diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 4a148057..e4e923db 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -16,3 +16,5 @@
 | 2026-02-24 | 0.1.11 | Added frontend-ready core API guide and linked M4 API catalog to it as source of truth for consumption. |
 | 2026-02-24 | 0.1.12 | Reduced M4 API docs to core-only scope and removed command-route references until command implementation is complete. |
 | 2026-02-24 | 0.1.13 | Added verification architecture contract with endpoint design and workflow split for attire, government ID, and certification. |
+| 2026-02-24 | 0.1.14 | Implemented core verification endpoints in dev and updated frontend/API docs with live verification route contracts. |
+| 2026-02-24 | 0.1.15 | Added live Vertex Flash Lite attire verification path and third-party adapter scaffolding for government ID and certification checks. |
diff --git a/backend/core-api/src/contracts/core/create-verification.js b/backend/core-api/src/contracts/core/create-verification.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ee03d8ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/core-api/src/contracts/core/create-verification.js
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+import { z } from 'zod';
+
+export const createVerificationSchema = z.object({
+  type: z.enum(['attire', 'government_id', 'certification']),
+  subjectType: z.string().min(1).max(80).optional(),
+  subjectId: z.string().min(1).max(120).optional(),
+  fileUri: z.string().startsWith('gs://', 'fileUri must start with gs://'),
+  rules: z.record(z.any()).optional().default({}),
+  metadata: z.record(z.any()).optional().default({}),
+});
diff --git a/backend/core-api/src/contracts/core/review-verification.js b/backend/core-api/src/contracts/core/review-verification.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1fb2a56c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/core-api/src/contracts/core/review-verification.js
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+import { z } from 'zod';
+
+export const reviewVerificationSchema = z.object({
+  decision: z.enum(['APPROVED', 'REJECTED']),
+  note: z.string().max(1000).optional().default(''),
+  reasonCode: z.string().max(100).optional().default('MANUAL_REVIEW'),
+});
diff --git a/backend/core-api/src/routes/core.js b/backend/core-api/src/routes/core.js
index d73b0170..f9d22ef7 100644
--- a/backend/core-api/src/routes/core.js
+++ b/backend/core-api/src/routes/core.js
@@ -4,10 +4,23 @@ import { z } from 'zod';
 import { AppError } from '../lib/errors.js';
 import { requireAuth, requirePolicy } from '../middleware/auth.js';
 import { createSignedUrlSchema } from '../contracts/core/create-signed-url.js';
+import { createVerificationSchema } from '../contracts/core/create-verification.js';
 import { invokeLlmSchema } from '../contracts/core/invoke-llm.js';
+import { reviewVerificationSchema } from '../contracts/core/review-verification.js';
 import { invokeVertexModel } from '../services/llm.js';
 import { checkLlmRateLimit } from '../services/llm-rate-limit.js';
-import { generateReadSignedUrl, uploadToGcs, validateFileUriAccess } from '../services/storage.js';
+import {
+  ensureFileExistsForActor,
+  generateReadSignedUrl,
+  uploadToGcs,
+  validateFileUriAccess,
+} from '../services/storage.js';
+import {
+  createVerificationJob,
+  getVerificationJob,
+  retryVerificationJob,
+  reviewVerificationJob,
+} from '../services/verification-jobs.js';
 
 const DEFAULT_MAX_FILE_BYTES = 10 * 1024 * 1024;
 const DEFAULT_MAX_SIGNED_URL_SECONDS = 900;
@@ -42,6 +55,10 @@ function useMockUpload() {
   return process.env.UPLOAD_MOCK !== 'false';
 }
 
+function requireVerificationFileExists() {
+  return process.env.VERIFICATION_REQUIRE_FILE_EXISTS !== 'false';
+}
+
 function parseBody(schema, body) {
   const parsed = schema.safeParse(body);
   if (!parsed.success) {
@@ -177,12 +194,84 @@ async function handleInvokeLlm(req, res, next) {
   }
 }
 
+async function handleCreateVerification(req, res, next) {
+  try {
+    const payload = parseBody(createVerificationSchema, req.body || {});
+    validateFileUriAccess({
+      fileUri: payload.fileUri,
+      actorUid: req.actor.uid,
+    });
+
+    if (requireVerificationFileExists() && !useMockUpload()) {
+      await ensureFileExistsForActor({
+        fileUri: payload.fileUri,
+        actorUid: req.actor.uid,
