How to Pass Liveness and Face-Match Checks on the First Try

Liveness and face-match checks are the KYC step that trips up the most users. The good news: nearly every failure is preventable with better lighting, framing, and pacing.

Lighting Is Everything

Sit facing a window with soft, indirect natural light. Avoid overhead lights, which cast harsh shadows on your nose and eye sockets. Never sit with a window behind you — you'll appear as a silhouette and the face-match algorithm will fail.

Frame and Distance

Hold the phone at eye level, roughly 40 cm from your face. Your head should fill about 70% of the frame, with a little space above your hair and below your chin. Look straight at the lens, not the screen.

Remove Obstructions

Take off glasses, hats, headphones, and face coverings. If you have a beard or long hair, make sure your full face outline is visible. Match your current appearance to the photo on your ID as closely as possible.

Follow Prompts Slowly

When the app asks you to turn your head, blink, or open your mouth, do it slowly and deliberately. Fast movements cause motion blur that many liveness systems interpret as a spoof.

Conclusion

A one-minute setup — good light, level framing, no glasses — takes liveness pass rates from around 60% to over 95%. If you fail once, wait a few minutes, adjust your environment, and try again; the system doesn't penalise multiple attempts.