> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.1kosmos.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.1kosmos.com/identity-verification/ial2-verification/overview.md).

# Overview

***

Identity Assurance Levels (IALs) are a set of standards defined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) that convey the degree of confidence that someone's claimed identity is their real identity — in other words, how likely an individual is actually who they say they are.

The three identity assurance levels, as defined in [NIST Special Publication 800-63](https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/SpecialPublications/NIST.SP.800-63-3.pdf), are:

| Level    | Description                                                                                                                                            |
| -------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **IAL1** | No requirement to link the individual to a specific real-life identity. Any information provided by the individual should be treated as self-asserted. |
| **IAL2** | Uses digital documents to support the real-world existence of an identity and verifies that the correct person is associated with it.                  |
| **IAL3** | Requires an authorized and trained representative to verify the individual in person.                                                                  |

Users can upgrade their own status to IAL2 in AdminX by using the 1Kosmos web-based identity-proofing flow. Tenant and community administrators can trigger this flow using OpenID Connect (OIDC) ACR claims or SAML.

### Automated Ways to Get to IAL2

1Kosmos follows guidelines from [NIST SP 800-63A](https://pages.nist.gov/800-63-3/sp800-63a.html) for remote identity proofing, attempting to strike a pragmatic balance between availability and convenient access to identity-proofing services and the security of the associated processes.

Several combinations of evidence quality are accepted at IAL2:

* **One piece of SUPERIOR or STRONG evidence** (depending on the strength of original proof and validation with the issuing source), or
* **Two pieces of STRONG evidence**, or
* **One piece of STRONG evidence plus two pieces of FAIR evidence**

| Type of Evidence                                                                                                                                                       | Strength | Notes                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| US Passport                                                                                                                                                            | SUPERIOR | Includes US Passport cards                                                                                                                                                                            |
| Foreign e-Passport                                                                                                                                                     | SUPERIOR |                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card                                                                                                                              | SUPERIOR |                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Common Access Card (CAC)                                                                                                                                               | SUPERIOR |                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Personal Identity Verification Interoperable (PIV-I) card                                                                                                              | SUPERIOR |                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)                                                                                                                 | SUPERIOR |                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Permanent Resident Card                                                                                                                                                | SUPERIOR | Issued on or after May 11, 2010                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Native American Enhanced Tribal Card                                                                                                                                   | SUPERIOR |                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| REAL ID cards                                                                                                                                                          | STRONG+  | Includes REAL ID driver's licenses and ID cards. REAL ID cards have a star printed in the upper right-hand corner. Card and personal information must be validated with the appropriate DMV or AAMVA. |
| Enhanced ID cards                                                                                                                                                      | STRONG+  | Includes Enhanced ID driver's licenses and ID cards. Must be validated with the appropriate DMV or AAMVA.                                                                                             |
| U.S. Uniformed Services Privilege and Identification Card (U.S. Military ID)                                                                                           | STRONG+  | Includes Uniformed Services Dependent ID Cards. Must be validated with the appropriate military issuing source.                                                                                       |
| Permanent Resident Card                                                                                                                                                | STRONG   | Issued prior to May 11, 2010                                                                                                                                                                          |
| Native American Tribal Photo Identification Card                                                                                                                       | STRONG   |                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Driver's License or ID card (REAL ID non-compliant)                                                                                                                    | STRONG   |                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| School ID card                                                                                                                                                         | FAIR     | Includes facial image photograph                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Utility account statement                                                                                                                                              | FAIR     |                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Credit/debit card and account statement                                                                                                                                | FAIR     |                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Financial institution account statement                                                                                                                                | FAIR     |                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| US Social Security Card                                                                                                                                                | WEAK     |                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Original or certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a state, county, municipal authority, or outlying possession of the United States bearing an official seal | WEAK     |                                                                                                                                                                                                       |

1Kosmos provides journeys that allow users to get to IAL2 depending on the evidence collected from them.

### In This Section

* **IAL2 Verification** — Create and manage a one-time IAL2 verification flow.
* **One-Time Verification** — The end-to-end one-time identity verification journey.
* **Triggering IAL2 Verification Using OAuth 2.0 and OIDC** — Trigger step-up verification with custom scopes and ACR claims.
* **Triggering IAL2 Verification Using SAML** — Trigger verification using `RequestedAuthnContext`.
* **Identity Wallet Based Verification** — Reuse previously verified identities stored in the user's wallet.


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