UNHCR VERIFY PLUS

MOBILE APPLICATION

UNHCR MALAYSIA
 VERIFYING UNHCR DOCUMENTS ISSUED TO REFUGEES

INTRODUCTION
In line with global international protection standards, for many years, the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Malaysia has been issuing documents to those registered with, and under
the protection mandate of the Organisation – namely refugees and asylum-seekers - so that they have a means to
prove their identity.

These documents also provide a means for authorities to ascertain the identities of asylum-seekers and refugees.

STRENGTHENING SECURITY FEATURES OF UNHCR DOCUMENTS

Since 2004, UNHCR has been shifting from paper-based identity documents to cards in order to strengthen the
integrity of its documents as well as the systems to authenticate them.

As part of the Organisation’s efforts to combat identity fraud and counterfeiting, UNHCR continuously updates and
strengthens the security features of its identity documents.

Like the previous version of the UNHCR card, the current card includes 3D holograms, bar codes, and a secure Quick
Response (QR) code. It is further supported by enhanced biometric data collection at the UNHCR office.

UNHCR VERIFY PLUS MOBILE APPLICATION

In March 2021, UNHCR developed the UNHCR Verify Plus Mobile
Application. This is the updated edition of UNHCR’s earlier mobile
Application, named “UNHCR Verify-MY”, which has now been
discontinued.

The UNHCR Verify Plus Mobile Application allows law enforcement

authorities and others engaged in refugee protection and assistance
work to scan the QR code and efficiently verify the authenticity of a
UNHCR document. The UNHCR Verify Plus Application can be used to
scan QR codes on all UNHCR documents.

This booklet provides you with information on the features of the UNHCR documents, as well as a guide to
downloading and using the UNHCR Verify Plus Application to enable efficient verification of the authenticity of
these official documents.

If you have issues with the Application, or have suggestions or questions, contact UNHCR at [email protected]

UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES

570, JALAN BUKIT PETALING, 50460 KUALA LUMPUR
03 2118 4800 | [email protected]
WWW.UNHCR.ORG

1 Version 3.0- AUG 2023

 FEATURES OF THE UNHCR IDENTITY CARD

12 13

FRONT OF CARD BACK OF CARD

1. Microtext 12. Standard Text

Each side of the card consists of a micro text with the words The card has standard text in two languages (English and
“United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees” in six Bahasa Malaysia) with the UNHCR Address and contact
languages: Four languages (English, French, Chinese and details:
Arabic) on the left and two languages (Spanish and Russian) on
the right. English
“The bearer of this card is registered with UNHCR and under
2. Individual ID Number
UNHCR’s protection mandate. If you have found this card, please
Unique individual ID number of the Bearer.
return to:”
3. Official UNHCR logo
The card has both standard UN and UNHCR logos. Bahasa Malaysia
“Pemegang kad ini adalah seorang yang berdaftar dengan UNHCR
4. QR Code for Card Serial Number dan dibawah mandat perlindungan UNHCR. Jika dijumpai, sila
Using a 2D barcode scanner or Mobile Application, the serial pulangkan kepada:”
number of the card can be retrieved.
13. QR Code
5. Country Code The large QR code encodes basic biodata and photo of the card
Country Code to differentiate in which country this card was bearer. One can validate the authenticity of the UNHCR card
issued. MY is for Malaysia. by scanning the large QR code using the UNHCR Verify Plus
6. Hologram Sticker mobile application (compatible with Android or iPhone).
The hologram has both the standard UNHCR logo and the
word “UNHCR”. Once scanned through the mobile application, and should the
card be authentic:
7. Basic Biodata Information of Bearer • The mobile screen will show the Photo of the card bearer,
The basic biodata consists of Full Name, Date of Birth, Sex, UNHCR Case Number, Individual ID Number, Full Name,
Country of Origin, Card Issuance Date, and Card Renewal Date of Birth, Sex, Country of Origin, Card Issuance Date,
Date. and Card Renewal Date.
8. Watermark • By using the result shown on the screen, the bearer of the
The card has a watermark of the UN logo. card can be verified.

9. Barcode
Using a 2D barcode scanner or Mobile Application, the
barcode containing UNHCR Case Number of Bearer can be
retrieved.
10. UNHCR Case Number
UNHCR Case number of the Bearer.
11. Photo
Photo of the Bearer.

