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Government ID authentication

 

Adobe Acrobat Sign Guide

What's New

  1. Pre-Release Notes
  2. Release Notes
  3. Important Notifications

Get Started

  1. Quick start guide for administrators
  2. Quick start guide for users
  3. For Developers
  4. Video tutorial library
  5. FAQ

Administer

  1. Admin Console Overview
  2. User Management
    1. Adding users
      1. Add a User
      2. Add Users in Bulk
      3. Add Users from your Directory
      4. Add Users from MS Azure Active Directory
    2. Create function-focused users
      1. Technical accounts - API driven
      2. Service accounts - Manually driven
    3. Check for users with provisioning errors
    4. Change Name/Email Address
    5. Edit a user's group membership
    6. Edit a user's group membership through the group interface
    7. Promote a user to an admin role
    8. User Identity Types and SSO
    9. Switch User Identity
    10. Authenticate Users with MS Azure
    11. Authenticate Users with Google Federation
    12. Product Profiles
    13. Login Experience 
  3. Account/Group Settings
    1. Settings Overview
    2. Global Settings
      1. Account tier and ID
      2. New Recipient Experience
      3. Self Signing Workflows
      4. Send in Bulk
      5. Web Forms
      6. Custom Send Workflows
      7. Power Automate Workflows
      8. Library Documents
      9. Collect form data with agreements
      10. Limited Document Visibility
      11. Attach a PDF copy of the signed agreement 
      12. Include a link in the email
      13. Include an image in the email
      14. Files attached to email will be named as
      15. Attach audit reports to documents
      16. Merge multiple documents into one
      17. Download individual documents
      18. Upload a signed document
      19. Delegation for users in my account
      20. Allow external recipients to delegate
      21. Authority to sign
      22. Authority to send
      23. Power to add Electronic Seals
      24. Set a default time zone
      25. Set a default date format
      26. Users in Multiple Groups (UMG)
        1. Upgrade to use UMG
      27. Group Administrator Permissions
      28. Replace recipient
      29. Audit Report
        1. Overview
        2. Allow unauthenticated access on the transaction verification page
        3. Include reminders
        4. Include view events
        5. Include agreement page/attachment count
      30. In Product Messaging and Guidance
      31. Accessible PDFs
      32. New authoring experience
      33. Healthcare customer
    3. Account Setup
      1. Add logo
      2. Customize company Hostname/URL    
      3. Add company name
      4. Post agreement URL redirect
    4. Signature Preferences
      1. Well formatted signatures
      2. Allow recipients to sign by
      3. Signers can change their name
      4. Allow recipients to use their saved signature
      5. Custom Terms of Use and Consumer Disclosure
      6. Navigate recipients through form fields
      7. Decline to sign
      8. Allow Stamps workflows
      9. Require signers to provide their Title or Company
      10. Allow signers to print and place a written signature
      11. Show messages when e-signing
      12. Require signers to use a mobile device to create their signature
      13. Request IP address from signers
      14. Exclude company name and title from participation stamps
    5. Digital Signatures
      1. Overview
      2. Download and sign with Acrobat
      3. Sign with Cloud Signatures
      4. Include metadata for Identity Providers
      5. Restricted Cloud Signatures Providers
    6. Electronic Seals
    7. Digital Identity
      1. Digital Identity Gateway
      2. Identity Check policy
    8. Report Settings
