Digital identity verification is the remote, online form of checking that a person is who they claim to be, carried out without the customer visiting a branch. Typical steps are photographing an identity document, taking a selfie or short video with a liveness test, and comparing the details with official or trusted records. It is the online practice of identity verification (IDV), which the main entry covers in full, including methods, regulation and fraud risks.
The phrase is used by banks, fintechs and identity vendors to describe the checks inside digital onboarding. It also covers checks against government digital ID schemes, such as India's Aadhaar e-KYC or the European Digital Identity Wallets introduced under the EU's revised eIDAS rules. Database-only checks are often called electronic identity verification (eIDV).
Verification proves identity once; later logins rely on authentication. Both feed into know your customer programmes, which also assess the customer's risk and activity.