New Starlink rules mandate passport verification and “Live Portrait” for use abroad. The Starlink.com site now mentions a new one travel registration policy, intended for users who use satellite internet outside the country where the account was originally registered.
According to the Starlink support page, the travel registration procedure is mandatory for every use of the Starlink service outside the registered home country or territory. The company states that customers who do not complete registration for international travel may be without service while abroad.
The procedure requires the entry of full name, citizenship, date of birth, passport number, passport copy and “live portrait” photo. If the service has already been deactivated due to incomplete verification, Starlink states that the user can complete the registration and reactivate access.
Starlink introduces verification for international use
The new rules were noticed after some Starlink subscribers started reporting a red alert in the app, asking for passport details and live portrait verification. That process involves taking a selfie through the Starlink application, and the message states that the registration must be completed within 25 days so that the service is not deactivated.
Last year, SpaceX requested user verification in certain countries, especially in some African markets, citing local regulations. However, the new warnings are now also appearing for users in the US, Canada and Australia, causing further confusion.
One user from Canada stated that he has never traveled outside the country, but received an explanation from support that verification is required because he uses the Starlink Mini, a portable antenna that can work with a Roam plan and supports international use.
It’s possible that SpaceX is trying to limit abuse of its satellite network, which is available in more than 150 markets. Starlink Roam allows use in supported countries for up to 60 days per trip, but in previous years there have been cases of Starlink equipment being used in illegal activities and military zones.
Although the new travel registration policy may reduce the risk for Starlink, it raises practical questions for users without passports. Part of the users also wonder if the warning is legitimate or an attempt at fraud, because it asks for very sensitive personal data, reports PCMag.