      1. New report experience
      2. Classic report settings
    9. Security Settings
      1. Single Sign-on settings
      2. Remember-me settings
      3. Login password policy
      4. Login password strength
      5. Web session duration
      6. PDF encryption type
      7. API
      8. User and group info access
      9. Allowed IP Ranges
      10. Account Sharing
      11. Account sharing permissions
      12. Agreement sharing controls
      13. Signer identity verification
      14. Agreement signing password
      15. Document password strength
      16. Block signers by Geolocation
      17. Phone Authentication
      18. Knowledge-Based Authentication (KBA)
      19. Allow page extraction
      20. Document link expiration
      21. Upload a client certificate for webhooks/callbacks
      22. Timestamp
    10. Send settings
      1. Show Send page after login
      2. Require recipient name when sending
      3. Lock name values for known users
      4. Allowed recipient roles
      5. Allow e-Witnesses
      6. Recipient groups
      7. Required fields
      8. Attaching documents
      9. Field flattening
      10. Modify Agreements
      11. Agreement name
      12. Languages
      13. Private messages
      14. Allowed signature types
      15. Reminders
      16. Signed document password protection
      17. Send Agreement Notification through
      18. Signer identification options
        1. Overview
        2. Signing password
        3. One-Time Password via Email
        4. Acrobat Sign authentication
        5. Phone authentication
        6. Cloud-based digital signature
        7. Knowledge-based authentication
        8. Government ID
        9. Signer Identity reports
      19. Content Protection
      20. Enable Notarize transactions
      21. Document Expiration
      22. Preview, position signatures, and add fields
      23. Signing order
      24. Liquid mode
      25. Custom workflow controls
      26. Upload options for the e-sign page
      27. Post-sign confirmation URL redirect
    11. Message Templates
    12. Bio-Pharma Settings
      1. Overview
      2. Enforce identity authentication
      3. Signing reasons
    13. Workflow Integration
    14. Notarization Settings
    15. Payments Integration
    16. Signer Messaging
    17. SAML Settings
      1. SAML Configuration
      2. Install Microsoft Active Directory Federation Service
      3. Install Okta
      4. Install OneLogin
      5. Install Oracle Identity Federation
    18. Data Governance
    19. Time Stamp Settings
    20. External Archive
    21. Account Languages
    22. Email Settings
      1. Email header/footer images
      2. Permit individual user email footers
      3. Customize the Signature Requested email
      4. Customize the To and CC fields
      5. Enable Linkless Notifications
      6. Customize email templates
    23. Migrating from echosign.com to adobesign.com
    24. Configure Options for Recipients
  4. Guidance for regulatory requirements
    1. Accessibility
      1. Accessibility Compliance
      2. Create accessible forms with Acrobat desktop
      3. Create accessible AcroForms
    2. HIPAA
    3. GDPR
      1. GDPR Overview
      2. Redact a user
      3. Redact a user's agreements    
    4. 21 CFR part 11 and EudraLex Annex 11
      1. 21 CRF part 11 validation pack
      2. 21 CFR and EudraLex Annex 11 handbook
      3. Analysis of shared responsibilities
    5. Healthcare customers
    6. IVES support
    7. "Vaulting" agreements
    8. EU/UK considerations
      1. EU/UK Cross-border transactions and eIDAS
      2. HMLR requirements for deeds signed electronically
      3. The impact of Brexit on e-signature laws in the UK
  5. Download Agreements in Bulk
  6. Claim your domain 
  7. Report Abuse links

