New employer needs proof of right to work. Bank needs ID for the new account. Crypto exchange needs KYC. They all want a PDF of your ID card, front and back, in one document.
Scan or photo, both work
Scanner: sharper, more consistent. Place ID flat on glass, scan at 300dpi, save as JPG or PNG.
Phone camera: more convenient. Use a document scanner app (iPhone Notes' scan, Adobe Scan, Microsoft Lens) for auto-cropping and perspective correction. Don't just snap with the regular Camera — perspective distortion looks unprofessional and may be rejected.
Either produces an image ready to convert.
Combine front and back
Drop both images into Flint's Image to PDF — front first, back second. The PDF has two pages: front, then back. Standard format for most verification systems.
For some applications that want both sides on one page, combine the images in your photo editor first (side by side or top and bottom), then convert that single composite image.
Sensitive document handling
ID cards are sensitive documents. After uploading to the verification system, delete the local image files and the PDF if you don't need them archived. Most KYC providers don't need you to keep your own copy.
If you must keep a copy, store it encrypted — not in iCloud Photos or Google Photos unless those have device-level encryption you trust.
Don't redact mid-process
Some people partially redact their ID before sending (covering parts of the number). Most verification systems explicitly reject redacted documents — they need the full image to verify. Send the clean, unredacted scan.
For extra security, verify the recipient is legitimate before sending. Phishing attacks for ID documents are common.
FAQ
Front and back together or separate pages?
Most systems prefer separate pages — front then back. Check the specific upload requirements.
Should I include the holder photo zoomed in?
No — full card image is standard. Verification systems extract details from the full image.
What file size?
Usually under 5MB. Photo-quality scans are well within limits.
Photo or scan?
Either works. Scanner is more consistent; phone scan apps with auto-correction are nearly as good.
Two sides, one PDF. Convert your ID scan to PDF for verification.