+      });
+    }
+
+    const created = createVerificationJob({
+      actorUid: req.actor.uid,
+      payload,
+    });
+    return res.status(202).json({
+      ...created,
+      requestId: req.requestId,
+    });
+  } catch (error) {
+    return next(error);
+  }
+}
+
+async function handleGetVerification(req, res, next) {
+  try {
+    const verificationId = req.params.verificationId;
+    const job = getVerificationJob(verificationId, req.actor.uid);
+    return res.status(200).json({
+      ...job,
+      requestId: req.requestId,
+    });
+  } catch (error) {
+    return next(error);
+  }
+}
+
+async function handleReviewVerification(req, res, next) {
+  try {
+    const verificationId = req.params.verificationId;
+    const payload = parseBody(reviewVerificationSchema, req.body || {});
+    const updated = reviewVerificationJob(verificationId, req.actor.uid, payload);
+    return res.status(200).json({
+      ...updated,
+      requestId: req.requestId,
+    });
+  } catch (error) {
+    return next(error);
+  }
+}
+
+async function handleRetryVerification(req, res, next) {
+  try {
+    const verificationId = req.params.verificationId;
+    const updated = retryVerificationJob(verificationId, req.actor.uid);
+    return res.status(202).json({
+      ...updated,
+      requestId: req.requestId,
+    });
+  } catch (error) {
+    return next(error);
+  }
+}
+
 export function createCoreRouter() {
   const router = Router();
 
   router.post('/upload-file', requireAuth, requirePolicy('core.upload', 'file'), upload.single('file'), handleUploadFile);
   router.post('/create-signed-url', requireAuth, requirePolicy('core.sign-url', 'file'), handleCreateSignedUrl);
   router.post('/invoke-llm', requireAuth, requirePolicy('core.invoke-llm', 'model'), handleInvokeLlm);
+  router.post('/verifications', requireAuth, requirePolicy('core.verification.create', 'verification'), handleCreateVerification);
+  router.get('/verifications/:verificationId', requireAuth, requirePolicy('core.verification.read', 'verification'), handleGetVerification);
+  router.post('/verifications/:verificationId/review', requireAuth, requirePolicy('core.verification.review', 'verification'), handleReviewVerification);
+  router.post('/verifications/:verificationId/retry', requireAuth, requirePolicy('core.verification.retry', 'verification'), handleRetryVerification);
 
   return router;
 }
diff --git a/backend/core-api/src/services/llm.js b/backend/core-api/src/services/llm.js
index 31d8b17e..19c90862 100644
--- a/backend/core-api/src/services/llm.js
+++ b/backend/core-api/src/services/llm.js
@@ -35,14 +35,34 @@ function toTextFromCandidate(candidate) {
     .trim();
 }
 
-export async function invokeVertexModel({ prompt, responseJsonSchema, fileUrls = [] }) {
-  const { project, location } = buildVertexConfig();
-  const model = process.env.LLM_MODEL || 'gemini-2.0-flash-001';
-  const timeoutMs = Number.parseInt(process.env.LLM_TIMEOUT_MS || '20000', 10);
+function withJsonSchemaInstruction(prompt, responseJsonSchema) {
   const schemaText = JSON.stringify(responseJsonSchema);
-  const fileContext = fileUrls.length > 0 ? `\nFiles:\n${fileUrls.join('\n')}` : '';
-  const instruction = `Respond with strict JSON only. Follow this schema exactly:\n${schemaText}`;
-  const textPrompt = `${prompt}\n\n${instruction}${fileContext}`;
+  return `${prompt}\n\nRespond with strict JSON only. Follow this schema exactly:\n${schemaText}`;
+}
+
+function guessMimeTypeFromUri(fileUri) {
+  const path = fileUri.split('?')[0].toLowerCase();
+  if (path.endsWith('.jpg') || path.endsWith('.jpeg')) return 'image/jpeg';
+  if (path.endsWith('.png')) return 'image/png';
+  if (path.endsWith('.pdf')) return 'application/pdf';
+  return 'application/octet-stream';
+}
+
+function buildMultimodalParts(prompt, fileUris = []) {
+  const parts = [{ text: prompt }];
+  for (const fileUri of fileUris) {
+    parts.push({
+      fileData: {
+        fileUri,
+        mimeType: guessMimeTypeFromUri(fileUri),
+      },
+    });
+  }
+  return parts;
+}
+
+async function callVertexJsonModel({ model, timeoutMs, parts }) {
+  const { project, location } = buildVertexConfig();
   const url = `https://${location}-aiplatform.googleapis.com/v1/projects/${project}/locations/${location}/publishers/google/models/${model}:generateContent`;
   const auth = new GoogleAuth({
