---
term: "Identity proofing"
category: "Agent identity (KYA)"
url: https://agenticopenfinance.com/glossary/identity-proofing
source: AgenticOpenFinance glossary
---

# Identity proofing

> Collecting, validating and verifying information about a person to establish that they are who they claim to be.

Identity proofing is the process by which a service collects, validates and verifies information about a person in order to establish that they are who they claim to be, usually at account opening. NIST SP 800-63A sets out how this is done at different identity assurance levels, from remote checks to in-person verification. For regulated firms it overlaps with customer identification and know-your-customer duties, and it is the anchor every later agent mandate traces back to.

Related terms: [Digital identity](https://agenticopenfinance.com/glossary/digital-identity.md), [Identity assurance level](https://agenticopenfinance.com/glossary/identity-assurance-level.md), [Know Your Agent (KYA)](https://agenticopenfinance.com/glossary/know-your-agent.md), [Verifiable credential](https://agenticopenfinance.com/glossary/verifiable-credential.md)