FACEIT verification is a free identity check: in your account settings you scan a QR code with your phone, take a selfie and photograph a valid government-issued ID (a passport, national ID or driver's license, depending on your country). The check usually takes anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, and then a white badge appears on your profile. Under FACEIT's rules since November 2025, Premium Match is locked without it, and most official tournaments require verification too.
Below we cover what to prepare, the step-by-step process, accepted documents, review times, the Selfie Recheck and fixes for common errors. If you do not have an account yet, start with how to register on FACEIT in CS2.
Why FACEIT Verification Exists and What It Gets You
The platform didn't introduce this system for the sake of bureaucracy. The main goal is fighting smurfs and account selling. The check itself is run for FACEIT by Daon, a company that specializes in digital identity. The principle is simple: one person, one account.
Once a player completes FACEIT verification, one of two badge types appears on their profile. The white badge is the standard one, awarded to all users who complete identity verification. The gold badge is assigned to professional players, streamers, and public figures to prevent impersonation. Both badges are visible to all users on the platform.
Without the white badge, Premium Match is locked; that has been the official rule since November 2025. Most official FACEIT tournaments and open qualifiers also require verified status. Basic matchmaking technically remains accessible, but an unverified account's options get narrower with every update.
| Feature | Without Verification | With Verification |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Matchmaking | Available | Available |
| Premium Match | Locked | Available |
| Official FACEIT Tournaments | Usually locked | Available |
| White Badge on Profile | No | Yes |
| Selfie Recheck protection | No | Yes |
What to Prepare Before Starting FACEIT Verification
A few minutes of prep saves half an hour of troubleshooting errors. FACEIT's official guide explicitly lists the requirements without which the process won't go through, and most first-attempt failures come down to players skipping these items. So it's worth checking everything before you open the verification page.
Before starting, make sure you have the following ready:
A smartphone with a working camera: the entire process runs through your phone, there's no getting around it. Older devices may not be supported.
A valid government-issued ID: a passport, national ID, or driver's license. It must be the original document and must not be expired.
Good lighting: FACEIT specifically emphasizes this in their official guide. A dark room or backlighting will cause a rejection at the selfie stage.
The correct country selected in the settings: during verification you need to manually select the country that matches the one on your document. This doesn't sync automatically with your account settings.
That last point is the most common reason for failing on the first attempt. Players click through without checking, the country is wrong, the document fails, and they have to start over. It's worth double-checking this before you proceed.
How to Complete FACEIT Verification for CS2: Step by Step
One thing to understand right away: you're verifying your FACEIT account, not a specific game profile. The badge applies across all games on the platform: CS2, Dota 2 and others. There's nothing separate to do for a specific game. The process consists of four official steps.
Here's how the full FACEIT verification process looks from start to finish:
Go to your FACEIT account settings → find the "Verification" section → click the start button.
Scan the QR code that appears on screen with your smartphone. The Daon service page will open in your phone's browser.
Take a passport-style selfie: neutral expression, even front lighting, no glasses, hats, or headphones.
Scan the correct page or side of your ID document using the phone's camera.
After submitting, the system processes the result. The "In progress" status while you wait is completely normal, so don't panic or restart the process. Once the check is complete, just refresh the page and the badge will appear on your profile automatically. Only one account can be verified per person; that is a hard limit set by FACEIT. For what you can and cannot change on a verified profile, see how to unlink an account from FACEIT.
How Does the Phone Verification Process Work?
The way the system works can seem a bit confusing at first. A lot of players assume the whole thing happens on their computer, but it doesn't. You initiate the process from your PC or laptop, but the actual verification has to happen on a phone: the system uses the smartphone's live camera for face capture and document scanning, and there's no way around this.
The flow is simple: open the verification page in a browser on your computer, get a QR code, scan it with your smartphone, and from that point everything continues in the phone's browser. No separate app required. If your own device is too old and isn't supported, FACEIT's official documentation explicitly allows you to borrow a phone from a friend or family member. But only the device can be borrowed; the photos must be taken by the account owner, not anyone else.
Verifying Without a Passport: Accepted Documents
The question of how to verify on FACEIT without a passport comes up often, especially among players whose passport is expired or unavailable. The honest answer: you can't do it without a document at all. FACEIT requires a government-issued ID; that step is not optional. But a passport isn't the only option.
The system accepts several types of documents:
Passport: the universal option, works for most countries.
National ID: accepted where supported.
Driver's license: also country-dependent.
The exact list of accepted documents for each country is on the official FACEIT Support page "Accepted Documents for ID Verification." The list is updated periodically, so check it directly rather than relying on forum tips. Using someone else's documents is strictly prohibited: it's a direct violation of platform rules and results in an account ban. Verification is tied to a specific person, and the system will check this down the line.
| Document | Accepted | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Yes | Universal option |
| Driver's License | Country-dependent | Check FACEIT's list |
| National ID | Country-dependent | Check FACEIT's list |
| Expired Document | No | Must be valid |
| Someone Else's Document | No | Account ban |
| Photo of Document (not original) | No | Physical original required |
How Long Does FACEIT Verification Take?