     scopes: ['https://www.googleapis.com/auth/cloud-platform'],
@@ -56,7 +76,7 @@ export async function invokeVertexModel({ prompt, responseJsonSchema, fileUrls =
         url,
         method: 'POST',
         data: {
-          contents: [{ role: 'user', parts: [{ text: textPrompt }] }],
+          contents: [{ role: 'user', parts }],
           generationConfig: {
             temperature: 0.2,
             responseMimeType: 'application/json',
@@ -91,3 +111,35 @@ export async function invokeVertexModel({ prompt, responseJsonSchema, fileUrls =
     };
   }
 }
+
+export async function invokeVertexModel({ prompt, responseJsonSchema, fileUrls = [] }) {
+  const model = process.env.LLM_MODEL || 'gemini-2.0-flash-001';
+  const timeoutMs = Number.parseInt(process.env.LLM_TIMEOUT_MS || '20000', 10);
+  const promptWithSchema = withJsonSchemaInstruction(prompt, responseJsonSchema);
+  const fileContext = fileUrls.length > 0 ? `\nFiles:\n${fileUrls.join('\n')}` : '';
+  return callVertexJsonModel({
+    model,
+    timeoutMs,
+    parts: [{ text: `${promptWithSchema}${fileContext}` }],
+  });
+}
+
+export async function invokeVertexMultimodalModel({
+  prompt,
+  responseJsonSchema,
+  fileUris = [],
+  model,
+  timeoutMs,
+}) {
+  const resolvedModel = model || process.env.LLM_MODEL || 'gemini-2.0-flash-001';
+  const resolvedTimeoutMs = Number.parseInt(
+    `${timeoutMs || process.env.LLM_TIMEOUT_MS || '20000'}`,
+    10
+  );
+  const promptWithSchema = withJsonSchemaInstruction(prompt, responseJsonSchema);
+  return callVertexJsonModel({
+    model: resolvedModel,
+    timeoutMs: resolvedTimeoutMs,
+    parts: buildMultimodalParts(promptWithSchema, fileUris),
+  });
+}
diff --git a/backend/core-api/src/services/storage.js b/backend/core-api/src/services/storage.js
index da0dd382..3dcfc2d7 100644
--- a/backend/core-api/src/services/storage.js
+++ b/backend/core-api/src/services/storage.js
@@ -72,3 +72,12 @@ export async function generateReadSignedUrl({ fileUri, actorUid, expiresInSecond
     expiresAt: new Date(expiresAtMs).toISOString(),
   };
 }
+
+export async function ensureFileExistsForActor({ fileUri, actorUid }) {
+  const { bucket, path } = validateFileUriAccess({ fileUri, actorUid });
+  const file = storage.bucket(bucket).file(path);
+  const [exists] = await file.exists();
+  if (!exists) {
+    throw new AppError('NOT_FOUND', 'Evidence file not found', 404, { fileUri });
+  }
+}
diff --git a/backend/core-api/src/services/verification-jobs.js b/backend/core-api/src/services/verification-jobs.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5ffe44bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/core-api/src/services/verification-jobs.js
@@ -0,0 +1,510 @@
+import crypto from 'node:crypto';
+import { AppError } from '../lib/errors.js';
+import { invokeVertexMultimodalModel } from './llm.js';
+
+const jobs = new Map();
+
+export const VerificationStatus = Object.freeze({
+  PENDING: 'PENDING',
+  PROCESSING: 'PROCESSING',
+  AUTO_PASS: 'AUTO_PASS',
+  AUTO_FAIL: 'AUTO_FAIL',
+  NEEDS_REVIEW: 'NEEDS_REVIEW',
+  APPROVED: 'APPROVED',
+  REJECTED: 'REJECTED',
+  ERROR: 'ERROR',
+});
+
+const MACHINE_TERMINAL_STATUSES = new Set([
+  VerificationStatus.AUTO_PASS,
+  VerificationStatus.AUTO_FAIL,
+  VerificationStatus.NEEDS_REVIEW,
+  VerificationStatus.ERROR,
+]);
+
+const HUMAN_TERMINAL_STATUSES = new Set([
+  VerificationStatus.APPROVED,
+  VerificationStatus.REJECTED,
+]);
+
+function nowIso() {
+  return new Date().toISOString();
+}
+
+function accessMode() {
+  return process.env.VERIFICATION_ACCESS_MODE || 'authenticated';
+}
+
+function eventRecord({ fromStatus, toStatus, actorType, actorId, details = {} }) {
+  return {
+    id: crypto.randomUUID(),
+    fromStatus,
+    toStatus,
+    actorType,
+    actorId,
+    details,
+    createdAt: nowIso(),
+  };
+}
+
+function toPublicJob(job) {
+  return {
+    verificationId: job.id,
+    type: job.type,
+    subjectType: job.subjectType,
+    subjectId: job.subjectId,
+    fileUri: job.fileUri,
+    status: job.status,
+    confidence: job.confidence,
+    reasons: job.reasons,
+    extracted: job.extracted,
+    provider: job.provider,
+    review: job.review,
+    createdAt: job.createdAt,
+    updatedAt: job.updatedAt,
+  };
+}
+
+function assertAccess(job, actorUid) {
+  if (accessMode() === 'authenticated') {
+    return;
+  }
+  if (job.ownerUid !== actorUid) {
