Digital Identity Guidelines: Enrollment and Identity Proofing Requirements

Published

June 22, 2017

Author(s)

Paul A. Grassi, James L. Fenton, Naomi B. Lefkovitz, Jamie M. Danker, Yee-Yin Choong, Kristen Greene, Mary F. Theofanos

Abstract

These guidelines provide technical requirements for federal agencies implementing digital identity services and are not intended to constrain the development or use of standards outside of this purpose. This guideline focuses on the enrollment and verification of an identity for use in digital authentication. Central to this is a process known as identity proofing in which an applicant provides evidence to a credential service provider (CSP) reliably identifying themselves, thereby allowing the CSP to assert that identification at a useful identity assurance level. This document defines technical requirements for each of three identity assurance levels. This publication supersedes corresponding sections of NIST Special Publication (SP) 800-63-2.

Citation

Special Publication (NIST SP) - 800-63A

Report Number

800-63A

NIST Pub Series

Special Publication (NIST SP)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Superceded By Publication

Digital Identity Guidelines: Enrollment and Identity Proofing Requirements [including updates as of 12-01-2017]

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DOI Link

Keywords

authentication, credential service provider, electronic authentication, digital authentication, electronic credentials, digital credentials, identity proofing, federation

Citation

Grassi, P. , Fenton, J. , Lefkovitz, N. , Danker, J. , Choong, Y. , Greene, K. and Theofanos, M. (2017), Digital Identity Guidelines: Enrollment and Identity Proofing Requirements, Special Publication (NIST SP), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-63a (Accessed October 2, 2025)