Short answer
Facebook asks for ID to confirm your name or age, or when you’ve lost access and it needs to be sure it’s you. Send a government ID — passport, driver’s licence or national ID — showing your name and date of birth or name and photo that match the account. If you can’t, Facebook’s help pages describe non-government alternatives such as a student or library card. Upload a clear photo of the whole document, only through the screen Facebook shows you. Facebook says your ID isn’t shown on your profile, and it may be stored encrypted for up to a year to improve fake-ID detection — a setting you can change.
Why Facebook asks
- To confirm the name on your account or your age.
- When you’ve lost access and Facebook needs proof you’re the owner.
- When it thinks the account’s security may have been affected — for example after a takeover.
Which documents work
- Government ID: passport, driver’s licence, national identity card, birth certificate and similar.
- It needs your name and date of birth, or name and photo. For account recovery, the photo or date of birth must match the account.
- No government ID? Facebook lists non-government options such as student, library or employment documents; its pages differ on how many you need, so follow what your screen asks.
Uploading so it’s accepted
- Photograph the whole document in good light — all corners, no glare, nothing covered.
- Make sure the name matches the account name as closely as possible.
- Upload only in Facebook’s flow (in the app or on facebook.com), never via a link in a message or email.
- Submit once and wait for the email or notification.
What happens to your ID
Facebook says the ID isn’t visible on your profile or to other people, and that it uses manual review and automated systems to check IDs are genuine. It may encrypt and store the ID for up to one year to improve detection of fake IDs; you can change this in your identity confirmation settings.
If it keeps failing — and the scams around it
- Name mismatch is the usual cause: an account in a nickname rarely matches an ID. Confirm the account name is your real name.
- Stuck after a hack? See hacked Facebook or recover without email or phone.
- Messages claiming your Page or account will be deleted unless you “verify” are phishing: fake Meta emails.
- Our Facebook recovery service prepares cases through Meta’s official channels.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to send my ID to Facebook?
Only through Facebook’s own identity confirmation flow. Facebook says the ID isn’t shown publicly and explains how long it may be stored.
What if I don’t have a government ID?
Facebook’s help pages list non-government documents you can send instead; follow the exact request on your screen.
Why was my ID rejected?
Usually the name or date of birth doesn’t match the account, or the photo is unclear or cropped. Fix the cause before trying again.
Can I stop Facebook storing my ID?
Facebook says you can change how long it keeps your ID in your identity confirmation settings.
Sources: Facebook Help — confirm your identity on Facebook, Facebook Help — types of IDs Facebook accepts, Facebook Help — what happens to my ID after I send it, Facebook Help — can’t access the email or phone on your account