LinkedIn Persona Verification Pending and Can’t Log In?
- Olivia Tremblay
- 3 hours ago
- 6 min read
When someone gets locked out of LinkedIn while an identity check is still "pending," the situation can feel like a dead end. It is not. LinkedIn provides public (non-logged-in) Help Center pathways for account access problems, including identity verification through Persona and specialized forms for compromised accounts. With the right prep, most people can get a response and move the case forward, even without being able to sign in.
This guide explains what to do step by step, what to prepare, the most common mistakes that delay verification, and how to escalate politely through official social channels if the process stalls. It is written for a broad audience in the United States, Canada, and Saudi Arabia, where document types and verification support can differ by country. LinkedIn also notes that accepted documents may vary by country.
Why LinkedIn Persona verification gets stuck
LinkedIn uses trusted partners such as Persona for identity verification in several workflows, including recovering account access and adding an identity verification to a profile. When someone is "pending" for longer than expected, it is usually because of one of these issues:
Upload quality problems: glare, blur, cropped corners, low resolution, or unreadable text.
Mismatch in identity details: the name on the profile does not closely match the name on the ID.
Unsupported document or country limitations: LinkedIn's verification systems can reject documents if the issuing country is not supported in that flow.
A loop created by access problems: support messages or verification prompts may require sign-in, and the user cannot get in to complete them.
It also helps to know what verification is and is not. LinkedIn states that verifications are optional and not required to complete a profile, even though they can be required in certain recovery scenarios.
The recovery roadmap at a glance
Use the pathway that matches the situation. The table below keeps it simple.
Situation | Best official pathway | Why it works? | Where? |
Can’t sign in but still has access to email/phone | Account access and recovery steps | Standard recovery is fastest when email/phone are available | |
Identity verification required to regain access | “Verify your identity to recover account access” | Explains Persona ID upload flow and alternatives | |
Verification errors, name mismatch, upload issues | Persona troubleshooting article | Gives common fixes for Persona verification | |
Suspects the account was hacked or changed | Compromised account reporting form | Designed for non-access scenarios and unauthorized changes | |
Needs a social support escalation | X (Twitter) social support | LinkedInHelp invites DMs for help |
Step 1: Try the most basic access recovery first
Before submitting documents again, the fastest win is sometimes a clean password reset.
What to do:
Go to LinkedIn sign-in and use “Forgot password?”
Try every email address and phone number that might be tied to the account, including older work emails.
Check all folders: inbox, spam, junk, promotions, and any SMS messages.
If the reset routes back into a verification wall, that is normal. Move to Step 2.
Step 2: Use LinkedIn Help Center routes that do not require login
LinkedIn’s Help Center is the public entry point for most recovery workflows. Start at the Account Access topic hub and work from there.
Best practice approach:
Open the Help Center in a browser (desktop or mobile).
Search terms that typically surface the right flows:
“verify your identity to recover account access”
“compromised account”
“can’t sign in”
If directed to a form or workflow, complete it carefully and keep a copy of everything submitted.
If the user suspects unauthorized access or profile changes, the compromised account flow is often the strongest route because it is specifically written for cases where the person cannot access the account.
Step 3: Prepare identity documents the way the system expects
In LinkedIn’s account recovery identity flow, Persona typically asks for a clear photo of a government-issued ID such as a passport, driver’s license, or ID card, and sometimes a face photo to match the ID portrait.
Document standards that reduce delays
Use a well-lit color photo with no shadows or glare.
Capture all corners of the document.
Ensure the text is crisp and readable.
Avoid “beauty” filters or scanning apps that distort edges.
Use allowed file types and keep file size reasonable (if a portal fails, try a smaller image).
LinkedIn also publishes specific error guidance for failed verification, including issues like “unable to detect an ID,” glare, missing corners, and unsupported country IDs.
