Etsy asks you to verify your identity while you open your shop: you upload a photo of a government ID that has not expired and a clear selfie. The way to pass on the first try is to photograph both so they are easy to read, and to make sure the name on the ID matches the name on the bank account you added to get paid, exactly.
This guide is for new sellers, with notes for sellers in Türkiye, who want to get through this step of setup without getting stuck. Until verification is done the shop does not open, so even a finished first listing stays invisible to buyers. Below we cover what Etsy asks for, how to prepare the documents and what to do if the check fails. For every other setup step, see how to open an Etsy shop from Türkiye, step by step.
What Etsy asks for at this step
Etsy's guide to opening a shop describes the step plainly: "You need to verify your identity before setting up your storefront", and Etsy asks for "a photo of your government ID and a clear selfie." The same guide says the ID "must not be expired and needs to match the name on the bank account you added to get paid."
In practice, the second condition means the person who receives the money and the person who shows the ID must be the same. Etsy's page does not list accepted document types country by country. Follow what the verification screen itself asks of you, rather than lists of "this ID works, that one does not" passed around online.
Getting paid comes first: Etsy Payments in Türkiye
Identity verification is tied closely to the getting-paid step. Türkiye is on Etsy's list of countries eligible for Etsy Payments and is not on the list of countries that use a Payoneer account. However a buyer pays, the money goes to your Etsy Payment account, and from there to your bank. Because PayPal does not operate in Türkiye, sellers located there cannot accept PayPal in their shops.
Where Etsy Payments is not available, new shops generally cannot open. So setting up the bank account correctly is also the foundation of verification. For the payment side in detail, read getting paid on Etsy from Türkiye with Etsy Payments.
What to have ready before the verification screen
Have these ready before you reach the verification screen:
| Item | What Etsy asks for | What to check while preparing |
|---|---|---|
| Bank account | The account you connect to get paid | It is in your name, and you know how the bank spells it |
| Government ID | A photo of the ID, not expired | The expiry date, and a name that matches the bank account |
| Selfie | A clear selfie | Good light, your whole face visible, no filter |
| Billing card | A debit or credit card to pay Etsy bills | The card is enabled for online payments |
| Set-up fee | A one-time, non-refundable fee | The amount varies by location |
| Two-factor authentication | Required as a security measure | Your phone and chosen method are at hand |
The billing card, the set-up fee and two-factor authentication all appear in the same guide to opening a shop. The set-up fee itself varies: Etsy's fee page says "Cost varies by location", so do not assume a figure you read for another country applies to you.
The ID photo and the selfie: passing on the first try
At this step, the quality of the photo and the spelling of your name matter as much as the document itself. Check these before you submit:
Look at the expiry date. If the document is close to expiring, renew it first instead of starting with it.
Type the name exactly. Enter your name the way it is printed on your ID. If the ID and the bank account spell it differently (a middle name on one and not the other, for example), fix that before you verify. If your name contains letters such as ç, ğ, ı, ö, ş or ü, check how your bank has recorded it.
Photograph the ID flat and whole. Use a plain, flat surface, keep all four corners in the frame, keep flash glare off the text and make sure every line is legible.
Keep the selfie simple. Face the light, take off glasses and hats, avoid a bright light behind you and switch off filters and beauty modes.
Never use someone else's documents. Opening a shop with a spouse's, parent's or friend's ID and bank account goes against Etsy's name-matching condition, and the shop would be theirs, not yours.
What to do if verification fails
First, resist the urge to open a new account. A second account for the same person does not fix the problem, it only adds a new question mark. We explain what gets new shops into trouble in why new Etsy shops get suspended and how to avoid it. Work through this order instead:
Read the message on the screen and take a screenshot of it.
Check the three usual causes: an expired document, a name that does not match the bank account, a photo that is unreadable or glared.
If the screen lets you try again, retry with the corrected document or a new photo.
If the problem continues, write to Etsy Support. Turkish is not one of Etsy's site languages, so write in short, clear English: your shop name, the step where you are stuck, the message you saw and what you have corrected.
If you are unsure which document is valid in your situation, check Etsy's help pages or ask Etsy Support directly. If writing to support in English is the hard part, where Turkish sellers can find help with Etsy questions lists the options.
Keeping the shop secure after verification
Etsy requires two-factor authentication as a security measure. If you change your phone number or authenticator app, update the setting on Etsy first, or you may get locked out of your own shop.
If you change bank accounts later, make sure the new one is in the same name, because that is the name your identity was verified with.
After the shop opens: Alomations and Classroom
Identity verification is entirely between you and Etsy. Alomations uses the official Etsy API but is not affiliated with Etsy, and it cannot do this step for you or speed it up. It comes in once your shop is open: you connect the shop on Etsy's own sign-in screen in under two minutes, and you can revoke that access from Etsy whenever you like.
To learn what comes next, use Classroom: free video tutorials in English and Turkish, one tutorial per lesson, open on every plan, Free included. A guided tour leads to them from any page, and support is available in English and Turkish. Using Alomations in Turkish explains what is available in Turkish, and the how it works page shows the flow once your shop is connected.
Frequently asked questions
How long does identity verification take?
Etsy's guide gives no time frame. The preparation is in your hands, and with documents ready the upload is quick, but when the result arrives is up to Etsy. Leave room for this step in your setup plan.
Which ID should I use?
Etsy asks for a government ID. Follow what the verification screen asks for, and use an ID that has not expired and shows the same name as your bank account.
Can the bank account be in my spouse's name?
No. Etsy requires the ID to match the name on the bank account you added to get paid. Whoever opens the shop needs the bank account in their own name.
Can I publish listings before verification is finished?
You prepare your first listing during setup, because Etsy asks you to add one before the shop can open. The shop opens once the setup steps, including verification, are complete, and only then can buyers see your listings.
Once your shop is open, you can try Alomations on the free plan, with no card needed.
