Google is testing a way to verify Google Business Profiles by uploading a photo of a government-issued ID. Local search expert Digital Jedi spotted the option in their account about two weeks ago and posted a screenshot to a forum. An overseas search industry publication also covered it on October 20, 2026. The question now is whether it will become a new option alongside existing methods such as phone or SMS, email, live video calls and mail.
The verification checkpoint behind businesses on the map
Business listings shown on Google Maps and in search results are managed through Google Business Profile. Users can update everything from opening hours and photos to replies to reviews, so whoever can manage a profile effectively controls a store’s public face.
Verification is the gateway. Google has offered several ways to complete it, including a code sent to a phone number, email, video call and a postcard by mail. Now, a method involving a photo of an ID may be added to the list.
The option was spotted by Digital Jedi, a local search expert. In a forum post, they wrote that they had seen unusual options on the verification screen before, but this was a first.
What the reported screen said
The posted screenshot showed a heading along the lines of “Submit proof of identity” and instructed users to upload a photo of a government-issued ID. It also said the ID would be used only for verification and would not be displayed publicly.
Google’s help documents currently list four verification methods: phone or SMS, email, live video call and mail. The new method is not mentioned in the help materials and has so far only been spotted in a test. Google has not announced that it will be made available to all users.
Can an ID prove a connection to a business?
The question raised by the person who discovered the option gets to the heart of the matter. A government-issued ID can show that someone is a real person, but it cannot establish that they represent a particular business.
For example, a driver’s license does not list a business’s name, address or line of business. Verifying someone’s identity and confirming their authority to act for a business are similar, but distinct, tasks. Postcards have long been used because delivery to a business address can establish a connection to that location.
In that respect, ID verification could help establish who is making the request. Confirming a person’s connection to a business would likely require combining it with other information.
A system aimed at specific professions?
The author of the article that covered the discovery suggested that the option might be for verifying the credentials of people in certain professions through Google Local Services Ads. These ads are used by local service providers such as plumbers and locksmiths. Because customers’ trust is essential in these fields, verifying the service provider’s identity may be a good fit.
If this interpretation is correct, the development is less a change to verification for businesses in general and more an extension of identity checks for service professionals.
More options offer convenience, but users may hesitate to submit an ID
More verification options could give businesses greater flexibility, especially if they cannot answer the phone or receive a postcard. At the same time, many people are cautious about handing a photo of their ID to a private company. The screen clearly says the ID will not be made public, but users’ confidence is likely to depend on how thoroughly the process is explained.
Users will likely want to know which regions and industries are eligible, what types of IDs are accepted, how Google checks a person’s connection to a business, and how long the data is retained. If the feature moves toward a full launch, a key question will be whether Google’s official announcements and help documents clarify these details.
For business owners, it may be worth keeping an ID readily available and organizing the contact information used for verification. An update to Google’s help documents should clarify the role of the new method.
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