Waiting for the result after submitting is the most stressful part for most players, especially if you need the badge urgently before a tournament. According to FACEIT Support, verification usually takes anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the load. During peak hours the queue check alone can take up to about 15 minutes, so the result does not always arrive in the same session.
While the check is running, your account shows "In progress." That is normal, so don't restart the process. The status will update automatically once it's done. If the page hasn't refreshed on its own after the process clearly finishes, a manual refresh is all it takes.
How to Reverify on FACEIT: the Selfie Recheck
Since November 2025, FACEIT has introduced periodic identity re-checks called the Selfie Recheck. The reason is clear: previously it was possible to verify an account using someone else's passport, sell it, and the system wouldn't catch it. Now the platform can demand identity re-confirmation at any time, especially if an account's behavior looks suspicious.
When an account is flagged for a re-check, a notification appears in the FACEIT interface and a pop-up appears when you try to queue for a match. Matchmaking access is blocked until the process is completed. Re-verifying is simpler than the initial process: no document scan is required, just a new selfie via QR code.
Key conditions for the Selfie Recheck:
You get 5 attempts. Failing all five means losing your verified status and matchmaking access.
Minor changes in appearance (haircut, beard, glasses) are generally handled fine by the system.
Significant changes are a reason to contact FACEIT support directly.
Completing a Recheck for someone else is impossible: the system compares the face against the original verification.
FACEIT explicitly recommends not putting off the Recheck: the longer you ignore the notification, the longer your account stays locked from play. This isn't something to leave until tomorrow.
FACEIT Verification for Players in Russia
For players in Russia the process is the same as everywhere else: a QR code, a selfie and a valid document. Which documents are accepted for Russia should be checked on the official FACEIT Support page "Accepted Documents for ID Verification," since the list is updated periodically.
The main practical point for Russian players: make sure the country selected in the verification settings matches the country on your document. This isn't tied to your IP address or synced with your account, so check it manually every time before starting.
Is FACEIT Verification Mandatory
Can you skip FACEIT verification and still keep full functionality? Less and less. Technically, identity verification remains free and optional for basic matchmaking. But with every platform update, an unverified account gets fewer options.
Without verification, Premium Match is locked, which has been official since November 2025. Most official tournaments and qualifiers also require the badge. On top of that, FACEIT reserves the right to demand identification from accounts suspected of unsportsmanlike behavior. Technically you can get by without verifying, but without Premium Match and tournaments the platform loses most of its appeal. For the other account requirements, see do you need Prime for FACEIT CS2.
Common Errors and How to Fix Them
Most problems that come up during FACEIT verification have the same root causes, and all of them are fixable. FACEIT reports the error type after each failed attempt, so troubleshooting is straightforward once you know what to look for. FACEIT Support's official "Common Errors" page covers all the typical scenarios.
Here's what most commonly goes wrong:
Wrong country selected: doesn't match your document. Check manually before starting.
Poor lighting for the selfie: the system can't recognize your face. You need bright, even front lighting.
Wrong page of the document: scan the correct side or spread.
Device too old: use a phone borrowed from a friend or family member.
QR code not displaying: switch to a different browser.
Status stuck on "In progress": don't restart, just refresh the page once the process finishes.
These errors account for the overwhelming majority of cases where FACEIT verification fails on the first try. If none of the listed solutions work, contact FACEIT Support: their team handles non-standard cases manually. Platform errors unrelated to verification are covered in what to do if FACEIT gives an error.
Verification Complete: What's Next
The white badge will appear on your profile as soon as the check completes successfully. This unlocks full access to Premium Match and official tournaments, and protects the account from the usual account-selling schemes. Once FACEIT verification is done, the only thing left is to play. Before your first match, make sure the FACEIT anti-cheat is running (on Windows it requires TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot), and see how to play on FACEIT in CS2 for the matchmaking basics.
FAQ
How long does FACEIT verification take?
Usually anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on load. While the status says "In progress," do not restart the process; just refresh the page later.
Can I verify on FACEIT without a passport?
Not without any document, but a passport is not the only option: depending on your country, a national ID or driver's license also works. The document must be valid and original.
Is FACEIT verification mandatory?
Not for basic matchmaking, but Premium Match is locked without it, and most official tournaments and qualifiers require the badge. FACEIT can also request a check from suspicious accounts.
What should I do if FACEIT verification fails?
Check the country in the verification settings, the lighting for your selfie and that you scanned the right page of the document. If your phone is too old, borrow one, but the account owner must take the photos.