Send, Sign, and Manage Agreements

  1. Recipient Options
    1. Cancel an email reminder
    2. Options on the e-signing page
      1. Overview of the e-sign page
      2. Open to read the agreement without fields
      3. Decline to sign an agreement
      4. Delegate signing authority
      5. Restart the agreement
      6. Download a PDF of the agreement
      7. View the agreement history
      8. View the agreement messages
      9. Convert from an electronic to a written signature
      10. Convert from a written to an electronic signature 
      11. Navigate the form fields
      12. Clear the data from the form fields
      13. E-sign page magnification and navigation
      14. Change the language used in the agreement tools and information
      15. Review the Legal Notices
      16. Adjust Acrobat Sign Cookie Preferences
  2. Send Agreements  
    1. Send page overview
    2. Send an agreement only to yourself
    3. Send an agreement to others
    4. Written Signatures
    5. Recipient signing order
    6. Send in Bulk
      1. Overview of the Send in Bulk feature
      2. Send in Bulk - Configure a parent template
      3. Send in Bulk - Configure the CSV file
      4. Cancel a Send in Bulk transaction
      5. Add reminders to Send in Bulk
      6. Reporting for Send in Bulk
  3. Authoring fields into documents
    1. In-app authoring environment
      1. Automatic field detection
      2. Drag and drop fields using the authoring environment
      3. Assign form fields to recipients
      4. The Prefill role
      5. Apply fields with a reusable field template
      6. Transfer fields to a new library template
      7. Updated authoring environment when sending agreements
    2. Create forms with text tags
    3. Create forms using Acrobat (AcroForms)
      1. AcroForm creation
      2. Creating accessible PDFs
    4. Fields
      1. Field types
        1. Common field types
        2. In-line Images
        3. Stamp Images
      2. Field content appearance
      3. Field validations
      4. Masked fields values
      5. Setting show/hide conditions
      6. Calculated fields 
    5. Authoring FAQ
  4. Sign Agreements
    1. Sign agreements sent to you
    2. Fill & Sign
    3. Self-signing
  5. Manage Agreements
    1. Manage page overview
    2. Delegate agreements
    3. Replace Recipients
    4. Limit Document Visibility 
    5. Cancel an Agreement 
    6. Create new reminders
    7. Review reminders
    8. Cancel a reminder
    9. Access Power Automate flows
    10. More Actions...
      1. How search works
      2. View an agreement
      3. Create a template from an agreement
      4. Hide/Unhide agreements from view
      5. Upload a signed agreement
      6. Modify a sent agreement's files and fields
      7. Edit a recipient's authentication method
      8. Add or modify an expiration date
      9. Add a Note to the agreement
      10. Share an individual agreement
      11. Unshare an agreement
      12. Download an individual agreement
      13. Download the individual files of an agreement
      14. Download the Audit Report of an agreement
      15. Download the field content of an agreement
  6. Audit Report
  7. Reporting and Data exports
    1. Overview
    2. Grant users access to reporting
    3. Report charts
      1. Create a new report
      2. Agreement Reports
      3. Transaction Reports
      4. Settings Activity Report
      5. Edit a report
    4. Data Exports 
      1. Create a new data export
      2. Edit a data export
      3. Refresh the data export content
      4. Download the data export
    5. Rename a report/export
    6. Duplicate a report/export
    7. Schedule a report/export
    8. Delete a report/export
    9. Check Transaction Usage

Advanced Agreement Capabilities and Workflows

  1. Webforms 
    1. Create a web form
    2. Edit a web form
    3. Disable/Enable a web form
    4. Hide/Unhide a web form
    5. Find the URL or script code 
    6. Prefill web form fields with URL parameters
    7. Save a web form to complete later
    8. Resize a web form
  2. Reusable Templates (Library templates) 
    1. US Government forms in the Acrobat Sign library
    2. Create a library template
    3. Change a library template's name
    4. Change a library template's type
    5. Change a library template's permission level
    6. Copy, edit, and save a shared template
    7. Download the aggregate field data for a library template
  3. Transfer ownership of web forms and library templates
  4. Power Automate Workflows 
    1. Overview of the Power Automate integration and included entitlements
    2. Enable the Power Automate integration
    3. In-Context Actions on the Manage page
    4. Track Power Automate usage
    5. Create a new flow (Examples)
    6. Triggers used for flows
    7. Importing flows from outside Acrobat Sign
    8. Manage flows
    9. Edit flows
    10. Share flows
    11. Disable or Enable flows
    12. Delete flows
    13. Useful Templates
      1. Administrator only
        1. Save all completed documents to SharePoint
        2. Save all completed documents to OneDrive for Business
        3. Save all completed documents to Google Drive
        4. Save all completed documents to DropBox
        5. Save all completed documents to Box
      2. Agreement archival
        1. Save your completed documents to SharePoint
        2. Save your completed documents to One Drive for Business
        3. Save your completed documents to Google Drive
        4. Save your completed documents to DropBox
        5. Save your completed documents to Box
      3. Webform agreement archival
        1. Save completed web form documents to SharePoint Library
        2. Save completed web form documents to OneDrive for Business
        3. Save completed   documents to Google Drive
        4. Save completed web form documents to Box
      4. Agreement data extraction
        1. Extract form field data from your signed document and update Excel sheet
      5. Agreement notifications
        1. Send custom email notifications with your agreement contents and signed agreement
        2. Get your Adobe Acrobat Sign notifications in a Teams Channel
        3. Get your Adobe Acrobat Sign notifications in Slack
        4. Get your Adobe Acrobat Sign notifications in Webex
      6. Agreement generation
        1. Generate document from Power App form and Word template, send for signature
        2. Generate agreement from Word template in OneDrive, and get signature
        3. Generate agreement for selected Excel row, send for review and signature
  5. Custom Send workflows
    1. Custom Send Workflow Overview
    2. Creating a new Send Workflow
    3. Edit a Send Workflow
    4. Activate or Deactivate a Send Workflow
    5. Send an agreement with a Send Workflow
  6. Share users and agreements
    1. Share a user
    2. Share agreements

