The Hassles of Identity Verification (2026 Update)
Before I start, I would like to say that there is a need for identity verification to prevent money laundering and fraud and to protect the young. But, recently, I have been getting the feeling that identity verification is becoming more intense and requiring more photo ID.
I'll be sharing some of my insights on:
Elections
Financial Accounts
Travel
Buying and Selling Property
Alcohol
Visitor attractions
Elections
In 2022, legislation was introduced requiring voters in Great Britain* to show photo ID before voting at polling stations. This identity requirement was aimed at ‘reducing electoral fraud’, despite there being little evidence supporting this claim.
The real irony is that in our recent local elections, Boris Johnson, who was the Prime Minister when this law was introduced, was turned away from a polling station because he had forgotten to bring his photo ID.
Refusals are not recorded when photo IDs are checked outside the polling station, so any statistics about the number of people who weren't allowed to vote aren't accurate.
Previously, people who were eligible to vote received a polling card at their home address. Taking this card with them to the polling station allowed them to vote.
Anyway, I have been able to vote without producing a photo ID. In fact, I don't even have to go to a polling station! I achieved this by applying for a postal vote.
Financial accounts
Bank Accounts
Understandably, banks need to have identity verification to prevent money laundering.
Some banks have started introducing their own face-recognition systems to authorise payments - even if your phone has biometric security.
At least one bank is now asking you to record and send a video of yourself speaking certain phrases. This can be particularly frustrating if you are in a low-signal area.
Crypto Accounts
YouHodler recently refused my verification. First, it couldn't read my driver's licence (I never had problems with it being read before).
Then I tried my passport. My identity verification was refused because I was "underage"!!!
YouHodler said my identity verification was refused for "internal compliance" reasons when I questioned this.
Other crypto exchanges and wallet sites have accepted me.
Travel
Travel ID has become more of a hassle, whether boarding a ship or plane or entering and exiting a country.
Boarding a Ship
I had a ridiculous example of an identification hassle while boarding a ship in the UK. I had to show my boarding pass four times between the quayside and the ship! I had to show it to:
Security on the quay,
A crew member at the bottom of the gangway,
A crew member at the top of the gangway and
A crew member inside the ship.
New EU Regulations
The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated system for registering travellers from non-EU countries every time they cross a border into or out of the EU Schengen countries**. Before crossing the border, travellers will need to scan their passports or other travel documents at an automated self-service kiosk.
The system registers the person’s name, type of travel document, biometric data (fingerprints and facial images), and the date and place of entry and exit.
Buying and Selling Property
It's understandable that proof of identity is required when buying a property to prevent money laundering. It used to be that only your solicitor (real estate lawyer) needed proof of identity, but now estate agents (realtors) require it as well.
Alcohol
An eighteen-year-old walked into a store to buy a bottle of alcohol-free beer. Unfortunately, this "teenager" looked young for their age, so they had to provide "proof of identity".
Visitor Attractions
A couple of years ago, I bought a membership to one of my favourite visitor attractions. To gain entry, I only had to scan my membership card.
Recently, the attraction insisted on photographing members to prevent card theft. Now, every time you visit, your face is compared to the record on a phone app.
2026 Updates
Substack Chat
Recently, Substack Chat restricted UK citizens’ access to Chats because of the Online Safety Act.
This requires you to use your camera to take a photo of the front of your face, with small turns to the left and right. A proof-of-age document and a photo ID are not needed. So, this is only age verification - not identity verification.
Australia
Australia has banned under-16s from social media, but they can still access gambling sites.
EU Entry/Exit System (EES)
After many delays, the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) was implemented in October 2025 checking 5% of entries. This is increasing to 10% in January 2026 and 100% in May 2026.
UK Identity ‘Cards’
The UK is planning to introduce digital identity cards. Not everyone will have to have one, but they will be necessary for working in the UK.
USA Social Media History
Tourists and business travellers entering the USA will need to provide their social media history for the last five years. Although this isn’t strictly identity verification, it is providing more identity information.
*Great Britain includes England, Wales and Scotland, but not Northern Ireland. Hence, the term "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland".
** Schengen Area Countries (as of 2025)
EU Member States in the Schengen Area
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Non-EU Countries in the Schengen Area
Iceland
Liechtenstein
Norway
Switzerland
Partial Schengen Members
Bulgaria and Romania partially joined the Schengen Area on 31 March 2024— air and sea border controls were lifted, but land border controls remain in place for now.
Not in the Schengen Area (even if in the EU)
Ireland (opt-out; maintains its own border controls)
Cyprus (EU member but not yet part of Schengen)