Some students are being asked to show their government-issued identification when completing the 2027-28 FAFSA.
The request is a part of the Department of Education’s real-time fraud detection system, which is estimated to impact less than 4 percent of FAFSA filers. Before processing the FAFSA, the fraud detection system, implemented in April 2026, evaluates several factors, including contact information and other external records, to determine if further evaluation is needed.
Those students who are asked to complete the fraud detection process will be required to take a picture of their government-issued ID and upload it to the FAFSA. Right now, the Department requires that process to be done on a mobile device (phone or tablet).
The government-issued identification can be a driver’s license, passport, tribal identification card, or permanent resident card. Students will also be asked to come on camera to take a picture.
The identification process is automated and happens in real time, including feedback to the student if their identity documentation or camera image is not legible so they can correct the issue. According to the Department, if the required identification is not immediately available, applicants will have a short window to retrieve it if it is nearby; however, the session is designed to be completed in one sitting and cannot be paused or resumed later.
Students who fail to provide documentation during the timeframe can still submit their FAFSA form, but the student must contact the financial aid office at the school they plan to attend to complete the identity verification confirmation
The Department estimates that its efforts to deny federal student aid to fraudulent students saved taxpayers over $1 billion in the 2026-27 FAFSA cycle.
