Traditional identity verification providers (such as Sumsub, Persona, or Peleza) charge businesses for every single verification attempt—meaning you pay full price even if a user uploads a blurry photo, submits a fraudulent ID, or closes their browser tab halfway through the process.
Nyota ID eliminates verification waste through an automated Atomic Hold-and-Settlement Engine: you are billed strictly when a verification check completes successfully. If a check is declined, abandoned, or times out, you pay KSh 0.00.
1. How It Works Under the Hood
When your application initiates a verification check, funds move through three distinct financial stages:
1. SESSION INITIATION (Credit Hold Placed)
Client calls verification API -> Nyota places a temporary reserve hold
on your workspace wallet (KES 150 for KYC / KES 500 for KYB).
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2. END-USER VERIFICATION EXECUTION
User completes document OCR capture and 3D passive liveness check.
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┌───────────────┴───────────────┐
▼ ▼
[APPROVED / VERIFIED] [DECLINED / ABANDONED / EXPIRED]
Verification succeeds. User fails liveness, submits fake ID,
Hold is committed. or closes tab.
Permanent wallet debit. HOLD IS RELEASED IN FULL TO WALLET.
(Cost: KES 150 / KES 500) (NET COST: KSH 0.00)2. The 3 Outcomes Where You Pay KSh 0.00
Your workspace wallet is protected across all non-successful verification scenarios:
- Declined Verifications (Failed Checks):
If an applicant submits an expired passport, fails the 3D passive liveness biometric test, or provides an ID that does not match government database records, the verification verdict is marked asdeclined. The temporary hold is instantly released back to your active balance. - Abandoned Sessions (User Drops Off):
If a user opens the verification link but closes the tab without submitting their documents, no debit occurs. - Expired Sessions (24-Hour Timeout):
Verification links remain valid for 24 hours. If a user never completes the flow, an automated background sweeper expires the session and unlocks your reserved funds automatically.
3. Financial Comparison: Traditional KYC vs. Nyota ID
Let’s evaluate the verification spend for an onboarding campaign with 1,000 applicants (where 30% drop off or fail verification):
Metric / Scenario | Traditional KYC Providers | Nyota ID Verification |
Total Applicants Initiated | 1,000 sessions | 1,000 sessions |
Approved Verifications (70%) | 700 users | 700 users |
Declined / Abandoned (30%) | 300 users | 300 users |
Billing Policy on 300 Failed Checks | Billed at full price (300 × KSh 150 = KSh 45,000 wasted) | Charged KSh 0.00 (All 300 holds released) |
4. How to Monitor Active Holds in Your Console
You can view your real-time wallet breakdown at any time:
- Log in to accounts.nyotaimara.com/billing.
- In the top Balance Overview card, you will see two numbers:
- Available Balance: Funds ready for new API checks, SMS dispatches, or storage renewals.
- Reserved Balance (Holds): Temporary funds held for active, in-progress verification sessions.
- As soon as active sessions conclude or expire, the reserved balance settles into either a completed debit or returns to your available balance.
5. Common Pitfalls & Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my available wallet balance decrease as soon as I create a session?
To guarantee that funds are available when an approved check completes, Nyota ID places a temporary reservation hold at session creation. If the check is declined or abandoned, that exact hold is unlocked and restored to your available balance.
What happens if a session remains pending for more than 24 hours?
Nyota runs an automated reconciliation service every hour. Any session older than 24 hours without a final decision is automatically expired, and its credit hold is released back to your wallet.
Where can I find complete API integration endpoints and code tutorials?
For full SDK installation instructions, code snippets, and webhook implementation guides, visit the official Nyota ID Developer Documentation.