+    throw new AppError('FORBIDDEN', 'Not allowed to access this verification', 403);
+  }
+}
+
+function requireJob(id) {
+  const job = jobs.get(id);
+  if (!job) {
+    throw new AppError('NOT_FOUND', 'Verification not found', 404, { verificationId: id });
+  }
+  return job;
+}
+
+function normalizeMachineStatus(status) {
+  if (
+    status === VerificationStatus.AUTO_PASS
+    || status === VerificationStatus.AUTO_FAIL
+    || status === VerificationStatus.NEEDS_REVIEW
+  ) {
+    return status;
+  }
+  return VerificationStatus.NEEDS_REVIEW;
+}
+
+function clampConfidence(value, fallback = 0.5) {
+  const parsed = Number(value);
+  if (!Number.isFinite(parsed)) return fallback;
+  if (parsed < 0) return 0;
+  if (parsed > 1) return 1;
+  return parsed;
+}
+
+function asReasonList(reasons, fallback) {
+  if (Array.isArray(reasons) && reasons.length > 0) {
+    return reasons.map((item) => `${item}`);
+  }
+  return [fallback];
+}
+
+function providerTimeoutMs() {
+  return Number.parseInt(process.env.VERIFICATION_PROVIDER_TIMEOUT_MS || '8000', 10);
+}
+
+function attireModel() {
+  return process.env.VERIFICATION_ATTIRE_MODEL || 'gemini-2.0-flash-lite-001';
+}
+
+async function runAttireChecks(job) {
+  if (process.env.VERIFICATION_ATTIRE_AUTOPASS === 'true') {
+    return {
+      status: VerificationStatus.AUTO_PASS,
+      confidence: 0.8,
+      reasons: ['Auto-pass mode enabled for attire in dev'],
+      extracted: {
+        expected: job.rules,
+      },
+      provider: {
+        name: 'attire-auto-pass',
+        reference: null,
+      },
+    };
+  }
+
+  const attireProvider = process.env.VERIFICATION_ATTIRE_PROVIDER || 'vertex';
+  if (attireProvider !== 'vertex') {
+    return {
+      status: VerificationStatus.NEEDS_REVIEW,
+      confidence: 0.45,
+      reasons: [`Attire provider '${attireProvider}' is not supported`],
+      extracted: {
+        expected: job.rules,
+      },
+      provider: {
+        name: attireProvider,
+        reference: null,
+      },
+    };
+  }
+
+  try {
+    const prompt = [
+      'You are validating worker attire evidence.',
+      `Rules: ${JSON.stringify(job.rules || {})}`,
+      'Return AUTO_PASS only when the image clearly matches required attire.',
+      'Return AUTO_FAIL when the image clearly violates required attire.',
+      'Return NEEDS_REVIEW when uncertain.',
+    ].join('\n');
+
+    const schema = {
+      type: 'object',
+      properties: {
+        status: { type: 'string' },
+        confidence: { type: 'number' },
+        reasons: {
+          type: 'array',
+          items: { type: 'string' },
+        },
+        extracted: {
+          type: 'object',
+          additionalProperties: true,
+        },
+      },
+      required: ['status', 'confidence', 'reasons'],
+    };
+
+    const modelOutput = await invokeVertexMultimodalModel({
+      prompt,
+      responseJsonSchema: schema,
+      fileUris: [job.fileUri],
+      model: attireModel(),
+      timeoutMs: providerTimeoutMs(),
+    });
+
+    const result = modelOutput?.result || {};
+    return {
+      status: normalizeMachineStatus(result.status),
+      confidence: clampConfidence(result.confidence, 0.6),
+      reasons: asReasonList(result.reasons, 'Attire check completed'),
+      extracted: result.extracted || {},
+      provider: {
+        name: 'vertex-attire',
+        reference: modelOutput?.model || attireModel(),
+      },
+    };
+  } catch (error) {
+    return {
+      status: VerificationStatus.NEEDS_REVIEW,
+      confidence: 0.35,
+      reasons: ['Automatic attire check unavailable, manual review required'],
+      extracted: {},
+      provider: {
+        name: 'vertex-attire',
+        reference: `error:${error?.code || 'unknown'}`,
+      },
+    };
+  }
+}
+
+function getProviderConfig(type) {
+  if (type === 'government_id') {
+    return {
+      name: 'government-id-provider',
+      url: process.env.VERIFICATION_GOV_ID_PROVIDER_URL,
+      token: process.env.VERIFICATION_GOV_ID_PROVIDER_TOKEN,
+    };
+  }
+  return {
+    name: 'certification-provider',
+    url: process.env.VERIFICATION_CERT_PROVIDER_URL,
+    token: process.env.VERIFICATION_CERT_PROVIDER_TOKEN,
+  };
+}
+
+async function runThirdPartyChecks(job, type) {
+  const provider = getProviderConfig(type);
+  if (!provider.url) {
+    return {
+      status: VerificationStatus.NEEDS_REVIEW,
