Stripe ID Verification

1. Who Needs to Verify

Stripe Identity verification is required for two roles on the platform:

• Hosts — Before publishing a live listing, every host must complete Stripe Identity verification. Unverified hosts cannot receive bookings or appear in search results.
• Travel Buddies — To send or accept buddy match requests (and to participate in token-gated premium matching), you must verify your identity through Stripe.

2. How Stripe Identity Works

Stripe Identity performs a multi-step identity check using government-issued documents and live selfie verification. The process typically takes 2–5 minutes:

1. Provide your legal first name, last name, date of birth, and country of residence.
2. Upload a clear photo of a government-issued ID (passport, driver's license, or national ID card).
3. Complete a live selfie check by following the on-screen prompts. The system checks that the selfie matches the ID photo.
4. Stripe returns a verification verdict — verified, rejected, or pending manual review — usually within seconds.

3. Starting Host Verification

If you're a host or planning to become one, begin verification from your Host Dashboard:

1. Open the dashboard and switch into "Hosting" mode.
2. Select "Verify Identity" to launch the Host Verification Wizard.
3. Follow the prompts and submit your documents.
4. Once approved, a verification record is saved to your profile and a green "Verified Host" badge appears on your listings and public profile.

4. Starting Travel Buddy Verification

For Travel Buddy matching, you'll verify before you can send tokens or unlock premium matches:

1. Visit the Travel Buddies page or open the Travel Buddy tab in your dashboard.
2. Click "Verify your ID with Stripe" to open the verification modal.
3. Submit the same details and documents — the same verification covers both your host profile and your buddy profile.
4. Once cleared, your profile receives a "Verified" badge and you can send match requests.

5. Data Privacy

Stripe handles your documents directly — GayBNB Travel Hub does not store images of your government ID or your selfie. We retain a verification record containing only:

• Your verification provider (Stripe)
• A status field (pending, verified, rejected, expired)
• The Stripe verification ID returned after screening
• A timestamp for audit and renewal purposes

Stripe retains the documents only for the period required by compliance regulations, then securely deletes them. See our Privacy Policy for full details.

6. Verification Statuses

• Pending — Verification submitted and awaiting Stripe's response.
• Verified — Identity confirmed. Eligible to publish listings, host, and match with buddies.
• Rejected — Documents didn't pass screening. You may resubmit with clearer photos or a different ID.
• Expired — Verifications are valid for 12 months, after which re-verification is required.

7. Re-Verification

Verifications expire 12 months from the verified date. You'll receive an email reminder 30 days before expiry. Re-verifying keeps your badges active and your listings eligible to receive bookings. If your verification expires, your listings are automatically moved to "paused" and buddy matching is suspended until you re-verify.

8. If You're Rejected

Rejection can happen for several reasons — blurry photos, expired ID, name mismatches, or a flagged document. To fix it:

• Check that the ID is unexpired and the photo is in focus.
• Ensure lighting is even and there are no glare spots on the document.
• Confirm the legal name you entered matches the name on the ID exactly.
• Re-submit through the same verification flow.

If you've been rejected three times or believe the decision is in error, contact hello@gaybnbtravel.com with your verification reference ID and our team will assist manually.

9. Why Verification Matters

Verified members enjoy faster bookings, higher trust scores, premium matching access, and eligibility for featured placements. More importantly, verification ensures every GayBNB Travel Hub member is meeting the same safety standard you are — keeping the community safer for everyone.