Integrate with other products

  1.  Acrobat Sign integrations overview 
  2. Acrobat Sign for Salesforce
  3. Acrobat Sign for Microsoft
    1. Acrobat Sign for Microsoft 365
    2. Acrobat Sign for Outlook
    3. Acrobat Sign for Word/PowerPoint
    4. Acrobat Sign for Teams
    5. Acrobat Sign for Microsoft PowerApps and Power Automate
    6. Acrobat Sign Connector for Microsoft Search
    7. Acrobat Sign for Microsoft Dynamics 
    8. Acrobat Sign for Microsoft SharePoint 
  4. Other Integrations
    1. Acrobat Sign for ServiceNow
    2. Acrobat Sign for HR ServiceNow
    3. Acrobat Sign for SAP SuccessFactors
    4. Acrobat Sign for Workday
    5. Acrobat Sign for NetSuite
    6. Acrobat Sign for VeevaVault
    7. Acrobat Sign for Coupa BSM Suite
  5. Partner managed integrations
  6. How to obtain an integration key

Acrobat Sign Developer

  1. REST APIs 
    1. Methods documentation
    2. SDK/Developer Guide
    3. API FAQ    
  2. Webhooks 
    1. Webhook overview
    2. Configure a new webhook
    3. View or edit a webhook
    4. Deactivate or reactivate a webhook
    5. Delete a webhook
    6. Two-way SSL certificates
    7. Webhooks in the API

Support and Troubleshooting

  1. Customer Support Resources 
  2. Enterprise Customer Success Resources 

Enable a method of recipient authentication using government issued documents.

Overview

Powered by advanced machine learning algorithms, Adobe Acrobat Sign's Government ID process empowers companies across the globe with the ability to secure a high-quality authentication of their recipient's identity.  

Government ID is a premium identity authentication method that instructs the recipient to upload the image of a government-issued identity document (driver's license, national ID, passport) and then evaluates that document for authenticity. 

Supported documents include:

  • Global Passport
    • All ICAO-compliant passport books
  • Driver license / National ID / Residence Permits

 

Country Driver's License Identification Card Residence Permit
Australia Supported    
Austria Supported Supported  
Belgium Supported Supported Supported
Bulgaria   Supported  
Canada Supported Supported  
Croatia   Supported  
Czech Republic   Supported  
France Supported Supported Supported
Germany Supported Supported Supported
Hungary   Supported  
Ireland Supported    
Italy Supported Supported  
Latvia   Supported  
Lithuania   Supported  
Malta   Supported  
Mexico   Supported  
Netherlands Supported Supported Supported
New Zealand Supported    
Poland Supported Supported  
Portugal Supported Supported  
Romania Supported Supported  
Slovakia   Supported  
Spain Supported Supported Supported
Sweden Supported    
Switzerland Supported Supported  
United Kingdom Supported   Supported
United States of America Supported Supported  

 


The service evaluates the document image for authenticity by validating dozens of elements within the document, including:

  • Document structure
  • Biographical data
  • PDF417 barcode (if applicable)
  • Machine-readable zone (if applicable)
  • Security features
  • Photo zone
  • Signature

Availability:

Government ID authentication is available for enterprise ETLA license plans only. VIP license plans don't have access.