+      confidence: 0.4,
+      reasons: [`${provider.name} is not configured`],
+      extracted: {},
+      provider: {
+        name: provider.name,
+        reference: null,
+      },
+    };
+  }
+
+  const controller = new AbortController();
+  const timeout = setTimeout(() => controller.abort(), providerTimeoutMs());
+
+  try {
+    const response = await fetch(provider.url, {
+      method: 'POST',
+      headers: {
+        'Content-Type': 'application/json',
+        ...(provider.token ? { Authorization: `Bearer ${provider.token}` } : {}),
+      },
+      body: JSON.stringify({
+        type,
+        subjectType: job.subjectType,
+        subjectId: job.subjectId,
+        fileUri: job.fileUri,
+        rules: job.rules,
+        metadata: job.metadata,
+      }),
+      signal: controller.signal,
+    });
+
+    const bodyText = await response.text();
+    let body = {};
+    try {
+      body = bodyText ? JSON.parse(bodyText) : {};
+    } catch {
+      body = {};
+    }
+
+    if (!response.ok) {
+      return {
+        status: VerificationStatus.NEEDS_REVIEW,
+        confidence: 0.35,
+        reasons: [`${provider.name} returned ${response.status}`],
+        extracted: {},
+        provider: {
+          name: provider.name,
+          reference: body?.reference || null,
+        },
+      };
+    }
+
+    return {
+      status: normalizeMachineStatus(body.status),
+      confidence: clampConfidence(body.confidence, 0.6),
+      reasons: asReasonList(body.reasons, `${provider.name} completed check`),
+      extracted: body.extracted || {},
+      provider: {
+        name: provider.name,
+        reference: body.reference || null,
+      },
+    };
+  } catch (error) {
+    const isAbort = error?.name === 'AbortError';
+    return {
+      status: VerificationStatus.NEEDS_REVIEW,
+      confidence: 0.3,
+      reasons: [
+        isAbort
+          ? `${provider.name} timeout, manual review required`
+          : `${provider.name} unavailable, manual review required`,
+      ],
+      extracted: {},
+      provider: {
+        name: provider.name,
+        reference: null,
+      },
+    };
+  } finally {
+    clearTimeout(timeout);
+  }
+}
+
+async function runMachineChecks(job) {
+  if (job.type === 'attire') {
+    return runAttireChecks(job);
+  }
+
+  if (job.type === 'government_id') {
+    return runThirdPartyChecks(job, 'government_id');
+  }
+
+  return runThirdPartyChecks(job, 'certification');
+}
+
+async function processVerificationJob(id) {
+  const job = requireJob(id);
+  if (job.status !== VerificationStatus.PENDING) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const beforeProcessing = job.status;
+  job.status = VerificationStatus.PROCESSING;
+  job.updatedAt = nowIso();
+  job.events.push(
+    eventRecord({
+      fromStatus: beforeProcessing,
+      toStatus: VerificationStatus.PROCESSING,
+      actorType: 'system',
+      actorId: 'verification-worker',
+    })
+  );
+
+  try {
+    const outcome = await runMachineChecks(job);
+    if (!MACHINE_TERMINAL_STATUSES.has(outcome.status)) {
+      throw new Error(`Invalid machine outcome status: ${outcome.status}`);
+    }
+    const fromStatus = job.status;
+    job.status = outcome.status;
+    job.confidence = outcome.confidence;
+    job.reasons = outcome.reasons;
+    job.extracted = outcome.extracted;
+    job.provider = outcome.provider;
+    job.updatedAt = nowIso();
+    job.events.push(
+      eventRecord({
+        fromStatus,
+        toStatus: job.status,
+        actorType: 'system',
+        actorId: 'verification-worker',
+        details: {
+          confidence: job.confidence,
+          reasons: job.reasons,
+          provider: job.provider,
+        },
+      })
+    );
+  } catch (error) {
+    const fromStatus = job.status;
+    job.status = VerificationStatus.ERROR;
+    job.confidence = null;
+    job.reasons = [error?.message || 'Verification processing failed'];
+    job.extracted = {};
+    job.provider = {
+      name: 'verification-worker',
+      reference: null,
+    };
+    job.updatedAt = nowIso();
+    job.events.push(
+      eventRecord({
+        fromStatus,
+        toStatus: VerificationStatus.ERROR,
+        actorType: 'system',
+        actorId: 'verification-worker',
+        details: {
+          error: error?.message || 'Verification processing failed',
