How to Scan ID Documents for Fiverr and Upwork Verification
To verify on Fiverr and Upwork, prepare a scan of your photo ID and proof of address — but note the key difference: Fiverr's ID step uses live phone-camera capture, while Upwork accepts uploaded scans. For both, the rule is the same: an unexpired ID, all four corners visible, in colour, with profile details matching the documents.
Freelance platforms verify identity to keep marketplaces trustworthy and to meet financial regulations, and both Fiverr and Upwork gate selling or withdrawing on it. The documents are familiar, but the capture methods differ, and that difference trips up more freelancers than any other detail. This guide separates the two workflows clearly, so you prepare once and pass on both.
The Fiverr workflow: live capture, not an upload
Fiverr's identity verification asks you to use your smartphone camera in the browser to capture your physical government ID — a passport, driving licence, national ID card, or similar document — plus a selfie, in one live session. Its help pages are explicit: digital copies and screenshots are not accepted, and photos of scanned images of yourself or your ID cannot be verified. A third-party service checks that the image is a genuine government ID and that the selfie matches it.
That means scanning still helps on Fiverr, but indirectly. Use a scan beforehand to check your ID's condition: is the photo clear, is any text worn, is the document expired? If the ID is damaged or expired, get it replaced before you start the live session — Fiverr gives you a limited window (its help pages note 14 days from notification) and failed attempts cost time. For proof of residency documents, such as a utility bill or rental agreement, a clean scan is exactly what you need, since those are documents you hold and reference rather than live-capture.
The Upwork workflow: uploaded scans with strict rules
Upwork's government ID and location verification accepts uploaded images, and its published image requirements are precise. Images must be in colour and at least 200 dots per inch, in PNG, JPEG, PDF, or BMP format. All four corners of the ID and of the statement must be visible, the front of the ID must be clearly visible (plus the back if the expiry date is on the back), and your name and address on the statement must match your Upwork profile and your ID.
Upwork also insists that you do not edit the image in any way — no cropping, rotating, touching up, or colour adjustment. Its statement rule is equally specific: the dates on your scanned statement must be within six months of upload, and your name must appear on the account and statement. Review is often fast — Upwork says verification is usually completed within minutes, though it can take up to 48 hours if additional documents or a video call are needed, and you typically have seven days from notification to complete it.
Scan once, use for both
Open Scanner.cam in your browser and scan on your device, so your ID images never pass through a third-party scanner's server. Lay each document flat on a plain surface in even light, capture it from directly above with all four corners visible, and scan in colour at a resolution that keeps small text sharp at full zoom — that comfortably clears Upwork's 200 dots-per-inch bar for a card-sized document. Scan both sides of a card ID, and scan the full proof-of-address document, not a cropped section.
Before you submit anywhere, run a self-check: is the ID unexpired, is every corner visible, is the photo unobscured, does the name on the ID match your platform profile exactly, and does the address on your statement match the address on your profile? For Fiverr, keep the physical ID ready for the live capture session and use your scan only as a rehearsal. For Upwork, upload the unedited scan itself. The same clean originals serve both — the difference is only in how each platform receives them.
Mistakes that block freelancer verification
- Scanning for Fiverr's ID step: Fiverr does not accept a photo of a scan for its live ID check. Use the physical ID in the live session.
- Expired documents: both platforms reject expired IDs outright, however good the image.
- Edited images: Upwork explicitly forbids cropping, rotating, or touching up verification images.
- Name or address mismatches: your profile name and address must match your ID and statement exactly.
- Stale statements: Upwork requires statement dates within six months of upload.
- Cut-off corners: all four corners must be visible on both the ID and the statement.
Frequently asked questions
Can I upload a scanned ID to Fiverr?
No, not for the ID step. Fiverr's verification uses a live phone-camera capture of your physical ID, and photos of scanned images are not accepted. A scan is still useful for checking your ID's condition and for proof-of-residency documents.
What image quality does Upwork require?
Colour images at least 200 dots per inch, in PNG, JPEG, PDF, or BMP format, with all four corners visible and no edits of any kind — no cropping, rotating, or colour adjustment.
How recent must my Upwork proof of address be?
The dates on your scanned statement must be within six months of the date you upload it, and your name and address on it must match your Upwork profile and ID.
What if my name differs between platforms and my ID?
Update the platform profile to match the ID exactly before verifying. Name mismatches are a leading cause of failed verification on both platforms.
How long does freelancer verification take?
Upwork usually verifies within minutes, and up to 48 hours if more checks are needed. Fiverr's process runs through its verification partner after the live capture session; complete it within the window shown in your notification.
Related guides
- How to Scan Documents for Payoneer Verification
- How to Scan Documents for Online Banking Verification
- How to Scan Documents for KYC Verification
- How to Scan an ID Card Online (Front & Back, Free)
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