> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.methodfi.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# The entity verification sessions endpoint

The Entity Verification Sessions manages phone and identity verification sessions for Entities.
Entities need to verify their identity and/or phone in order for them to be used throughout the Method API.

#### Verification Requirements

Entity verification requirements differ on a team-by-team basis. A team's unique verification process is pre-defined
during onboarding based on your team’s specific use case. Contact your Method CSM for more information.

The `method` key in `entity.verification` object will enumerate the phone & identity verifications available for your Entity.
Refer to the [Entity Object](https://docs.methodfi.com/2026-03-30/reference/entities/overview.md).

> [!WARNING]
>
> Any Entity Verification Session will expire 10 minutes after creation. If the
> verification is not completed within that time limit, another verification
> session will need to be created.

## Entity Verification Session Objects

## Additional Properties based on method

> [tab] sms

> [tab] sna

> [tab] byo\_sms

> [tab] byo\_kyc

> [tab] element

## Verification Methods

| Method | Description |
| - | - |
| `sms` | SMS is used to verify the Entity's phone number by sending a SMS code and expecting to receive that same SMS code back to verify the phone. |
| `sna` | [Silent Network Auth (SNA)](https://www.twilio.com/en-us/blog/silent-network-authentication-sna-overview) is an authentication method to confirm an Entity's phone number in the background without requiring the user to wait or leave the app. |
| `byo_sms` | Bring-Your-Own SMS (BYO SMS) means the Entity's phone number has already been verified via a non-Method provider. Skipping phone verification requirement. |
| `byo_kyc` | Bring-Your-Own Know-Your-Consumer (BYO KYC) means the Entity's identity has already been verified via a non-Method provider. Skipping identity verification requirement. |
| `element` | Verification has been done using a [Method Element](https://docs.methodfi.com/2026-03-30/reference/elements/overview.md). |
| `method_verified` | Method has already verified the PII provided. |

## Webhook Payload

The [Webhook](https://docs.methodfi.com/2026-03-30/reference/webhooks/overview.md) payload will contain the following information:

```json theme={null}
{
  "id": "string",
  "type": "entity_verification_sessions.create" | "entity_verification_sessions.update",
  "path": "/entities/<ent_id>/verification_sessions/<evf_id>"
}
```

```json SMS theme={null}
{
  "id": "evf_3VT3bHTCnPbrm",
  "entity_id": "ent_XgYkTdiHyaz3e",
  "status": "verified",
  "type": "phone",
  "method": "sms",
  "sms": {
    "timestamp": "2024-02-25T20:02:09.718Z"
  },
  "error": null,
  "created_at": "2024-04-10T16:40:16.271Z",
  "updated_at": "2024-04-10T16:40:16.271Z"
}
```

```json SNA theme={null}
{
  "id": "evf_qTNNzCQ63zHJ9",
  "entity_id": "ent_BYdNCVApmp7Gx",
  "status": "verified",
  "type": "phone",
  "method": "sna",
  "sna": {
    "urls": [
      "https://production.methodfi.com/sna/evf_qTNNzCQ63zHJ9/sna_vrf_yAJRRk8djWLc8",
      "https://production.methodfi.com/sna/evf_qTNNzCQ63zHJ9/sna_vrf_8AhxN68kpkHmL"
    ]
  },
  "error": null,
  "created_at": "2024-04-10T22:15:57.874Z",
  "updated_at": "2024-04-10T22:15:57.874Z"
}
```

```json BYO SMS theme={null}
{
  "id": "evf_atWDtnMW9rnRA",
  "entity_id": "ent_au22b1fbFJbp8",
  "status": "verified",
  "type": "phone",
  "method": "byo_sms",
  "byo_sms": {
    "timestamp": "2024-02-25T20:02:09.718Z"
  },
  "error": null,
  "created_at": "2024-02-27T20:02:09.718Z",
  "updated_at": "2024-02-27T20:02:09.718Z"
}
```

```json BYO KYC theme={null}
{
  "id": "evf_atWDtnMW9rnRA",
  "entity_id": "ent_au22b1fbFJbp8",
  "status": "verified",
  "type": "identity",
  "method": "byo_kyc",
  "byo_kyc": {
    "authenticated": true
  },
  "error": null,
  "created_at": "2024-02-27T20:02:09.718Z",
  "updated_at": "2024-02-27T20:02:09.718Z"
}
```

```json Method Element (phone) theme={null}
{
  "id": "evf_atWDtnMW9rnRA",
  "entity_id": "ent_au22b1fbFJbp8",
  "status": "verified",
  "type": "phone",
  "method": "element",
  "element": {
    "element_token": "pk_elem_Y7xDijceWHjjpr8aK8bBTynwFDWbRayL",
    "type": "auth",
    "timestamp": "2024-04-11T19:39:54.735Z"
  },
  "error": null,
  "created_at": "2024-04-11T19:39:54.735Z",
  "updated_at": "2024-04-11T19:39:54.735Z"
}
```

```json Method Element (identity) theme={null}
{
  "id": "evf_atWDtnMW9rnRA",
  "entity_id": "ent_au22b1fbFJbp8",
  "status": "verified",
  "type": "identity",
  "method": "element",
  "element": {
    "element_token": "pk_elem_twaUUGYVMzUhQ8c7rw7PtDejAh7qQAgR",
    "type": "auth",
    "questions": [],
    "authenticated": true
  },
  "error": null,
  "created_at": "2024-04-11T19:39:54.735Z",
  "updated_at": "2024-04-11T19:39:54.735Z"
}
```

```json Method Verified (phone) theme={null}
{
  "id": "evf_rUPmzpwXmrQGc",
  "entity_id": "ent_cPfexykKCAiiL",
  "status": "verified",
  "type": "phone",
  "method": "method_verified",
  "error": null,
  "created_at": "2024-04-11T19:46:40.931Z",
  "updated_at": "2024-04-11T19:46:40.931Z"
}
```

```json Method Verified (identity) theme={null}
{
  "id": "evf_rUPmzpwXmrQGc",
  "entity_id": "ent_cPfexykKCAiiL",
  "status": "verified",
  "type": "identity",
  "method": "method_verified",
  "error": null,
  "created_at": "2024-04-11T19:46:40.931Z",
  "updated_at": "2024-04-11T19:46:40.931Z"
}
```


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