+        },
+      })
+    );
+  }
+}
+
+function queueVerificationProcessing(id) {
+  setTimeout(() => {
+    processVerificationJob(id).catch(() => {});
+  }, 0);
+}
+
+export function createVerificationJob({ actorUid, payload }) {
+  const now = nowIso();
+  const id = `ver_${crypto.randomUUID()}`;
+  const job = {
+    id,
+    type: payload.type,
+    subjectType: payload.subjectType || null,
+    subjectId: payload.subjectId || null,
+    ownerUid: actorUid,
+    fileUri: payload.fileUri,
+    rules: payload.rules || {},
+    metadata: payload.metadata || {},
+    status: VerificationStatus.PENDING,
+    confidence: null,
+    reasons: [],
+    extracted: {},
+    provider: null,
+    review: null,
+    createdAt: now,
+    updatedAt: now,
+    events: [
+      eventRecord({
+        fromStatus: null,
+        toStatus: VerificationStatus.PENDING,
+        actorType: 'system',
+        actorId: actorUid,
+      }),
+    ],
+  };
+  jobs.set(id, job);
+  queueVerificationProcessing(id);
+  return toPublicJob(job);
+}
+
+export function getVerificationJob(verificationId, actorUid) {
+  const job = requireJob(verificationId);
+  assertAccess(job, actorUid);
+  return toPublicJob(job);
+}
+
+export function reviewVerificationJob(verificationId, actorUid, review) {
+  const job = requireJob(verificationId);
+  assertAccess(job, actorUid);
+
+  if (HUMAN_TERMINAL_STATUSES.has(job.status)) {
+    throw new AppError('CONFLICT', 'Verification already finalized', 409, {
+      verificationId,
+      status: job.status,
+    });
+  }
+
+  const fromStatus = job.status;
+  job.status = review.decision;
+  job.review = {
+    decision: review.decision,
+    reviewedBy: actorUid,
+    reviewedAt: nowIso(),
+    note: review.note || '',
+    reasonCode: review.reasonCode || 'MANUAL_REVIEW',
+  };
+  job.updatedAt = nowIso();
+  job.events.push(
+    eventRecord({
+      fromStatus,
+      toStatus: job.status,
+      actorType: 'reviewer',
+      actorId: actorUid,
+      details: {
+        reasonCode: job.review.reasonCode,
+      },
+    })
+  );
+
+  return toPublicJob(job);
+}
+
+export function retryVerificationJob(verificationId, actorUid) {
+  const job = requireJob(verificationId);
+  assertAccess(job, actorUid);
+
+  if (job.status === VerificationStatus.PROCESSING) {
+    throw new AppError('CONFLICT', 'Cannot retry while verification is processing', 409, {
+      verificationId,
+    });
+  }
+
+  const fromStatus = job.status;
+  job.status = VerificationStatus.PENDING;
+  job.confidence = null;
+  job.reasons = [];
+  job.extracted = {};
+  job.provider = null;
+  job.review = null;
+  job.updatedAt = nowIso();
+  job.events.push(
+    eventRecord({
+      fromStatus,
+      toStatus: VerificationStatus.PENDING,
+      actorType: 'reviewer',
+      actorId: actorUid,
+      details: {
+        retried: true,
+      },
+    })
+  );
+  queueVerificationProcessing(verificationId);
+  return toPublicJob(job);
+}
+
+export function __resetVerificationJobsForTests() {
+  jobs.clear();
+}
diff --git a/backend/core-api/test/app.test.js b/backend/core-api/test/app.test.js
index b1cdbc0e..e12f9005 100644
--- a/backend/core-api/test/app.test.js
+++ b/backend/core-api/test/app.test.js
@@ -3,16 +3,42 @@ import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import request from 'supertest';
 import { createApp } from '../src/app.js';
 import { __resetLlmRateLimitForTests } from '../src/services/llm-rate-limit.js';
+import { __resetVerificationJobsForTests } from '../src/services/verification-jobs.js';
 
 beforeEach(() => {
   process.env.AUTH_BYPASS = 'true';
   process.env.LLM_MOCK = 'true';
   process.env.SIGNED_URL_MOCK = 'true';
+  process.env.UPLOAD_MOCK = 'true';
   process.env.MAX_SIGNED_URL_SECONDS = '900';
   process.env.LLM_RATE_LIMIT_PER_MINUTE = '20';
+  process.env.VERIFICATION_REQUIRE_FILE_EXISTS = 'false';
+  process.env.VERIFICATION_ACCESS_MODE = 'authenticated';
+  process.env.VERIFICATION_ATTIRE_PROVIDER = 'mock';
   __resetLlmRateLimitForTests();
+  __resetVerificationJobsForTests();
 });
 
+async function waitForMachineStatus(app, verificationId, maxAttempts = 30) {
+  let last;
+  for (let attempt = 0; attempt < maxAttempts; attempt += 1) {
+    last = await request(app)
+      .get(`/core/verifications/${verificationId}`)
+      .set('Authorization', 'Bearer test-token');
+    if (
