DocuSign has enhanced its Intelligent Agreement Management platform by integrating biometric identity verification services from ID.me and Clear. The new capability allows DocuSign to offer workflows that meet the stringent requirements of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Identity Assurance Level 2 (IAL2).
This development enables organizations to embed federally recognized, high-assurance identity proofing directly into the digital signing process for sensitive agreements. IAL2 is a federal standard that requires an applicant to prove their identity by presenting two or more forms of evidence, with verification of that evidence and a link to the applicant’s real-world identity.
In the new DocuSign workflow, a sender can require a recipient to verify their identity at the IAL2 standard before they are granted access to sign a document. The recipient is given the option to use their existing ID.me or CLEAR account to complete the verification. Both ID.me and CLEAR are accredited by the Kantara Initiative as Credential Service Providers (CSPs) compliant with NIST 800-63-3 IAL2 standards.
If the user does not have an account, they can create one within the DocuSign workflow. The process typically involves uploading a photo of a government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license or passport, and then completing a “liveness check” by taking a live selfie. This biometric check ensures the person presenting the ID is the same individual and is physically present.
DocuSign is targeting this feature at high-risk and regulated transactions. Specific use cases include Small Business Administration (SBA) loan applications, which must adhere to federal lending requirements; digital vehicle title transfers, which require confirmation of ownership; and the signing of patient consent forms, which involve protected health information (PHI) and HIPAA compliance.
For businesses, this integration generates a tamper-evident audit trail confirming the IAL2-level check was performed, simplifying compliance efforts and reducing the risk of identity fraud. Clear’s partnership with DocuSign was announced earlier in 2025, with 33 million members already signed up and ready to complete identity verification with selfie biometrics.
Sources: DocuSign, ID.me Documentation, NIST Pages
—
By the ID Tech Editorial Team
