Identity proofing

Identity proofing is "[t]he process of providing sufficient information (e.g., identity history, credentials, documents) to a service provider for the purpose of proving that a person or object is the same person or object it claims to be."

Source
The White House, (Draft) National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace: Creating Options for Enhanced Online Security and Privacy 33 (June 25, 2010).