Why a document might not verify

Most failed checks come down to a handful of causes, and most are easy to fix on a second try.

Common reasons

• The image isn't readable. Blurry, cropped, or heavy glare can make a document unreadable even when the file itself is fine.
• The document isn't what you selected. For example, a utility bill uploaded against a passport selection. Periscope checks the document against the type you chose, so a mismatch reads as a failure.
• A required field couldn't be read. Names, numbers, and dates need to be clear enough to extract. A folded corner or a thumb over the text is enough to block a field.
• The image quality is too low. Low resolution, heavy compression, or a photo taken at an angle can all leave a check short of what it needs.

An expired document is not one of these: an expired passport or statement can still verify as genuine, and Periscope flags the expiry separately as an advisory. See Reading your result.

What to try

• Use a clear, flat, well-lit photo, or a direct scan where one is available. Avoid glare from overhead lights and flash.
• Check that the document type you selected matches what you're uploading.
• For an ID card, add both sides. A one-sided upload is often what's missing.
• If the file was too large to upload, try a smaller image or fewer pages rather than compressing the whole file aggressively, which can make text harder to read.

Fixing the most likely cause usually clears it on the next attempt. If a check still doesn't pass after that, the result screen will tell you which field or step it stopped on, so you know exactly what to address. See Reading your result and Files and limits for more detail.