Important note for KSA users
Some verification systems may not support every country’s ID in every flow. LinkedIn explicitly mentions “Unsupported Country ID” as a possible failure reason in its help guidance. If a Saudi national ID is rejected in that workflow, a passport is often the simplest alternate document to try (when available), because it is widely recognized internationally. This is a practical workaround, not a guarantee.
Step 4: Make sure the name and profile details match
Name mismatches are one of the most common reasons verification slows down.
What to check:
Does the LinkedIn profile name match the ID name closely?
Are there extra initials, shortened names, or reordered names on the profile?
Is the profile name written in a way that could look different from passport formatting?
LinkedIn’s Persona troubleshooting guidance includes “name doesn’t match” as a common issue to address.
A practical strategy: If the person commonly uses an English spelling on LinkedIn but the passport uses a different transliteration, it can help to keep documentation consistent with what the verification workflow sees, or to follow LinkedIn’s name change routes when required.
Step 5: Submit a clean, complete case message
When someone submits a non-logged-in ticket or completes an identity recovery workflow, the message matters. Support teams move faster when the case is clear, concise, and easy to verify.
What the message should include:
The email(s) and phone number(s) that might be on the account
Approximate account creation period (month/year if known)
The public profile URL (if available)
The exact issue: “cannot log in” plus “identity verification pending”
The action requested: confirm receipt, advise next steps, or escalate
Sample message (third person template)
Hello LinkedIn Support, The account owner cannot access their LinkedIn account, and identity verification has been pending since [date]. They are unable to log in to view or respond to any support prompts. Account email(s): [list]. Phone (if used): [list]. Profile URL (if available): [link]. A clear copy of a government-issued ID and any required selfie/photo have been submitted per instructions. Please confirm whether the documents were received and advise next steps to complete verification or restore access. Thank you.
Step 6: Fix the common failure points before trying again
These are the patterns that repeatedly create “pending” loops:
1) Blurry or reflective images
LinkedIn’s own “unable to verify ID” guidance points to visibility, glare, and capturing corners.
Fix: retake the photo near a window, hold the camera steady, and avoid flash reflections.
2) Wrong document type
LinkedIn’s recovery flow is clear about using valid government-issued IDs and notes that accepted documents can vary by country. Fix: prioritize passport or driver’s license where applicable, especially if a local ID fails.
3) Technical upload errors
Fix: try an incognito window, clear cookies, or switch devices. LinkedIn’s general troubleshooting guidance includes using incognito and clearing cache/cookies.
4) Suspected hacking, email changed, or profile altered
Fix: use the compromised account reporting form. It is designed for “can’t access” situations and starts a verification process.
Step 7: Escalate through official social support, safely
If the ticket is submitted and nothing moves, a polite escalation can help. LinkedIn’s social support account on X states it is the LinkedIn Social Support Team and encourages people to DM for account help.
Safe escalation rules:
Do not post private information publicly (no IDs, no emails, no phone numbers).
Use public posts only to ask where to DM, then move details to private messages.
Keep the tone calm and factual, including dates.
Example X DM script:
Subject line idea: “Account access issue, identity verification pending since [date]”
Body: “Hello, the account owner cannot log in and identity verification has been pending since [date]. A support request has been submitted. Can this case be escalated for review? The account email can be shared in DM.”
Should a temporary LinkedIn profile be created?
Sometimes teams need a working LinkedIn presence for business development, hiring, or reputation management while a primary account is locked.
Trade-off to consider: creating a second profile can complicate recovery if it looks like duplication. If a temporary profile is necessary, it should be minimal, transparent internally, and used carefully until the original profile is restored.
Checklist to use before resubmitting anything
Correct government-issued document selected (passport, driver’s license, ID card where accepted)
High-quality image, no glare, all corners visible
Name matches the LinkedIn profile format as closely as possible
Help Center pathway chosen based on the scenario (access vs compromised)
Copies saved: screenshots, submission confirmations, and dates
Escalation plan ready if no reply (DM @LinkedInHelp with no sensitive public info)
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