Facebook asked for ID: what’s accepted, how to upload and what to avoid

What to do first

Check where the request appeared. A prompt on facebook.com or inside the app after logging in, or through an official recovery link, is fine. A message, DM or email telling you to upload ID “to avoid deletion” is not. If you can’t tell, close the message and log in directly.

Step 1: Understand what’s accepted

Facebook’s help page says you can send one government-issued ID that shows your name and either your date of birth or your photo. If you don’t have one, two non-government documents showing your name are accepted, and at least one should include a photo or date of birth. The names should match each other and the account. Types vary by country, so check the live list on the help page.

Step 2: Prepare clear images

• Use a bright, even light and a plain background.
• Capture the whole document with all four corners visible.
• Avoid glare on laminated surfaces and shadows over the text.
• Use a current document, not one that has expired if the screen says current IDs only.
• Don’t edit, filter or crop beyond what the screen asks.

Step 3: Upload and wait

Upload on the same device and network you used to start the process. Don’t close the page until it confirms. Facebook replies by email and inside the account. Meta doesn’t publish a timeline. The help page describes how ID images are protected and kept, so read the current wording to know what applies in your region.

Step 4: If your name is a problem

If you use a nickname or a different form of your name, the documents have to support that name. Facebook’s name rules ask for the name you use in daily life, and our name-change guide explains what counts. If the account name and your ID differ widely, the check can fail.

How to tell a real request from a fake one

Real requests appear after you log in or when you follow a recovery flow you started yourself. Fake ones tend to share the same traits: urgency such as “your account will be deleted in 24 hours”, a link to a lookalike domain, a request to reply with a photo of your ID in a chat, or a demand for a fee. Facebook’s email addresses end in facebookmail.com or similar official domains, but even then, don’t follow the link. Open the app or type facebook.com yourself and look for the same request there.

Scammers also target Page owners with “copyright violation” warnings that ask for ID. If the notice doesn’t appear in your Support Inbox, treat it as suspicious.

What not to do

• Don’t send ID to anyone who messages you. Facebook staff don’t ask for it by chat.
• Don’t use another person’s document or a doctored image.
• Don’t submit the same documents repeatedly if the first is pending.

If your upload is rejected

Read the message for the reason. It’s often legibility, a mismatched name or a missing date. Try again once with a clearer photo or a different accepted document, and keep your explanation short and factual.