Instant Check-In & Check Out for Returning Visitors

Modified on Mon, 10 Aug at 1:28 AM

Visitly recognizes returning visitors automatically and lets them check in with a single tap, skipping the full check in flow when their details are valid.

How It Works:

Visitly identifies a returning visitor through facial recognition or an email/phone lookup, then checks their visitor type, signed documents, and required videos in the background.
If everything is still valid and nothing has changed since the visitor's last visit, It shows a confirmation card instead of the full check-in flow.
If one detail has changed, It asks the visitor to update only that detail — not the entire flow.
A privacy policy consent step appears based on the location configuration , regardless of how the visitor is identified.

Check In as Returning Visitor:

Step 1: Start Check-In on the Kiosk

On the kiosk home screen, tap the Sign-in button.

Step 2: Verify the Identity

With facial recognition:
Visitors are asked for facial recognition, when it is enabled for identity verification. To enable facial recognition, read this help article.

The camera opens automatically and recognizes the visitor's face.
The visitor's record is matched, their confirmation page appears immediately — no other steps are needed.

With email or phone number:

Visitors are asked to enter their email or phone number when it is enabled for them.

The visitor selects 'I'm a returning visitor'.
The visitor enters the email address or phone number used on their last visit and taps Next.

Step 3: Confirm the Visit

Once identified, the visitor's confirmation card shows their name and photo, their host, and the date and time of their last visit.

Tap Quick Check-In to complete the visit instantly using the details shown.
Tap Review & Update details if anything about the visit has changed.
Tap Start a New Check-In if the visitor was identified incorrectly or needs to begin a fresh check-in.

Note: While checking in with email or phone number, visitor is asked to capture a photo based on the visitor type's settings configuration.

Check Out as a Returning Visitor

Signing out is just as fast as checking in — Visitly recognizes any valid QR code and handles the rest automatically.

Visitly recognizes several different types of QR codes, and the same Smart QR Scanning applies no matter which one a visitor or employee uses:

Badge QR — the QR code printed on a visitor's badge from a previous visit
Pre-Registration QR — the QR code included in a visitor's pre-registration invitation email
SmartPass — the wallet-based pass added to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, which updates automatically as a visitor moves through their visit
Visitly Pass — a wallet-based QR pass issued after a visitor's first visit, valid for the expiration window your organization has configured
Employee QR — used by employees to sign in and out, separate from visitor QR codes

Smart QR Scanning

Visitly automatically detects which of these QR codes was scanned, and whether it's meant for check-in or check-out — so visitors and employees don't need to find the right screen themselves before scanning. This works across:

Home Screen
Facial Recognition Screen
Full Name Screen
Returning Visitor Screen
Sign-out Facial Recognition Screen
Manual Sign-out Screen

Scan & Go Sign-Out

To sign out, simply scan any of the QR codes above — no extra taps and no manual confirmation needed. As soon as the code is recognized, Visitly signs the visitor or employee out automatically.

When You'll See the Full Check-In Flow Instead

Instant check-in only asks for a single updated detail — it doesn't require the full flow — when just one of the following has changed since the visitor's last visit:

Their visitor type has changed.
A signed document has expired or a new one is required.
A required video has expired or a new one is required.
A required field for their visitor type is missing.

Once the visitor updates that detail, they return to their confirmation page to finish checking in.

The full check-in f appears only if Visitly can't match the visitor to a prior visit at all — for example, if facial recognition doesn't find a match and no email or phone number is provided.

Troubleshooting

The kiosk camera doesn't recognize my face.
Confirm the visitor has a photo on file from a previous visit and that lighting at the kiosk is adequate. If recognition continues to fail, the visitor can select I'm a returning visitor and use email or phone lookup instead.

The email or phone number lookup can't find my last visit.
Confirm the visitor is entering the exact email address or phone number used on their previous visit. If the visitor used a different contact method last time, they'll need to check in as a first-time visitor.

The confirmation card shows the wrong name, host, or visit history.
The visitor should tap on Update the details to update their details.