What to do about ID requests from hosts

[Lana1222]

Hello Airbnb family!

It's 3 days into 2025 and the air is still fresh on this new year.

Wishing us all a productive year, with joy!

In just over 3 months I have had 3 guests and it has been, as my one word for 2024, an initiation. I am very excited to experience the new personalities and fun times that meeting new cultures brings.

One of my concerns which has repeatedly arisen, and why I feel the need to comment, is potential guests who do not have their facial profile visible to send me a facial ID. This seems to be blocked somehow and the only way seems to be to give them my email address and arrange for a Zoom. I understand that it is not an Airbnb requirement for signing up, but as I am a host with whom the guest will be residing while I am living in my home, it is only reasonable that I see at least the face of the person who is coming to live and sleep in my home. My face is fully visible and verified. 

Would any of us let a masked stranger standing at our door to have access into our home? No. So , with the same reasoning, it should not be expected that I let an unidentified person just to turn up at my doorstep.

I may be the only one with my opinion, but all points of view considered, there must be a way that hosts can more easily access the "stranger in their midst".

I  would appreciate your feedback. Thank you!!

Best

Lana

[Joelle43 · Accepted solution]

Hello @Lana1222 

Are you talking of guests who don't have a profile photo once they've booked?  I'm assuming that you are not on Instant Book so that you can at least get a sense of who  you are letting into your home as you are a live-in host?

You can toggle a switch on  your listing that specifies that you request an ID photo of the person who will be staying with you and if they don't then you can ask Airbnb to cancel the reservation.  Always better to get them to do it rather than you😉

As a "greet and meet" host, I've asked for guests for a better/closer photo of themselves before now as I want to make sure that the person who booked is the one that is staying and the person who I've been corresponding with😉

All the best

Joëlle

[Lana1222]

Thank you @Joelle43 !

Yes  have placed it on my description and listing , and I pre-approve or decliine; no Instant access!

I'll see how it goes this time around.

Thanks so much!!

Have a great day!

Lana