Identity Verification for Smartcat Marketplace Freelancers

Identity Verification for Smartcat Market Freelancers

Learn how to verify your identity and build trust with potential clients

Overview

Identity verification confirms your identity so clients can find and hire you on the Smartcat Marketplace. The process takes less than one minute and requires a government-issued ID and a quick face scan.

Verified freelancers appear in Marketplace search results and can receive job invitations from clients. Freelancers who choose not to verify can still use the free CAT Editor and accept direct Team invitations from clients.

⚠️ As of April 29, 2026, verification is required for new freelancers. For existing freelancers, verification is currently encouraged but not yet mandatory. Smartcat is implementing the requirement gradually in batches. When your batch is reached, you will receive a notification with the due date and instructions on how to complete verification. We recommend completing verification early to avoid any interruptions to your account.

When to use it

Use identity verification when you want to:

Appear in Marketplace search results so clients can discover your profile
Receive job invitations from clients browsing the Marketplace
Build trust with potential clients through verified status

Requirements and Limitations

Requirements:

A valid government-issued ID (passport, national ID card, or driver's license)
A device with a camera for the liveness check (face scan)
Good lighting for clear photos

Limitations:

Verification applies only to Marketplace visibility — freelancers added directly to client Teams are not affected
Profile completion and availability settings are also required to appear in search results (verification alone is not sufficient)
Some document types may not be accepted depending on your country

How it works

For new freelancers

Step 1 — Start the registration process

Go to smartcat.com and click Sign Up
Select I'm a freelancer when prompted
Choose Join the Marketplace to begin the verification flow

Step 2 — Complete identity verification

Select your country and document type (passport, ID card, or driver's license)
Upload or photograph your ID document
Complete the liveness check by following the on-screen prompts to scan your face

The verification typically completes in under 30 seconds.

Step 3 — Complete your profile

After verification is approved, fill in your profile details (languages, specializations, rates)
Set your availability to Available
Your profile becomes visible to clients in Marketplace search

For existing freelancers

If you registered before identity verification was introduced, you see banners encouraging you to verify. During the voluntary phase:

You can continue using all features while banners are displayed
Verification is optional but recommended for full Marketplace visibility
Click Verify Now on any banner to start the process

⚠️ A future enforcement phase will require verification for Marketplace access. You will receive advance notice before any access changes.

Verification statuses

Status	What it means	What to do
Required	Verification needed for Marketplace access	Complete the verification process
Processing	Documents submitted, verification in progress	Wait up to 30 seconds for results
Approved	Verification successful	Complete your profile to appear in search
Failed	Verification unsuccessful	Retry with clearer photos or a different document
Rejected	Permanent rejection	Contact support for assistance

FAQs

Problem: Verification status stuck on "Processing"

Solution: Clear your browser cache and refresh the page. If the status doesn't update after a few minutes, try logging out and back in.

Problem: Cannot start the verification process

Solution: Ensure you have a stable internet connection and that your browser allows camera access. Try a different browser if issues persist.

Problem: Documents keep getting rejected

Solution: Ensure your document is:

Fully visible with no edges cut off
Well-lit with no glare or shadows
In focus and readable
A supported document type for your country

Problem: Lost Marketplace access after previously having it

Solution: This may occur if enforcement has begun for existing freelancers. Complete the verification process to restore access. Contact support if you believe this is an error.

Troubleshooting