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 FEATURES OF THE UNHCR LETTERS

FRONT OF LETTER BACK OF LETTER

1. Official UNHCR logo 8. Standard Text

The letter has both standard UN and UNHCR logos. The letter contains the basic biodata information of Bearer in
two languages (English and Bahasa Malaysia). The basic
2. UNHCR Case Number
biodata consists of Full Name, Date of Birth and Country of
UNHCR Case number of the Bearer.
Origin.
3. Issuance Date
Note: Security Feature
The issuance date of the letter.
• The UNHCR letter is printed on secure paper, which
4. Renewal Date includes:
The renewal date of the letter. • A UNHCR logo water mark.
• Ultraviolet (UV) detectable threads.
5. Photo
• A unique UNHCR stamp is placed on the photo and at the
Photo of the Bearer. bottom of the standard text.
6. Individual ID Number
Unique individual ID number of the Bearer.
7. QR Code
The QR code encodes basic biodata and photo of the letter
bearer. One can validate the authenticity of the UNHCR letter by
scanning the QR code using the UNHCR Verify Plus mobile
application (compatible with Android or iPhone).

Once scanned through the mobile application, and should the

letter be authentic:
• The mobile screen will show the Photo of the bearer,
UNHCR Case Number, Individual ID Number, Full Name,
Date of Birth, Sex, Country of Origin, Issuance Date and
Renewal Date.
• By using the result shown on the screen, the bearer can be
verified.

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 UNHCR VERIFY PLUS MOBILE APPLICATION

WHAT IS THE VERIFY PLUS MOBILE APPLICATION?

• UNHCR Verify Plus is UNHCR’s mobile application that can be used to
verify the authenticity of UNHCR documents.
• The UNHCR Verify Plus Application replaces UNHCR’s earlier
application named “UNHCR Verify-MY”.
• It is an instant verification of UNHCR documents using the QR code.
• For use of law enforcement authorities and other stakeholders working
on refugee protection and assistance.

MULTIPLE SIGN-IN OPTIONS

• Sign in with your social network account
HOW TO DOWNLOAD THE UNHCR VERIFY PLUS
(Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Twitter),
private email, or UNHCR corporate email.
APPLICATION
• The application can see the user’s email
• The App is FREE.
address or username only to track usage
• It is available through mobile app stores for Android and
of the application.
Apple iOS.
• Other personal data are not collected.
• To install, search for “UNHCR Verify Plus” on Google Play or
App Store.
• Do not download the application from other sites.

DOWNLOAD: DOWNLOAD:
https://tinyurl.com/43zhymv3 https://tinyurl.com/58m6w6t2

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 HOW TO USE THE VERIFY PLUS APPLICATION

SCAN THE QR CODE

• The verification requires that you have a document issued by UNHCR at hand.
• Use the application to scan the QR code that is usually printed on the back of
the ID card or in front of the letter.
• Point the QR code towards the phone camera and the application will
automatically scan it.

SCANNING WITH NO INTERNET CONNECTION

• You can still verify UNHCR documents with no Internet connection. Enable
‘Offline Mode’ to allow the application to read offline-enabled QR codes.
• The application will automatically switch to offline mode if the Internet
connection to the mobile device is lost.
• You can also manually enable ‘Offline Mode’ to verify UNHCR documents
when you have no Internet connection.
• When Internet connection is established, manually disable ‘Offline Mode’.

READING THE RESULTS

• Once scanned, the results will show documents that are authentic or not authentic.
• The following guide will help you understand the results and what to do.

Note: You can enlarge the photo in the application to read the results more clearly.

A. DOCUMENTS THAT ARE NOT AUTHENTIC

Message displayed: ‘Incompatible QR Code’

• The document is not a genuine document issued by UNHCR.
• If you receive this result upon scanning a document, please contact UNHCR for
further verification.

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 HOW TO USE THE VERIFY PLUS APPLICATION

B. AUTHENTIC DOCUMENTS

Once documents are scanned, results that display the following images indicate that the documents are authentic.

1 2 3

• You can compare the information

4 5
displayed in the application with the
information printed on the document.
The information should match.
• If you receive results as shown in
Images 2, 3,4, and 5, please contact
UNHCR for further explanation.
• For results in Images 4 and 5 (‘Authentic
– Lost Document’ and ‘Invalid –
Document not found’):
While the image does not show the
biodata information, please note that
this is an authentic document and is
currently being replaced.

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 ADJUSTING SETTINGS IN THE APPLICATION

SETTINGS THAT CAN BE ADJUSTED IN THE APPLICATION

• The light (flash) can be turned
on/off on the scanning screen
to help the application read the
QR code under low light
conditions.
• The light (flash) can be turned
on/off on the scanning screen to
help the App read the QR code
under low light conditions.
• The language of the labels in the results screen can be
selected either as English or Automatic to display a local
language.
• Sound and vibration can be switched on/off to improve the
user experience during scanning.
• Collection of the geolocation data can also be enabled or
disabled.
• The tutorial can be accessed at any time.

BASIC TROUBLESHOOTING
• In case of issues when signing-in or when scanning the QR code, the appropriate error messages will be
displayed to provide the possible reasons for the problems.
• If there are issues with scanning, you should try to hold the mobile phone steady to bring the QR code into
camera focus.
• Varying the distance of the phone from the QR code, or the angle of the QR code, or changing the light
condition, can also help the application to better scan the QR code.