Features · ID verification
Guest ID verification for hostels
Every guest's identity is verified before they get a door code: a photo of their ID, a live selfie, an automatic blacklist check. It happens inside online check-in, from the guest's own phone, before they ever reach the building.
What is guest ID verification, and how does it work for a hostel?
Guest ID verification is the process of confirming a traveler's identity against an official document — usually for legal guest-registration requirements — instead of a staff member eyeballing a passport at a desk. In EZ2Stay, the guest photographs the front and back of their ID during online check-in (camera capture preferred over file upload), OCR extracts name, date of birth, nationality, document number and expiry, the data is automatically screened against the property's blacklist, and a live selfie is matched against the document photo before the check-in step can complete.
| Capability | Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Front + back ID capture, camera preferred | file upload is allowed but camera capture is recommended for OCR quality | Live |
| EU ID card or passport; non-EU guests: passport only | driving licences and residence permits are always rejected, with a clear on-screen reason | Live |
| OCR extraction of name, DOB, nationality, document number, expiry | OCR quality depends on photo clarity; guest can retake | Live |
| Automatic blacklist screening at the ID step | screening runs against this property's own blacklist, not a shared industry database | Live |
| Live selfie with face match against the ID photo | match strictness is owner-adjustable within a fixed range, not open-ended | Live |
| Explicit biometric consent, with refusal allowed | a refusal alerts the owner to verify identity another way — it does not block check-in outright | Live |
How it works
- The guest reaches the ID step. Inside their online check-in link, the guest is prompted to photograph their ID — front and back, camera preferred for sharper OCR.
- OCR reads the document. Name, date of birth, nationality, document number and expiry are extracted automatically, ready for the legal guest-registry record.
- Blacklist screening runs. The extracted ID data is checked against this property's blacklist immediately; a match blocks check-in and alerts the owner.
- The guest takes a live selfie. A live camera capture — no file upload allowed — is compared against the ID photo, with consent asked explicitly beforehand.
- The match decides the next step. A clear match lets check-in continue. An unclear match or a declined consent alerts the owner to verify identity another way.
What the owner configures
| Setting | Default | Who can change it |
|---|---|---|
| Which ID document types are accepted | EU ID card or passport; non-EU passport only | Not configurable — driving licences and residence permits are always rejected |
| Selfie match strictness | safe default, adjustable within a fixed range | Owner |
| ID document retention | 90 days | Owner |
| Selfie (biometric) retention | deleted ≤30 days after checkout | Not configurable — by design |
| Blacklist entries screened at ID step | off until the owner adds entries | Owner |
| Biometric consent requirement | explicit consent required, refusal allowed | Not configurable — by design |
This verification step runs in production at Popcorn Hostel, Bucharest — 49 beds, 63 smart locks — where every guest's ID and selfie are checked before a door code is ever issued.
Not a fit if
- You want a staff member to check IDs by eye at a desk — EZ2Stay verifies identity before arrival instead, with nobody handling documents in person.
- You need identity checks for guests who refuse any digital process — the flow assumes a smartphone and a camera.
- You operate in Italy and need this to satisfy an unattended-arrival requirement alone — since the Council of State's 2025 ruling, someone there must still visually verify guests in person.
Frequently asked questions about EZ2Stay for hostels
What ID documents does EZ2Stay accept?
EU-issued ID cards or passports for EU guests; passport only for non-EU guests. Driving licences and residence permits are always rejected, with the reason shown on screen.
Does a staff member check the ID in person?
No. OCR extracts the document data and a live selfie is matched against the ID photo automatically — nobody handles documents at arrival.
What happens if the selfie doesn't match the ID?
The owner is alerted to verify the guest's identity another way. Consent for the selfie is explicit and guests may refuse it; refusal doesn't block check-in outright.
How long are ID documents and selfies kept?
ID documents are kept 90 days by default, adjustable by the owner. Selfies are deleted within 30 days of checkout, and that limit is not configurable.
How does blacklist screening work?
The data extracted from the ID is checked against the property's own blacklist as soon as it's captured. A match blocks check-in and notifies the owner immediately.