To verify your Maya account, log in, tap your Profile, then Upgrade Your Account. Enter your full name and date of birth exactly as they appear on your National ID, then record the video selfie, following the on-screen gestures. If Maya can't verify you that way, you can enter your National ID number or submit another valid Primary ID. Approval comes by SMS within 24 hours.
Maya calls verification upgrading. An upgraded account raises your wallet limit, lets you send instantly, open savings and credit products and withdraw at ATMs here and abroad. If you're using Maya to receive pay or remittances, it's the first thing to do. Here's the process from Maya's own upgrade page.
How to upgrade your Maya account
- Log in to Maya and tap your Profile.
- Select Upgrade Your Account.
- Enter your full name and date of birth. Make sure they match your National ID.
- Record and submit the video selfie. Follow the instructions on screen, do the required gestures, keep your whole face uncovered and your head inside the frame.
- If verification succeeds, continue with the next steps. If not, enter your National ID number or submit another valid Primary ID, take another video selfie and add the extra details Maya asks for.
- Enter your work details, place of birth and address if asked, review and tap Submit.
The detail that saves the most time
Maya now checks your name and birthday against your National ID first. So the most common reason for a failed upgrade is simple: what you type doesn't match what's printed on the ID. Use your full legal name, including your middle name, in the same order. Fix that and you may not need to upload an ID photo at all.
IDs Maya accepts (Filipinos 18 and over)
| Option | IDs |
|---|---|
| 1 Primary ID | Philippine National ID, ePhilID, SSS ID (digitised with photo), PRC ID, Postal ID issued 2015 onwards, Passport, Driver's License, UMID |
| Or 2 Secondary IDs | PhilHealth ID and TIN ID |
Note the small print: a Postal ID only counts if it was issued in 2015 or later, and an SSS ID has to be the digitised version with a photo.
Minors and foreign nationals
- Minors aged 7 to 17 need their own valid ID (passport, driver's license, Postal ID, National ID or school ID), a parent or guardian's valid ID, a signed parental consent form, a PSA or NSO birth certificate and, where it applies, proof of legal guardianship.
- Foreign nationals upgrade with a passport.
How to check your upgrade status
Tap CHECK STATUS in your Profile. Once it's approved, Maya says you'll get an SMS within 24 hours, and you'll see the Upgraded Account check mark at the top of your Profile.
The scam warning on Maya's own page
Maya says it and its official representatives will never ask for your password, your 16-digit card number or your OTP, and will never charge you to upgrade your account. Anyone offering to upgrade your Maya for a fee, or asking for your OTP to help, is trying to take over your account. Here's how to report a scammer on Messenger if that's where they found you.
What upgrading gets you
| Basic | Upgraded |
|---|---|
| Lower wallet limit | Higher monthly limit that grows as you use Maya |
| Limited sending | Send funds instantly in the app |
| No savings or credit products | Savings, Credit, Crypto and the Maya Card |
| No ATM withdrawals | Withdraw at ATMs in the Philippines and abroad |
For earners, the ATM access and higher limit matter most: they're what let a payout from PayPal or a remittance turn into cash.
Why a Maya upgrade gets stuck
| Problem | What to try |
|---|---|
| Name or birthday doesn't match | Retype your full legal name and birthday exactly as on your National ID |
| Video selfie fails | Better light, face fully visible, follow every gesture prompt |
| No National ID | Submit another valid Primary ID, or 2 Secondary IDs |
| Postal ID rejected | Only Postal IDs issued 2015 onwards count |
| SSS ID rejected | It has to be the digitised SSS ID with a photo |
| No update yet | Tap CHECK STATUS in your Profile before reapplying |
If you're upgrading so you can receive pay, do it before the first payment arrives. A limit you hit mid-month is much more stressful than ten minutes with your ID today.
If you already use GCash, the Maya process will feel familiar, with one difference worth knowing: Maya leads with a video selfie and a National ID records check rather than an ID photo first. Have your National ID details handy even if you plan to use another ID, because that's what Maya tries first.
My advice
Type your name exactly as it's printed on your National ID, do the selfie in good light, and you'll usually be through in a day. Never pay anyone to do it for you: Maya doesn't charge to upgrade.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Maya verification take?
Maya says that once your upgrade is approved, you'll get an SMS within 24 hours.
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Can I upgrade Maya without an ID photo?
Maya first checks your name and birthday against your National ID records. If that works, you continue with the video selfie. If not, you can enter your National ID number or upload another valid Primary ID.
Can I use two secondary IDs?
Yes. Maya accepts 2 Secondary IDs, the PhilHealth ID and the TIN ID, instead of 1 Primary ID.
Does Maya charge to upgrade?
No. Maya says it never charges you to upgrade your account.
How do I check if my Maya upgrade is approved?
Tap CHECK STATUS in your Profile. Approved accounts show the Upgraded Account check mark at the top of the Profile.
What can I do after upgrading Maya?
Maya says an upgraded account gets a higher monthly limit, instant sending in the app, savings, credit and crypto products, the Maya Card and ATM withdrawals in the Philippines and abroad.
Can I use a Postal ID to upgrade Maya?
Yes, as long as it was issued in 2015 or later. Older Postal IDs aren't on Maya's accepted list.
Can minors upgrade a Maya account?
Yes, users aged 7 to 17 can, with their own valid ID, a parent or guardian's ID, a signed parental consent form and a PSA or NSO birth certificate.
Can foreigners upgrade Maya?
Yes. Maya says foreign nationals upgrade with a passport.
