How do I verify my ID?
You can verify your ID from your Account page.
Click "Verify my ID," you'll be taken to an Onfido webpage. Onfido, an Entrust company, is the software provider we use to verify ID.
Take a photo of your ID. Make sure you photograph the real physical document, with the text clear and readable, no glare or shadows.
Take a selfie video. You'll complete a quick video verification by following simple head movements, look directly at your camera and slowly turn your head left to right when instructed. Make sure your surroundings are well lit and your face is clearly visible, remove glasses or hats that could get in the way.
Submit.
Why do we need to verify your identification?
We ask for ID verification to maintain the quality and trustworthiness of our platform. This helps make sure:
Each participant is a real person with a unique account.
Researchers receive reliable, high quality data for their studies.
All participants have fair and continued access to studies.
Important: ID verification requests only ever come through official support team tickets. We'll never ask you to verify your ID through the Prolific messaging system or through a researcher's account.
Is my information/identification secure?
Your privacy and security are a top priority. Here's what you need to know:
All identity documents and photos are encrypted and securely stored through Onfido, our third party ID verification partner.
Only authorized support team members can access your documents when necessary.
The only information Onfido shares with us is your first name and surname, your date of birth, and the country of origin for your ID.
For more detail, see our Data Protection Policy and Onfido's Privacy Policy.
Which IDs are accepted?
You'll need a valid, not expired ID document issued by your current country of residence. We accept:
All driving licenses from the US, UK, EU, and Australia.
All national passports. Your passport must be from your country of residence, for example, a British passport if you live in the UK. You can only sign up as a participant if you live in a supported country, listed below. We don't accept Irish passport cards, use your physical passport instead.
A valid visa page showing a photo of you. Select the passport document type for the country you're living in or that issued your visa, then upload the visa page from within your passport.
Residence permit cards.
US state ID cards.
EU ID cards. EU citizens can verify using an ID from their own EU country, even if they live in a different EU country, as long as they're living in an EU country other than their country of citizenship.
Which countries are supported on Prolific?
Prolific is available to participants from most OECD countries.
If you're from an unsupported country but reside in one of the supported countries listed below, you can still join Prolific, as long as you have a valid ID document for the country you reside in.
Important: You need a valid ID document for the country you currently live in. An ID document for your country of birth won't be accepted if you're not currently residing there.
AUSTRALIA |
AUSTRIA |
BELGIUM |
BRAZIL |
CANADA |
CHILE |
CROATIA |
CZECH REPUBLIC |
DENMARK |
ESTONIA |
FINLAND |
FRANCE |
GERMANY |
GREECE |
HONG KONG |
HUNGARY |
ICELAND |
IRELAND |
ISRAEL |
ITALY |
JAPAN |
KOREA |
LATVIA |
LUXEMBOURG |
MEXICO |
NETHERLANDS |
NEW ZEALAND |
NORWAY |
POLAND |
PORTUGAL |
SINGAPORE |
SLOVAKIA |
SLOVENIA |
SPAIN |
SWEDEN |
SWITZERLAND |
TAIWAN |
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES |
UNITED KINGDOM |
UNITED STATES |
Can I join or use Prolific if I am not residing in one of the above supported countries?
If your country isn't supported, you can join our waitlist. We can't guarantee access, but we may get in touch if opportunities open up that match your profile.
In some cases, we invite participants who live outside the supported countries above. If that happens, you'll be permitted to sign up, but you'll need to submit a valid photo ID, ideally your passport, since some other forms of photo ID aren't accepted by Onfido.
I don't have my ID with me, can I use a copy?
No, photocopies or screenshots of IDs aren't accepted. For security and verification purposes, you need to take a clear photo of your physical ID document with a camera, this confirms the authenticity of your identification during verification.
What if my camera doesn't work?
You can scan the QR code Onfido provides using any mobile device. If your phone is broken or you don't have a working camera, the best option is to borrow a phone from a friend or family member and submit your video and ID from their device. The phone number used doesn't need to match the one on your Prolific account.
Tips for submitting your ID
Use an accepted form of ID, listed above.
Make sure your document isn't expired and is accepted for your country of residence.
Keep your face and ID clearly visible in the photos.
Follow the on screen instructions carefully.
For IDs printed on both sides, photograph the front and back.
Take photos in good lighting, avoiding shadows or glare.
If you're having trouble uploading
Enable camera permissions in your browser and phone settings.
Disable any ad blockers.
Try incognito or private browsing mode.
Make sure your device and browser are current.
Free up phone storage if your camera isn't working.
Use another device, like a friend's or family member's, if needed.
What happens if I fail identity verification?
If you fail our verification checks, we won't be able to offer you a participant account.
Heads Up: If your account is closed following a failed verification, you're not permitted to rejoin Prolific by creating a new account. See How do I close my account?, under "Can I rejoin after my account is closed or I delete my data?" for more information on our policy.
What should I do as a UK resident using a Share Code to prove my residency status?
Once you select UK as your country of residence, you'll be asked to:
Provide a valid ID through Onfido, such as a passport.
Contact our support team and provide your share code once you've completed that step.
We'll use your code to verify your document through the government website.
Once your code passes our verification check, we'll manually approve your ID on Prolific, and you'll be all set.
If you have an Irish passport or identity document and don't have a share code, contact Prolific Support using the chat icon in the bottom right of your screen, we can help.