Identity verification for your Alibaba Cloud account includes individual and enterprise identity verification. You must complete identity verification before purchasing cloud services deployed in the Chinese mainland or signing business contracts.
Why is identity verification required?
Identity verification protects your account from unauthorized access and identity theft.
Purchasing specific cloud services deployed on Chinese mainland nodes or enabling acceleration regions that include the Chinese mainland requires identity verification for legal compliance.
Enterprise identity verification is required for the following four business scenarios:
You plan to sign online contracts with Alibaba Cloud.
You need to apply for a credit limit.
You want to join the Alibaba Cloud Partner Network (ACPN).
You need to link a mobile number from a country or region different from your registration location.
This guide applies to users of the Alibaba Cloud International Website (alibabacloud.com). If you hold only a Chinese national ID card or your enterprise is registered in the Chinese mainland, go to the Alibaba Cloud China Website (aliyun.com) to register and make purchases.
What are the differences between individual and enterprise identity verification?
During account registration and profile completion, you have already selected your account type as Individual or Enterprise. During the identity verification phase, the verification types available depend on your account type:
An Individual account can choose either individual identity verification or enterprise identity verification. After completing enterprise identity verification, the account type changes from Individual to Enterprise.
An Enterprise account can only choose enterprise identity verification.
The following table compares individual and enterprise identity verification in terms of verification methods, post-verification benefits, and review timeframes. Choose the type that best fits your business needs.
Type | Individual identity verification | Enterprise identity verification |
Verification method | Passport or driver's license | Valid business document from the registration country/region |
Available after verification |
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Account impact |
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Review time | About 3 business days | About 3 business days |
Limitations
Item | Details |
One identity per account | Each account supports only one verification: individual or enterprise. |
Verification unbinding | Identity verification cannot be unbound after completion. If the account is no longer needed, close the account directly. Self-service unbinding is not supported in the console after verification. To change identity verification information, submit a ticket to contact customer service. If you no longer need the account, you may close the account. |
Document consistency | The verification document's issuing country or region must match the account's Country/Region setting. |
Account type lock-in | After verification, the account type (Individual or Enterprise) is locked and cannot be changed. |
FAQ
Does account identity verification need to match domain name verification?
No. These are separate processes:
Account identity verification confirms your legal ownership of the Alibaba Cloud account. Account identity verification is divided into individual and enterprise verification based on the entity type. Each account can only be verified under one entity, and account identity verification primarily concerns account ownership.
Domain name verification confirms ownership of a specific domain. It is required when the domain registrant is an organization (such as a company, foundation, or school) and the region is the Chinese mainland. A domain name cannot be parsed without this verification. How to complete identity verification for a domain name.
One account can manage multiple domains, each verified under different entities.
A domain registered under your account can have its domain verification entity differ from your Alibaba Cloud account verification entity. This is normal and does not indicate the existence of another Alibaba Cloud account.
Can one phone number be linked to both individually and enterprise-verified accounts?
A single phone number can register up to 6 Alibaba Cloud accounts. These accounts can be individually verified or enterprise-verified separately, so the phone number can be linked to accounts of different verification types.