AdSense Identity Verification for YouTube Monetization and Payments

AdSense for YouTube must be connected to your YouTube channel to enable monetization and be paid. In most countries, you are required to verify both your identity and your mailing address in your AdSense account. 

Make sure your Payee name and address are correct in your AdSense account before you start the verification process. You will not be able to change the account Payee name after identity verification is completed.

If you fail to complete verification by the deadline (45 days for identity verification and 4 months for address verification with a PIN), monetization will be disabled and your AdSense account may be suspended.

Note that if you use both AdSense for YouTube and AdSense for Content (ads on your own website), you only need to go through verification once.

This is an overview of the AdSense Identity Verification process. 

Watch a short video overview, or read on for details. 

Check Identity Verification Status in AdSense

If you are required to go through Identity Verification it will show that "needs attention".

Identity verification is required when your AdSense account balance reaches the verification threshold of $10 or equivalent. 

To check your AdSense account’s verification status:

1. Sign in to AdSense (adsense.google.com)

2. On the left menu click Payments

3. Under Payments click Verification Check

If the Verification Check shows that Identity Verification needs attention, click Take Action to start the identity verification process.

The will be a red banner that says "provide some info about yourself to continue".

You should also see a pink banner at the top of your AdSense account pages and a big red banner on the Payments tab showing that your account needs to go through verification. You can’t miss it.

What to do if Identity Verification is missing 

Verification Check only shows (completed) Address Verification

Some older AdSense accounts were not required to go through ID verification, and do not show the Identity Verification option on the Verification Check page.

If your account isn't showing the ID verification requirement, you can still use it to monetize your YouTube channel. 

However, the latest YouTube monetization option, Gifts powered by Jewels, requires that you have an active AdSense account that has completed identity verification.

If your AdSense account does not have the ID verification option, and you want to enable Gifts for your YouTube channel, you need to contact YouTube Creator Support for assistance to trigger the identity verification requirement. 

You should be able to contact YouTube Creator Support from inside Creator Studio, as long as your YouTube channel is otherwise eligible for monetization.

Note that if ID verification is enabled by YouTube Creator Support the countdown to the 45 day deadline begins immediately. You should have your documents for verification ready when you contact support, especially if you might need to acquire a government ID or passport. 

What documents are required for identity verification?

It's important to be prepared for Identity Verification from the start, at the time you apply for your AdSense account. You don't want to be in a position where you don't have the required documents before the submission deadline. 

AdSense offers two types of accounts: Individual and Business. The only difference is that for Individual accounts, the payment is made to the person's payee name, and for Business accounts the payments are made to the business name. Business accounts can also add other users to their payments profile.

Check your AdSense account type.

Note that if you set up a Business AdSense account, when it should have been an Individual AdSense account, you will have to close the Business account and apply for a new one of the proper type. YouTube Creator Support may be able to assist monetizing creators with that.

Identity Verification Documents for Individual AdSense Accounts

For Individual AdSense Accounts you are required to use a government-issued ID from the same country as your AdSense account’s payments profile.

A government-issued ID may include: 

• passport
• driver’s licence
• national or state identity card
• residence permit

The exact documents that you can provide may vary by country, and you will see all the options when you start the verification process.

Identity Verification Documents for Business AdSense Accounts

A Business AdSense Account has a business, rather than an individual as the payee on the account. Identity Verification requires two items:

• A proof of organization document from a government authority (national, state or municipal government).
• A valid government-issued photo ID from an authorized representative.

Document Requirements

For the documents to be accepted, whether for Individual or Business account verification, requires:

• Documents have the same full name as your AdSense account.
• Documents are issued from the same country as the AdSense payments account.
• Documents are valid and not expired.
• The image of the document is clear and not blurry, dark, or otherwise obscured or incomplete.

Learn more about required documents and resolving common issues with the identity verification process.

How can you get help with AdSense Identity Verification?

The AdSense Identity Verification Troubleshooter gives personalized information.

If you are having trouble with Identity Verification, try using the AdSense ID Verification Troubleshooter, while signed into the account you use for AdSense. In some cases, that will offer a form to submit documents, even after all the ID Verification attempts have been used.

If your YouTube channel is eligible for monetization, you should also be able to contact YouTube Creator Support for assistance. Note that AdSense does not provide direct support for YouTube Partners. 
Additional Information

Additional Resources

AdSense Help Center: Steps to getting paid

AdSense Help Center: Verify your identity (including document requirements and fixing common issues)