Guest Screening vs. Airbnb ID Guest Verification

As a short-term rental manager, your greatest protection against a bad stay in your property is information about your guests. In recent years, Airbnb has improved its processes for verifying guests’ identities, but concerns continue to swirl among users of the platform.

Does the Airbnb identity verification go far enough to check guests’ backgrounds? How does Airbnb know guests are submitting legitimate photo identification? Do hosts and property managers get enough information to feel comfortable renting to guests? Is there a guest screening tool that can provide you with the comfort level you seek?

If these are questions you have, this article is for you. It will walk you through how Airbnb ID verification works, what guest information is shared with hosts, the drawbacks of the Airbnb process, why you need a great tool to screen guests, and how Safely can meet your needs.

How Does Airbnb Verify ID?

The Airbnb identity verification is designed to ensure that users on the platform are who they say they are. The point is to establish trust and ensure safety. Airbnb asks for a guest’s government-issued ID or for users to confirm their legal name and add their address.

To verify a guest’s identity, Airbnb requests you do one of the following:

• Take a photo of your ID with your smartphone or mobile device
• Take a photo of your ID with the webcam on your laptop or computer
• Upload an existing photo of your ID

You then add your legal first and last name and your address.

But Airbnb says the photo matching process is only sometimes accurate.

The quality of the photo, the skills of the reviewer, and changes in a person’s appearance might affect this process. So, Airbnb asks hosts not to rely on the photo-matching process to guarantee someone’s identity. And since you never get a copy of the guest’s official ID, you have no clear way to verify that people are who they say they are.

Airbnb deploys a type of artificial intelligence (AI) known as machine learning to identify any red flags on guests and remove the profiles.

What Guest Information Is Shared With an Airbnb Host?

The information Airbnb shares with you is a guest’s:

• First and last name
• Profile name and photograph
• Age range (whether the guest is over or under the age of 25)
• Success in adding an ID

Airbnb will provide you with reviews and ratings of guests. However, you won’t receive any of the information Airbnb used to verify the guest’s identity, such as the government ID photo, the image that verified the ID, or the home address. You’re left to trust Airbnb’s AI process, reviews, and your guests, and that might not be enough. Airbnb’s ID verification process requires you to trust your guests to be honest—but trusting your guests isn’t a reliable solution.

You deserve a transparent and thorough guest screening process to guard against bad stays. Safely’s guest screening solution provides invaluable insights that help you protect your home from a costly Airbnb experience.

What Are the Drawbacks of Airbnb ID Verification?

Guests can find ways to falsify their identities when Airbnb requests an ID for verification. This can put your property at risk if you don’t have a solution in place.

To protect your property, you may spend hours doing your own research on who your guests are. But with Safely, guest screening isn’t a full-time job. You can automate these crucial background checks with comprehensive, non-invasive guest screening.

Another drawback of Airbnb’s process is time, which you likely don’t have a lot of. If you’re wondering, “How long does Airbnb take to verify ID?” it’s a few hours or even as long as 24 hours.

Why You Need a Guest Screening Tool

Airbnb’s ID verification process only qualifies the booking and possibly removes suspicious characters. You’re left with reviews and ratings to decide whether to leave your investment and personal property in the hands of someone you don’t know. Without a thorough guest screening tool, high-risk guests can easily fall through the cracks.

Also, evaluating guests without an objective system in place can cause you legal problems—by refusing a booking, you could be seen as having contravened the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

But Safely’s automated processes are in keeping with the regulatory protocols, so you’re always protected.

Safely is your advocate. The automated guest screening platform gives you peace of mind with its non-discriminatory, discreet, and thorough risk evaluation.

How Safely Protects You From Bad Airbnb Guests

Safely Guest Screening runs your Airbnb guest’s full name, address, and date of birth through these databases to find any red flags:

• Safely’s Prior Guest List (our list of guests who have negligently caused damage during stays in the past)
• Felonies
• Sex Offender Registry
• Global Watch Lists

With this information, we build a risk profile for every Airbnb guest to give you the information you need to decide whether or not to continue with their reservation.

Ready to Start With Automated Guest Screening?

If you’re looking for a fast,  convenient, and thorough method of screening guests for your short-term rental properties, Safely puts the power in your hands to deliver the information you need to protect your family and property.

Get in touch today to begin screening your Airbnb guests with Safely, and find the comfort you seek in understanding who your guests are.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to verify your ID on Airbnb?

ID verification on Airbnb is completely safe for guests. However, as a host, Airbnb supplies you with limited information about guests — first and last name, profile name and photograph, age range, success in adding an ID, and reviews and ratings. That might not be enough information for you to determine whether a guest could pose a risk to your property.

How long does it take to verify an Airbnb ID?

Airbnb verifies your guest’s ID typically within a few hours, but this process can sometimes take as long as 24 hours. 

What are the benefits of Airbnb ID verification?

ID verification can benefit you by helping to prevent fraud. However, there’s often a gap between Airbnb’s coverage and your needs. Safely takes the guesswork out of the guest verification process by providing a non-intrusive and comprehensive screening process.

Why do guests need to verify their ID on Airbnb?

Guests provide their ID for verification to build trust within the Airbnb community. This tells you if they are over 18 – an Airbnb age requirement – and are willing to provide a legal ID or their name and address. However, since Airbnb provides you with limited information about the verification process, your stays can still be vulnerable to bad guests.

What is the Airbnb verification process?

The Airbnb verification process requires guests to provide their address and legal name, or a government-issued photo ID, such as a passport, driver’s license, or visa. Guests are also asked to upload a new photograph of themselves.