RFID authentication

Overview

RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) authentication is a core component of ComplyCube’s Document Check service.

It uses NFC (Near-Field Communication) to verify the RFID/NFC chip embedded in modern identity documents. This includes ePassports and many electronic national ID cards. This is often referred to as ePassport NFC chip verification for ICAO 9303 eMRTDs.

Chip-based verification increases identity assurance. It also reduces document fraud in remote KYC onboarding.

Benefits for KYC and fraud prevention

• Higher identity assurance: Validates the chip’s integrity using chip authentication and data integrity checks.

• NFC data extraction from the chip: Reads structured identity data perfectly and reduces OCR-only errors.

• Stronger fraud detection: Detects cloned or tampered chips and inconsistent chip vs. visual data.

• Multi-layer verification: Complements forensic checks, MRZ parsing, and security element validation.

• Secure handling: Uses encrypted NFC sessions and returns auditable verification results.

How NFC passport scanning works

RFID authentication runs as part of a Document Check when an RFID/NFC chip is present. The typical flow is:

1. The customer captures their ID as normal.

2. The Mobile SDK detects an RFID/NFC chip when supported.

3. The customer completes an NFC scan (tap-to-scan).

4. ComplyCube reads chip data and validates integrity and authenticity.

5. The result is returned as part of Document Check, for reporting and audit.

Depending on the document and chip, ComplyCube can perform:

• Passive authentication: Validates signed chip data against issuing authority certificates.

• Chip and active authentication: Confirms the chip is genuine and not cloned.

• PACE: Establishes a secure session with the chip before reading data.

• Biometric consistency: Compares the chip-stored portrait against the document image.

Supported documents and availability

RFID scanning and analysis via NFC is supported only for documents that contain RFID chips. Examples include ePassports and modern national ID cards. Customers need an NFC-capable smartphone to complete the chip scan.

RFID authentication is available exclusively through ComplyCube’s Mobile SDKs. The SDKs prompt the customer to scan only when NFC is available and the document supports it.

Related topics

• Document Check for end-to-end ID document verification.

• Country & ID coverage to confirm supported document types.