How formal verification works
Updated
A verifier submits claims, the record holder authorises the check, and Arrota returns a result for each claim, never the record's stored values.
On this page
Who is involved
- The verifier: an organisation checking a claim, such as an employer screening a candidate.
- The individual: the person the record belongs to, who authorises the check.
- The issuing organisation: the source of the record, whose disclosure policy applies.
How a check runs
- The verifier finds the record. In the verifier workspace, they enter the person's work email or public Arrota username and choose the record. Only active records that an organisation stands behind can be checked.
- The verifier submits claims. They enter the facts exactly as the candidate stated them, such as job title and dates, and choose a purpose. The purpose is shown to the individual.
- The individual decides. They receive the request and approve or deny it. See Authorise a verification request.
- The issuing organisation's policy applies. Depending on its settings, the result is released automatically, held for the organisation's review, or not disclosed at all.
- Arrota compares the claims with the record. The verifier never sees the stored values.
- The verifier gets the result in the workspace and can download a receipt.
Reading the result
| Result | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Matched | Every claim matched the record. |
| Partially Matched | Some claims matched and some did not. |
| Not Matched | The claims did not match the record. |
| Refused | The individual did not authorise the check, or the issuing organisation does not disclose this record. |
Receipts
When a request is resolved, the verifier can download a receipt as a PDF or JSON. It records who asked, the organisation that answered, the claims, the result for each claim, and how the record stood when the receipt was downloaded. Receipts restate results, not the record's values.
Good to know
- Requests created through the API follow the same rules. See the developer documentation.
- Depending on the verifier organisation's free allowance, a completed check may need payment before its result is released.