Government ID is a premium authentication method that has a per-use charge:

  • Transactions must be purchased through your Adobe sales representative.
  • Transactions are an account-level resource. All groups consume from the same global pool.

Configuration scope:

The feature can be enabled at the account and group levels.

Note:

Biometric comparison: In addition to the document verification, an optional biometric comparison can be enabled upon request. The biometric comparison guides the recipient to take a real-time image (a "selfie") and then evaluates that image relative to the image on the uploaded document. The biometric comparison requires the recipient to respond to on-screen prompts to display "liveness," ensuring previously taken static images are not used.

How it's used

  1. Recipients are first made aware of the agreement via an email notification which contains a Review and sign button to access the agreement contents:

    Review and Sign email

    The authentication challenge is triggered when the Review and sign button is selected.

  2. The recipient is prompted to provide a phone for a smartphone that can accept text messages.

    This is required for the image-capturing application that compares the ID document to the government database.

    • A 15-minute time limit to complete the verification process starts once the email link is selected.
    • Once the text message is sent, a blue message appears indicating the message is sent, and the link in that message has a five-minute expiration.
    Government ID authentication challenge

    Note:

    This phone number step is skipped if the signature process is started on a smartphone.

  3. A text message is delivered to the provided phone number with a link to the ID service.

    Once the link is selected, the recipient can authenticate with either a Driver's License / ID card or a Passport.

    Gov ID first steps

    Note:

    During the process of gathering and verifying the document content, the original notification page displays a status message that the details are being verified:

    gov_id_verificationinprocess

  4. When using a driver's license or ID card, the app prompts the recipient to take an image of:

    • The front of the card
    • The back of the card
    • Themselves (Optional based on account configurations)

    If using a Passport, only one image of the passport is required.

    Gov ID Front and back

  5. Optional real-time self-image for biometric comparison to the document image.

    If the real-time "selfie" option is enabled for the account, the recipient is instructed to perform some live action to demonstrate that the recipient is real and reacting to the prompts of the image capture application.

    When the "liveness" test is passed, the app captures the image and performs the biometric comparison to the identity document's image.

  6. Once the identity is verified, the recipient can interact with the agreement on the original device where the email was opened.

    • The recipient's name, as presented on the ID, is imported to the signature field and can not be edited.
    Gov ID Success

    The recipient has five attempts to verify their ID successfully. If they all fail five attempts, the agreement is canceled, and the sender is notified.

    Failed authentication

Layer 1 - Document validation:

The first layer of technology provides a seamless and secure method to validate an identity document presented in a digital transaction, ensuring that the document is genuine and unaltered.

Combining a best-in-class capture experience with a proven ID document verification engine ensures trusted digital identity proofing with a seamless user experience.

Government ID verification is available for all Latin-based languages and supports thousands of international and domestic identity documents, including:

  • Passports
  • ID Cards
  • Driver's Licenses

To achieve reliable results, the service delivers each of the following:

  • Guided document capture - Users are instructed on how to take a quality photo for optimal processing.
  • Document classification – "Computer vision" algorithms recognize and classify thousands of government-issued documents, allowing for reliable data extraction and document validation.
  • Data extraction - Going beyond simple optical character recognition, this service deconstructs the document and analyzes the content of each field.
  • Evaluation of authenticity elements - A combination of artificial intelligence techniques validates dozens of elements within the identity document, including:
    • Document structure - Physical attributes of the ID document are evaluated for the correct size, material, shape, color, layout, etc.
    • Biographical data - Printed data that identifies the individual is evaluated for font usage, color, acceptable values, etc.
    • PDF417 barcode (if applicable) - OCR results of the biodata from the front are compared with the data extracted from the PDF417 barcode at the back.
    • Machine-readable zone (if applicable) - The Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) printed area is checked for font usage, presence, check digits, etc.
    • Security features - Both visual and invisible security features of the ID are checked for presence, position, content, etc.
    • Photo zone - Portrait, or main picture, is evaluated for having a human face, orientation, color, etc.
    • Signature - The signature section is checked for presence, font type, matching with known samples, etc.

