By Master 
LinkedIn users in Costa Rica are reporting a growing issue when attempting to verify their identity on the platform. The verification system—managed by Persona, an external provider integrated by LinkedIn—requires the use of identity documents with NFC chips, despite the fact that no Costa Rican identity document includes this technology. The result is a complete dead end: users cannot proceed, cannot verify their accounts, and are not offered any alternative method.
The failure affects independent professionals as well as companies seeking to validate profiles for greater credibility, security, and visibility within the network.
A process that does not reflect Costa Rica’s documentation reality
The verification flow begins with a screen asking whether the user’s document has the NFC chip symbol. In Costa Rica, neither the national ID card, nor the driver’s license, nor most locally issued passports include this technology. However, the system only offers two options:
- “Yes, continue”
- “I can’t do this right now”
The first option leads to a process that is impossible to complete.
The second cancels the verification entirely.
No alternative appears for: - Document photo upload
- Biometric selfie
- Passport without chip
- Driver’s license
- Corporate email verification
All of which are available in other countries.
Workarounds that simply do not work
Users have attempted multiple alternatives:
- Changing the app’s language
- Trying through a mobile browser
- Trying from a computer
- Uninstalling the app
- Using another device
In most cases, LinkedIn automatically redirects to Persona’s mobile flow, which again requires NFC and offers no alternatives.
This confirms that the issue does not lie with the user, the device, or regional settings, but rather with the integration between LinkedIn and Persona.
A problem that should not fall on the end user
The current experience shifts the burden onto the user, who becomes trapped in a process they cannot complete.
However, the real responsibility lies with:
- LinkedIn, for not enabling alternative verification flows for countries without NFC-enabled documents.
- Persona, for failing to correctly detect the region and offer manual verification methods.
- Microsoft, as the primary provider behind the platform, for not channeling or correcting these integration errors that affect entire markets.
In a context where identity verification is increasingly important to combat fake profiles, scams, and impersonation, such failures undermine user trust and platform security.
A call for Microsoft and its providers to test, validate, and correct
It is essential for Microsoft, as the company responsible for the LinkedIn ecosystem, to take a more active role in:
- Testing the verification flow in countries where documents do not include NFC.
- Ensuring that Persona enables alternative methods (photo + selfie) in all regions.
- Routing user reports to the appropriate technical teams.
- Updating the app to prevent regional lockouts.
Identity verification cannot depend on a single method that excludes entire countries.
The solution already exists—Persona supports non‑NFC verification—but it is not properly enabled for Costa Rica.
An opportunity to improve the global user experience
Costa Rica is not the only country affected. Users in Panama, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, and other Latin American nations have reported the same issue.
Fixing this flow would benefit not only Costa Ricans but the entire region.
LinkedIn is a key platform for professionals, companies, and content creators.
Ensuring an accessible and functional verification process is essential to maintaining trust and safety across the network.
Tecno