+      last.body?.status === 'AUTO_PASS'
+      || last.body?.status === 'AUTO_FAIL'
+      || last.body?.status === 'NEEDS_REVIEW'
+      || last.body?.status === 'ERROR'
+    ) {
+      return last;
+    }
+    // eslint-disable-next-line no-await-in-loop
+    await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 10));
+  }
+  return last;
+}
+
 test('GET /healthz returns healthy response', async () => {
   const app = createApp();
   const res = await request(app).get('/healthz');
@@ -123,3 +149,98 @@ test('POST /core/invoke-llm enforces per-user rate limit', async () => {
   assert.equal(second.body.code, 'RATE_LIMITED');
   assert.equal(typeof second.headers['retry-after'], 'string');
 });
+
+test('POST /core/verifications creates async job and GET returns status', async () => {
+  const app = createApp();
+  const created = await request(app)
+    .post('/core/verifications')
+    .set('Authorization', 'Bearer test-token')
+    .send({
+      type: 'attire',
+      subjectType: 'staff',
+      subjectId: 'staff_1',
+      fileUri: 'gs://krow-workforce-dev-private/uploads/test-user/attire.jpg',
+      rules: { attireType: 'shoes', expectedColor: 'black' },
+    });
+
+  assert.equal(created.status, 202);
+  assert.equal(created.body.type, 'attire');
+  assert.equal(created.body.status, 'PENDING');
+  assert.equal(typeof created.body.verificationId, 'string');
+
+  const status = await waitForMachineStatus(app, created.body.verificationId);
+  assert.equal(status.status, 200);
+  assert.equal(status.body.verificationId, created.body.verificationId);
+  assert.equal(status.body.type, 'attire');
+  assert.ok(['NEEDS_REVIEW', 'AUTO_PASS', 'AUTO_FAIL', 'ERROR'].includes(status.body.status));
+});
+
+test('POST /core/verifications rejects file paths not owned by actor', async () => {
+  const app = createApp();
+  const res = await request(app)
+    .post('/core/verifications')
+    .set('Authorization', 'Bearer test-token')
+    .send({
+      type: 'attire',
+      fileUri: 'gs://krow-workforce-dev-private/uploads/other-user/not-allowed.jpg',
+      rules: { attireType: 'shoes' },
+    });
+
+  assert.equal(res.status, 403);
+  assert.equal(res.body.code, 'FORBIDDEN');
+});
+
+test('POST /core/verifications/:id/review finalizes verification', async () => {
+  const app = createApp();
+  const created = await request(app)
+    .post('/core/verifications')
+    .set('Authorization', 'Bearer test-token')
+    .send({
+      type: 'certification',
+      subjectType: 'staff',
+      subjectId: 'staff_1',
+      fileUri: 'gs://krow-workforce-dev-private/uploads/test-user/cert.pdf',
+      rules: { certType: 'food_safety' },
+    });
+
+  const status = await waitForMachineStatus(app, created.body.verificationId);
+  assert.equal(status.status, 200);
+
+  const reviewed = await request(app)
+    .post(`/core/verifications/${created.body.verificationId}/review`)
+    .set('Authorization', 'Bearer test-token')
+    .send({
+      decision: 'APPROVED',
+      note: 'Looks good',
+      reasonCode: 'MANUAL_REVIEW',
+    });
+
+  assert.equal(reviewed.status, 200);
+  assert.equal(reviewed.body.status, 'APPROVED');
+  assert.equal(reviewed.body.review.decision, 'APPROVED');
+});
+
+test('POST /core/verifications/:id/retry requeues verification', async () => {
+  const app = createApp();
+  const created = await request(app)
+    .post('/core/verifications')
+    .set('Authorization', 'Bearer test-token')
+    .send({
+      type: 'government_id',
+      subjectType: 'staff',
+      subjectId: 'staff_1',
+      fileUri: 'gs://krow-workforce-dev-private/uploads/test-user/id-front.jpg',
+      rules: {},
+    });
+
+  const status = await waitForMachineStatus(app, created.body.verificationId);
+  assert.equal(status.status, 200);
+
+  const retried = await request(app)
+    .post(`/core/verifications/${created.body.verificationId}/retry`)
+    .set('Authorization', 'Bearer test-token')
+    .send({});
+
+  assert.equal(retried.status, 202);
+  assert.equal(retried.body.status, 'PENDING');
+});
diff --git a/docs/MILESTONES/M4/planning/m4-api-catalog.md b/docs/MILESTONES/M4/planning/m4-api-catalog.md
index 50e88137..516ebf38 100644
--- a/docs/MILESTONES/M4/planning/m4-api-catalog.md
+++ b/docs/MILESTONES/M4/planning/m4-api-catalog.md
@@ -128,7 +128,83 @@ This catalog defines the currently implemented core backend contract for M4.
