Verifying Your Identity for Duo Enrollment (Persona)

Verifying Your Identity for Duo Enrollment (Persona)

Quick Overview
  • Explains the identity check you may see when setting up Duo Mobile or when the Help Desk sends you a verification link.
  • Applies to students enrolling in Duo for the first time or re-enrolling with no registered devices.
  • You need a smartphone, a physical government-issued photo ID, and about 5 minutes.
  • Most people are approved in under a minute. Flagged verifications are reviewed within 1 business day.
  • If your verification is declined, do not keep retrying. Contact the Help Desk.

Before you can set up Duo Mobile, SFA may ask you to verify your identity with a photo of your ID and a selfie. This protects your SFA account from people who try to enroll Duo in someone else's name. Verification is handled by Persona, an identity verification service SFA uses with Duo.

Before You Start

  • A smartphone with a camera. If you start on a computer, you will scan a QR code to continue on your phone.
  • Your physical, unexpired government-issued photo ID. See the accepted IDs below.
  • Good lighting and a plain, dark surface to lay your ID on.
  • Time to finish in one sitting. Starting over creates a new link and cancels the old one.

Accepted IDs

First you select the country that issued your ID. For United States IDs, you can choose from:

  • Driver's license (front and back, including the barcode)
  • State ID card (front and back, including the barcode)
  • Passport or passport card
  • Permanent resident card
  • Non-citizen travel document, visa, or work permit

International students can select their issuing country and use a passport or other national ID listed for that country.

!
Important
Your SFA student ID is not accepted. Use the real card, not a photo of your ID on another screen, a photocopy, or a scan. Those are treated as possible fraud and can cause your verification to be declined.

How to Verify Your Identity

During Duo Enrollment

  1. Start Duo enrollment as usual. When prompted, choose to verify your identity.
  2. If you are on a computer, scan the QR code with your phone camera to continue there. The phone link is good for 60 minutes. On a phone, the steps open directly.
  3. Select the country that issued your ID, then select your ID type.
  4. Take a photo of the front of your ID.
  5. For a U.S. driver's license or state ID, take a photo of the back. Make sure the whole barcode is in the frame.
  6. Take a selfie. Remove hats and sunglasses, face the camera, and turn your head when asked.
  7. Wait on the confirmation screen. When you are approved, you return to finish setting up Duo Mobile.

When the Help Desk Sends You a Link

  1. Open the verification email from Duo on your phone.
  2. Follow steps 3 through 7 above.
  3. Tell the Help Desk agent when you see the confirmation screen so they can continue your request.
i
Tip
Most failed attempts come from the photo, not the person. Lay your ID on a dark surface, move away from overhead lights, fill most of the frame with the card, and hold the phone steady.

Common Problems

Problem What to do
"ID not recognized" or "type not detected" Use an accepted government-issued ID, not an SFA ID. Make sure you selected the right country and ID type.
Glare or blurry photo Move away from overhead lights, tilt the card slightly, and hold the phone steady.
Barcode not read Photograph the back of the same ID you used for the front, with the whole barcode visible.
Selfie doesn't match Face the camera straight on in even light. Remove hats, sunglasses, and masks. You get 3 selfie attempts.
Link expired Starting a new attempt cancels the old link. Use only the newest one and finish it in one sitting.
Verification declined Do not keep retrying. Contact the Help Desk.

After You Submit

Result What it means and what happens next
Approved Your identity was confirmed. Finish setting up Duo Mobile right away.
Under review Something needs a person to look at it. The Information Security Office reviews it within 1 business day (Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, excluding university closures). You do not need to start over.
Declined Your verification could not be confirmed. Contact the Help Desk. Do not start new attempts.

Your Privacy

Your ID images and selfie are used only to confirm that you own your SFA account. They are processed by Persona on SFA's behalf and are visible only to authorized Information Security Office staff who review flagged verifications.

!
Important
Never complete a verification for someone else, and never let someone else verify on your behalf. If anyone asks you to, report it to itsecurity@sfasu.edu.

Need Help?

Contact the IT Help Desk at (936) 468-4357 (HELP) or submit a ticket at help.sfasu.edu.
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