
4
Take a selfie
Record a short video, turning your face left and right when prompted.
5
Switch devices, if you need to
You can move to another mobile device at any point by scanning the QR code — useful if the device you started on has no camera, does not meet the Android requirement, or if you would rather not install the app on it.
Scan to continue on another device
Handing off to your phone
6
Submit and finish
Persona processes your submission. Once verified, a green checkmark appears and the step is marked complete.
Most verifications complete within a few moments. Some need additional review, which can take up to 1 business day.You do not need to do anything while a verification is under review, and there is nothing to report.
The address form only accepts a US ZIP code, but I don't live in the US.
A VPN, iCloud Private Relay, or similar privacy tool is routing your traffic through the United States, so Persona locks the form to US ZIP format. Turn the tool off, clear your browser cache, and reopen the verification link.Persona re-checks your location at the start of every session, so you do not need a new link from Support. Full steps: Address form won’t accept your postal code.
I'm stuck on 'Processing ID', or I got 'Failed to create ID verification session'.
First, confirm the Persona Wallet app is up to date — an outdated version is the most common cause. Close the app, update it, and reopen your verification link.If it is up to date and processing still does not finish, contact support@mercor.com with your Mercor account email so the team can look at your session.
I don't want to install the Persona Wallet app.
You don’t have to. On the Continue on Persona Wallet screen, scroll to the bottom — under “Or continue on another mobile device” there is a QR code. Scan it with another phone and finish the verification there. It is the same verification, and nothing is installed on the device you started from.
My phone doesn't meet the device requirement shown.
Use the QR code at the bottom of the Continue on Persona Wallet screen to switch to another mobile device that does. On Android the requirement is version 9 or later; on other devices, follow whatever the screen states.If you have no other device available, contact support@mercor.com.
What should I do if I see a 'Session Expired' error?
Reopen the verification link from your Mercor checklist or the “Complete ID Verification” notifier to start a fresh session. Your previous attempts do not count against you.
How many attempts do I get?
You have several attempts. If you exhaust them, or your verification fails, contact support@mercor.com and the team will advise on next steps.
I don't have my physical ID with me. Can I submit a photo of it from my device?
No. Persona needs to capture the physical document through your camera. A photograph of a screen showing your ID will be rejected.
Is ID Verification a one-time process?
Yes, in almost all cases. A new verification request may be issued later if circumstances require it.
Persona is a third-party identity verification provider. Your ID and selfie are submitted to Persona and processed on their infrastructure.For details on what Persona collects and how it is handled, see the Persona Privacy Policy.
