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Verifying documents

Document failed to upload

Fix the most common upload problems in VerifyPDF, from non-PDF files and oversized documents to password-protected, corrupted files and an empty allowance.

Most failed uploads come from one of a few causes. Find the message you saw below and follow the fix.

The file is not a PDF

VerifyPDF only analyses original PDFs. A Word file, an image, a screenshot or a file that was renamed to end in .pdf without really being one is rejected.

To fix it, download the original PDF from the bank, employer, portal or issuer and upload that file. Do not use screenshots stitched into a PDF as a substitute.

See submit a document for the file rules.

The file is over 100 MB

Each PDF can be up to 100 MB. Anything larger is rejected.

If the original source PDF is larger than 100 MB, contact support rather than changing the file. Splitting, compressing or re-exporting the document can remove signals that help VerifyPDF analyse it.

The PDF is password-protected

A locked PDF cannot be opened, so it cannot be analysed. The document comes back with a password-protected status.

To fix it:

  1. Open the PDF and enter the password.
  2. Save or export an unprotected copy with no password.
  3. Upload that copy.

The PDF is corrupted

A damaged file cannot be read and comes back with a corrupted status.

To fix it, download the original document again from the source, open it in a PDF reader to confirm it displays correctly, then upload that fresh copy.

You are out of allowance

You can only upload when you have documents left in your allowance. If you have no plan, your allowance is zero and the upload panel is disabled.

To fix it:

Still stuck

If the file is a valid, unlocked PDF under 100 MB and the upload still fails, contact us at /contact/.

Still need help?

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