 

Layer 2 - Biometric comparison:

The second layer of authentication matches the portrait extracted from the ID document with a "selfie" from the user through a biometric facial comparison, affirming that the user submitting the ID document is its rightful owner.

Anti-spoofing techniques

  • Video frame analysis ensures the user can take a quality selfie in optimal capture conditions.
  • While capturing the selfie, the recipient is instructed to perform an action (e.g., Smile!) to demonstrate "liveness."
  • Lighting, focus, and alignment are some of the conditions evaluated.

Configuring the Government ID authentication method when composing a new agreement

When Government ID is enabled, the sender can select it from the Authentication drop-down to the right of the recipient's email address.
 

Select the authenticaation method

If Government ID isn't on the list, then Government ID isn't enabled for the group from which the user is sending the agreement, and an admin will have to enable it.

Consumption of premium authentication transactions

Government ID authentication is a premium authentication method that has a per-recipient charge.

  • Government ID transactions must be purchased and installed before the option can be used.
  • Government ID transactions are consumed per recipient configured with the Government ID authentication method.
    • One agreement configured with three recipients, two of which authenticate with Government ID, consumes two authentication transactions.
  • Authentication transactions are deducted from the account total when the agreement is sent to authoring (as a draft agreement) or sent to the first recipient (as an in-progress agreement).
    • Canceling a draft agreement refunds the authentication transactions to the account's total.
    • Canceling an in-progress agreement does not refund any authentication transactions.
    • Changing an existing authentication method to Government ID consumes one license.
    • Changing the authentication method from Government ID does not refund the authentication transaction.
      • Changing the authentication back and forth with Government ID only ever consumes one transaction (for any given recipient).
Government ID Track Usage

Signer Identity Report (SIR)

Acrobat Sign does not retain the identity information gathered during a Government ID authentication by default. However, account-level admins can request to store the identity information in the Acrobat Sign system via the Signer Identity Report (SIR).

The SIR contains data collected during Government ID verification (e.g., signers’ Government ID image, face image, phone number, data extracted from Government ID, etc.).

The SIR:

More information on the SIR can be found here >

Audit Report

The audit report clearly indicates that the recipient's identity was verified with a Government ID authentication:

 

Government ID Audit report event

The reason is explicitly stated if the agreement is canceled due to the recipient's inability to authenticate.

Failed authentication in the audit report

Best Practices and Considerations

  • If second-factor signature authentication isn't required for your internal signatures, consider using the Acrobat Sign Authentication method instead of Government ID to reduce the friction of signing and save on the consumption of the premium authentication transactions.
  • Government ID:
    • Isn't intended for regulated or high-value electronic signature workflows and use cases.
    • Cannot identify all fraudulent or "fake" identification documents.
    • May not replace the need for human review.

Configuration Options

Enable the authentication method under Send Settings

Access to Government ID authentication requires that a contract is in place for an annual volume of recipients. The option isn't visible in the administrator's interface until this is configured on the back end.

Once the purchase of the identity transactions has been entered into the system, admins will find the controls for exposing Government ID authentication on the Send Settings page with the other identity authentication methods.

Enable the method by checking the Government ID authentication box.

  • Once the method is enabled, the admin can set Government ID authentication as the default value for new agreements. The option is not visible until the method is explicitly enabled:
Government ID authentication controls

Optional "Selfie" biometric comparison

Customers who would like to include the biometric comparison between the identity document and a real-time selfie of the recipient can contact the support team to have the feature enabled.

Automatic agreement cancellation when a recipient fails to authenticate

The Government ID service is configured to allow up to four consecutive failed attempts to authenticate the recipient's identity. After the fifth failure, the agreement is automatically canceled in the system, and the agreement owner is notified of the agreement being canceled due to an authentication failure.

The option to configure this threshold is not in the customer-facing interface. Account admins can request that the cancellation threshold be adjusted to another value through the support team.

Failed authentication

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