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Advertiser identity verification

Note

  • If you're targeting financial services customers in the United Kingdom, you may also need to complete the UK Financial services verification. Learn more.
  • If you're targeting customers in China, here are the policies and guides. Learn more

Microsoft Advertising requires advertiser identity verification to ensure that customers see ads from trusted sources to improve their overall experience.

Understanding the identity verification process

When Microsoft Advertising requires advertiser identity verification, you'll receive an email request and an in-product notification for one or more of your accounts. The request will contain instructions on how to complete your verification. Most new accounts will have 30 days to complete the process. If not verified, your account may stop showing ads in the European Economic Area (EEA) countries/regions listed below. Some payment methods may require advertiser identity verification prior to ads serving in any market. As soon as your identity verification is complete, we'll enable your account, at which time your ads will begin showing again.

Note

Our review process may take 3-5 business days. If you fail the verification, your ads may stop serving within the EEA. To appeal a decision, please visit Advertiser identity verification appeals or contact Support. For more information on verification status, please see Identity verification status.

Note

  • Super Admins and Standard Users of an account (aligned to either the account owner or an authorized managing partner linked to the account) can apply for verification.
  • You're only required to complete identity verification for the Microsoft Advertising accounts that we notify you about. You can't opt in other accounts for identity verification.
  • Currently, you can apply for verification for one account at a time. We don't currently support verification of multiple accounts in parallel, with the exception of accounts in your manager account that share the same business location. In this case, they will be automatically verified together.

Get started

Depending on the situation, you can choose to verify as a business, as an individual, or both.

Note

The documentation you need to provide will differ based on your location.

FAQ

  • Verify as a business (if you represent or promote a business)

    You can choose to verify as a business if you have documentation registered with your local government or registration authority within any of the following categories:

    • Company, corporation, partnerships, or non-profit organizations
    • Government entities or public institutions
    • Registered affiliates who own their business and websites

    1. From the navigation menu on the left, hover over Settings and select Account verifications.

      Note

      If you have multiple accounts, choose one from the account dropdown menu on the top left.

    2. Under Advertiser identify verification (AIV) status, select Become a verified advertiser.

    3. Review the What is Advertiser identity verification (AIV)? section and select Next

    4. Select Verify as a business.

    5. The name and location that you've registered on your business documents should exactly match the business name and location that you've provided. Please edit any items that don't match.

    6. Enter information about your legally registered business, including Business website and Business email address.

    7. Upon entering the Business email address, request a verification code by selecting Send verification code. You'll receive an email at your business email address with the verification code.

      Note

      If you've provided a non-business email address, then you'll need to provide your personal identification documents as well.

    8. Enter the verification code from the email under Enter code.

      Note

      If you don't receive a verification code, you may request additional verification codes once Send Verification is re-enabled.

    9. Under Public business identifier, provide the corresponding issued ID for your business.

    10. Choose from Business registration number, Data universal numbering system (D-U-N-S), or Tax ID

    11. Under Business documents, provide documentation with your business name and address that'll be used for verification.

      Note

      All of your submitted documents must be current, which means expiration dates must be at least two month's from today's date. Uploading expiring documents will cause a failed verification.

      You may upload the following types of business documents:

      • Formation documents: Articles of incorporation or partnership deeds
      • Official government documents: Government issued letters, licenses, registrations, or certificates
      • Authorized partnership letters: Franchise or agency appointment letters
      • Government registry records: Records from a government registry with a displayed link/site
      • Official financial filings: Stock exchange filings or tax filing records

    12. Under Website documents, submit documentation that proves your business has registered rights to the domain.

      Note

      All of your submitted documents must be current, which means expiration dates must be at least two month's from today's date.

      These documents must:

      • List a domain that's an exact match to the one you're enrolling
      • Include your company's name and address. (These should be the same as the information you provided for your legal business name and address.)

      You may upload the following types of website documents:

      • Domain purchase invoices
      • Domain purchase records

    13. Select Next.

    14. Review the information.

    15. Select Submit application.

  • Verify as an individual (if you represent or promote yourself as an individual)

    You can choose to verify as an individual if you meet any of the following criteria:

    • Independent contractors, sole traders, freelancers, or hobbyists
    • Unregistered companies/corporations or self-employed affiliates

    1. From the navigation menu on the left, hover over Settings and select Account verifications.

      Note

      If you have multiple accounts, choose one from the account dropdown menu on the top left.

    2. Under Advertiser identify verification (AIV) status, select Become a verified advertiser.

    3. Review the What is Advertiser identity verification (AIV)? section and select Next.

    4. Select Verify as an individual.

      Note

      For individual verification, the account's legal business name in Account settings must match your full name (first name, middle name if applicable, and last name). If the legal business name doesn't match your full name, then you need to verify as a business instead. Or, to continue with individual verification, go to Account settings and edit your Legal business name as needed to continue with individual verification.

    5. Select Next.

    6. Provide documentation to verify your personal identity.

      Note

      • You need to upload screenshots of the original documents for the purpose of verification. Pre-scanned uploads of documents may lead to verification failure.
      • If you are verifying in India, your Driving License is not a supported form of verification.
      • Uploading expiring documents will cause a failed verification.

    7. Provide a photo of yourself that reflects your current appearance. Please note that pre-scanned or existing photographs may lead to verification failure.

    8. Select Next.

    9. Review the information.

    10. Select Submit application.

Note

To learn more about advertiser identity verification or to appeal a decision, please visit Advertiser identity verification appeals or contact your account manager or Support.

  • Countries/regions within the EEA

    Country/region:

    • Austria
    • Belgium
    • Bulgaria
    • Croatia
    • Cyprus
    • Czech Republic
    • Denmark
    • Estonia
    • Finland
    • France
    • Germany
    • Greece
    • Hungary
    • Iceland
    • Ireland
    • Italy
    • Latvia
    • Liechtenstein
    • Lithuania
    • Luxembourg
    • Malta
    • Netherlands
    • Norway
    • Poland
    • Portugal
    • Romania
    • Slovakia
    • Slovenia
    • Spain
    • Sweden

How to update your business information

To update your business information, follow the steps below:

  1. From the navigation menu on the left, hover over Settings and select Account settings.
  2. Update your business information as needed and select Save.
  3. In the Verification status change box, select Proceed.

Note

If the updated information results in an unverified AIV status, you'll need to start a new AIV process.

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