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ID verification during checkout

Using Real ID's app blocks for your Shopify checkout page, you can require ID verification at any point during the checkout process. Customers will be required to verify their ID before they can submit their order.

This short video shows you how to set this up on your Shopify store step by step:

Shopify Checkout Extensibility Required

Your Shopify checkout must upgrade to Shopify Checkout Extensibility to use this ID verification flow.

At this time only Shopify Plus stores have access to checkout customizations through app blocks. If you do not have a Plus subscription, but require customer ID verification before purchase consider our before checkout flow instead.

Setting up Real ID​

To get started, first open the Real ID app. Then open the Settings page.

Enable automatic verification in the Triggers tab, then select the Shopify Checkout Extensibility tab to view the available options.

Enabling during checkout ID verification through a Shopify checkout app block extension

Then select During checkout option. Don't forget to click Save in the top right of the Real ID app to apply the flow.

Saving the setting in Real ID to require ID checking during the checkout for customers while they're ordering within your Shopify store

Adding the ID verification app block to your theme​

Now open the Online Store channel in Shopify, click the Theme section and click Customize to open the theme editor.

Opening the theme editor from within the Shopify admin dashboard

With the theme editor open, click the page dropdown and select the Checkout page.

Then at the bottom of the page, you'll see a button to Add app block, click this to view all available app blocks.

Adding the ID verification app block to the checkout page within the Shopify theme editor

Click the ID verification app block to add it to your checkout page.

Clicking the ID verification app block to start checking IDs of customers during checkout on your storefront

tip

Make sure the Enable app to block checkout option is checked. Otherwise the app block will not be able to block unverified customers from checking out.

Now that the app block is added to your checkout, Real ID will automatically require unverified customers to complete ID verification before continuing through the checkout flow.

Logged in verified customers will not be required to complete ID verification.

If you'd like to change the position of the ID verification prompt in the checkout page, simply hover over the app block and drag it up or down between the other checkout blocks.

Moving the ID check prompt to a different position in the checkout page, below the contact details or above them.

How it works​

When a customer reaches checkout, Real ID looks at their cart and checkout details to decide whether ID verification is required. If it is, they're prompted to verify before they can place the order.

What triggers an ID check​

Real ID checks each checkout against your triggers — for example:

If nothing matches, the customer checks out as normal. If something matches, they verify before placing the order. Logged-in customers — and customers Real ID recognizes by email — skip verification when they've already passed.

Passing or failing your rules​

After the customer submits their ID photos, Real ID checks them against your rules — age, face match, document expiry, and address or name cross-checks. Customers who pass can place their order right away. If a check fails, the order is held for manual review, where a staff member can approve or reject it.

When emails are sent​

  • When verification is required — the customer can get an email with a link to verify, in case they leave checkout before finishing.
  • When the check passes — the customer gets a confirmation, and your team gets a notification that the ID was verified.
  • When the check fails — the customer is told their verification needs review, and your team gets a warning email with the reason.

You can turn any of these customer emails on or off in the Notifications area of your Settings.

When tags and metafields are added​

  • Metafields are written to the order as the customer verifies during checkout, so real_id.verified and real_id.check_id are already on the order the moment it's placed.
  • Tags and notes are added to both the order and the customer shortly after the order is placed. The customer tag is what lets Real ID remember repeat customers so they only verify once.

See Tags, Notes and Metafields for the full list.

Remembering already verified customers​

By default this flow option will already remember verified customers. First the system will attempt to find their past verified ID by the customer's Shopify account, then it will attempt to find the customer's ID check based on the customers email address.

By Shopify account​

The customer will need to be logged in in order for Real ID to detect their current verification status by their Shopify account.

Please make sure that your Shopify store allows customers to login to their accounts.

You can check this by opening the Settings section of your Shopify store, then opening the Customer Accounts area.

Enabling customers to login into their account before checkout. That way already verified customers can be remembered and continue through ID verification without completing it again.

At the top of this section, you'll see the option to allow customers to login to their own accounts, make sure it's enabled. The option is labeled as Show login link in the header of online store and at checkout.

Then choose between Classic customer accounts or New customer accounts. Real ID is compatible with either choice.

The main difference between the two is that the New customer accounts choice will require the customer to open a link sent to their email address in order to login.

Whereas the Classic customer accounts allows email address and password combinations to login, which allows account sharing if you have the email address and password.

By email address​

If the customer isn't logged in, then the system will attempt to find their past verified ID by the customers email address.

If any check is found by the customer's email address, then it will prompt the customer to confirm ownership of the email address through a confirmation code.

After the customer enters in their confirmation code, they will be recognized and allowed to complete checkout even without logging in.

Other platforms​

The during checkout flow above uses Shopify's Checkout Extensibility and is only available for Shopify Plus stores.

If you need in-checkout ID verification on other platforms, you have two options:

  • JS SDK: Use the Real ID JavaScript SDK with mode: "modal" to gate any checkout button on any platform — including WooCommerce, BigCommerce, or custom sites. The SDK replaces the target element with an ID verification prompt and restores it after the customer is verified.
  • Before checkout flow: The before checkout flow works across Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce without any code changes. It replaces checkout buttons site-wide until the customer has verified their ID.

Frequently Asked Questions​

Will ID verification be required for draft orders as well?​

Yes, the same ID verification app block will appear for draft orders, even in the checkout links shared from the POS or from the Shopify Admin.

How can I restrict ID checks to specific shipping locations with specific products in the cart?​

If you require ID verification for specific countries or regions only for specific products like knives, please contact us for support. We have custom triggers for this use case.

Can I still allow customers to check out, even if they've failed to verify their ID automatically?​

Yes, in the ID verification app block in your checkout page in your Shopify theme, untick the Allow app to block checkout checkbox and then save your change.

Disabling the ID verification requirement to checkout, but still show the app block to custoemrs

This will allow unverified customers to continue through to checkout.

This includes customers that don't submit their ID at all

If you choose to disable the ID verification requirement, it will also allow customers to checkout even if they do not upload any photos whatsoever.