We Got Rejected Three Times Uploading Our ID for KYC: What Actually Counts as an Acceptable Photo
Our KYC ID upload got rejected three times in a row. This note logs the reason for every rejection, with before/after photo comparisons and the clarity threshold Binance actually accepts.
A lot of people get stuck on KYC not because there's anything wrong with their ID, but because their photo doesn't meet the requirements. We tested this ourselves and got rejected three times before finally passing. This note logs the reason behind every rejection along with the shooting method that finally worked.
If you're just starting the account-opening process, check out our full account-opening walkthrough first.
Why We Got Rejected Three Times
| Attempt | Rejection Reason | How We Shot It |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | "Image blurry or reflective" | iPhone auto-focus, facing a light source |
| 2nd | "Could not detect all four corners of the document" | Too close, the ID extended past the frame |
| 3rd | "Information unreadable" | Photographed a printed paper copy off a screen |
The shooting method that finally worked on the 4th attempt is below.
What Binance's Photo Standard Actually Requires
By comparing rejection messages against successful submissions, we reverse-engineered the minimum requirements of Binance's OCR system:
- Resolution: at least 1500 pixels on the short side (an iPhone's default photo resolution is well above this)
- Lighting: daytime near a window, a plain white A4 sheet as the background works best
- Framing: all four corners fully visible, with about 5% margin (don't fill the whole frame)
- Angle: as straight-on as possible, no more than 5° of downward tilt
- Medium: the physical original document — no scans, no re-photographing a printout, no photographing a screen
- Format: JPG or PNG, each file under 5MB
Step-by-Step: How We Finally Got It Right
Here's the shooting method that finally succeeded:
- Get a sheet of white A4 paper and lay it flat on a table
- Place your physical ID in the center of the paper
- Open the curtains for natural light (don't use direct overhead lighting — it causes glare)
- Hold the phone about 30 cm above the table, shooting straight down
- Turn off "Live Photos" on iPhone, shoot in normal photo mode
- Check the preview immediately, confirm all four corners are visible and the text is readable
- If it's not good enough, retake it — don't edit or enhance the photo
How to Avoid Glare
If your ID has a PVC laminate coating, shooting it directly facing a light source will always cause glare. Here's how we dealt with it:
- Stand to the side of the window instead of facing it directly
- Turn off overhead lights, use only window light
- Don't use your phone's flash
- Tilt the angle 3-5° (don't exceed 5° or the text will distort)
Why Re-Photographing a Screen Doesn't Work
A lot of people try displaying a scanned copy of their ID on a computer screen and then photographing that screen with their phone. This approach fails 100% of the time:
- Screens show a visible pixel grid (moiré pattern)
- Screens have a high reflectance
- Binance's OCR system can directly detect "photographed-off-a-screen" characteristics
If you only have a scanned copy and not the original, you'll have to wait until you have the physical document.
Liveness Detection Pitfalls Worth Watching For Too
After your ID passes, the next step is liveness detection. The rejection rate here is lower than for ID photos, but there are still pitfalls:
- Wearing glasses: remove them before starting, even non-prescription frames
- Makeup: heavy makeup is more likely to fail detection — go bare-faced or wear light makeup
- Background: a plain, solid-color background works best; avoid people moving around
- Network: a weak signal can cause interruptions — WiFi is recommended over 4G
How Long After Submitting Do You Get Results
| Time of Submission | Average Wait |
|---|---|
| Weekday mornings | 5-15 minutes |
| Weekday evenings | 15-30 minutes |
| Weekends | 30-60 minutes |
| Holidays (e.g. Lunar New Year) | 1-3 hours |
If it's been over 24 hours with no result, resubmit or open a support ticket.
You Can't Withdraw Immediately After Finishing KYC
This is a hidden rule: an account that just completed KYC goes through a 24-72 hour "cooldown period", during which withdrawal attempts get blocked by risk control. During this window you can still:
- Deposit (no restrictions)
- Buy crypto via C2C (no restrictions)
- Trade on spot (no restrictions)
- Cannot: withdraw to an external address
Once the cooldown period ends, all functions unlock. For the full rules, see the related notes in the Security category.