Commons:Checkusers/Howto

How do I become a checkuser?

Wikimedia Foundation policy requires that all checkusers must be at least 18 years of age, of legal age in their place of residence, and willing to provide identification to the Wikimedia Foundation.

Checkuser permission is only granted to users after very careful consideration by the community. This is a highly sensitive role and approval is not given lightly. If you are considering applying, you should first liaise with existing Commons checkusers and ask for their opinion.

For a request to succeed a minimum of 25 support votes and an 80% positive vote are required (subject to the normal bureaucrat discretion). Requests for checkuser run for two weeks.

According to meta policy, any user account with checkuser status that is inactive for more than a year will have their checkuser access removed.

Commons must always have no fewer than two checkusers, for mutual accountability. If due to retirement of an existing checkuser only one is left, either another must be appointed immediately or the sole checkuser will also lose the permission; in such a case, checkuser requests would then have to be handled by a steward.

The request for checkusership

When you are ready you can apply, or ask your nominator to apply, on Commons:Checkusers.