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Payment 5 of 62 known sticking points

The verification fails and you don't know why

Identity verification can fail for several boring reasons. Most are fixed by light, a clear photo, or a wait.

Verify failed !

Four small causes cover almost every silent failure.

What you'll see

If verification fails with no clear message, one of these is usually the cause:

"Verification failed" · "Try again later"
中国 App 里显示为:验证失败 / 请稍后再试
Error-text level: L2 (observed wording). Exact in-app strings are being verified against a live device.

Why it happens

Verification needs a clear passport photo, a stable network, an up-to-date app, and no conflicting face data. Any one of those breaks it.

Fastest fix, free: Retake the passport photo in bright, even light, remove glasses or a hat, and retry on mobile data rather than Wi-Fi.
Last verified: 2026-09-20 · Confidence: Multiple sources (pending first-hand verification)
The full fix sequence (free)
  1. Blurry passport photo → take the photo in bright, even light.
  2. Glasses or hat in the photo → remove them.
  3. Network issues → try switching from Wi-Fi to mobile data.
  4. App version too old → update the app from your app store.

When the fast fix isn't enough

In the kit

When verification keeps failing for no stated reason, the kit isolates the exact cause.

1. The yes/no diagnosis tree

Four questions that point to the one fix that applies to your case.

2. The trigger matrix

Which phone models and app versions fail most, so you can pre-empt it.

3. Offline printable version

The whole checklist as a printable card for low-signal moments.

If nothing works

If it keeps failing after you have tried the basics:

  1. Wait 24 hours. Repeated attempts can trigger a temporary lockout.
  2. Contact customer service with a photo of your passport.
  3. Try the other app — verification rules differ between WeChat and Alipay.

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Most travellers know about three of these before they fly. This one is often not one of them.

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