 - `MODEL_FAILED`
 - `RATE_LIMITED`
 
-## 3.4 Health
+## 3.4 Create verification job
+1. Method and route: `POST /core/verifications`
+2. Auth: required
+3. Request:
+```json
+{
+  "type": "attire",
+  "subjectType": "worker",
+  "subjectId": "worker_123",
+  "fileUri": "gs://krow-workforce-dev-private/uploads/<uid>/file.pdf",
+  "rules": {}
+}
+```
+4. Behavior:
+- validates `fileUri` ownership
+- requires file existence when `UPLOAD_MOCK=false` and `VERIFICATION_REQUIRE_FILE_EXISTS=true`
+- enqueues async verification
+5. Success `202`:
+```json
+{
+  "verificationId": "ver_123",
+  "status": "PENDING",
+  "type": "attire",
+  "requestId": "uuid"
+}
+```
+6. Errors:
+- `UNAUTHENTICATED`
+- `VALIDATION_ERROR`
+- `FORBIDDEN`
+- `NOT_FOUND`
+
+## 3.5 Get verification status
+1. Method and route: `GET /core/verifications/{verificationId}`
+2. Auth: required
+3. Success `200`:
+```json
+{
+  "verificationId": "ver_123",
+  "status": "NEEDS_REVIEW",
+  "type": "attire",
+  "requestId": "uuid"
+}
+```
+4. Errors:
+- `UNAUTHENTICATED`
+- `FORBIDDEN`
+- `NOT_FOUND`
+
+## 3.6 Review verification
+1. Method and route: `POST /core/verifications/{verificationId}/review`
+2. Auth: required
+3. Request:
+```json
+{
+  "decision": "APPROVED",
+  "note": "Manual review passed",
+  "reasonCode": "MANUAL_REVIEW"
+}
+```
+4. Success `200`: status becomes `APPROVED` or `REJECTED`.
+5. Errors:
+- `UNAUTHENTICATED`
+- `VALIDATION_ERROR`
+- `FORBIDDEN`
+- `NOT_FOUND`
+
+## 3.7 Retry verification
+1. Method and route: `POST /core/verifications/{verificationId}/retry`
+2. Auth: required
+3. Success `202`: status resets to `PENDING`.
+4. Errors:
+- `UNAUTHENTICATED`
+- `FORBIDDEN`
+- `NOT_FOUND`
+
+## 3.8 Health
 1. Method and route: `GET /health`
 2. Success `200`:
 ```json
@@ -150,3 +226,7 @@ This catalog defines the currently implemented core backend contract for M4.
 5. Max signed URL expiry: `900` seconds.
 6. LLM timeout: `20000` ms.
 7. LLM rate limit: `20` requests/minute/user.
+8. Verification access mode default: `authenticated`.
+9. Verification file existence check default: enabled (`VERIFICATION_REQUIRE_FILE_EXISTS=true`).
+10. Verification attire provider default in dev: `vertex` with model `gemini-2.0-flash-lite-001`.
+11. Verification government/certification providers: external adapters via configured provider URL/token.
diff --git a/docs/MILESTONES/M4/planning/m4-core-api-frontend-guide.md b/docs/MILESTONES/M4/planning/m4-core-api-frontend-guide.md
index ca34b112..64f8a5c2 100644
--- a/docs/MILESTONES/M4/planning/m4-core-api-frontend-guide.md
+++ b/docs/MILESTONES/M4/planning/m4-core-api-frontend-guide.md
@@ -118,6 +118,82 @@ Authorization: Bearer <firebase-id-token>
 }
 ```
 
+## 4.4 Create verification job
+1. Route: `POST /core/verifications`
+2. Auth: required
+3. Purpose: enqueue an async verification job for an uploaded file.
+4. Request body:
+```json
+{
+  "type": "attire",
+  "subjectType": "worker",
+  "subjectId": "<worker-id>",
+  "fileUri": "gs://krow-workforce-dev-private/uploads/<uid>/file.pdf",
+  "rules": {
+    "dressCode": "black shoes"
+  }
+}
+```
+5. Success `202` example:
+```json
+{
+  "verificationId": "ver_123",
+  "status": "PENDING",
+  "type": "attire",
+  "requestId": "uuid"
+}
+```
+6. Current machine processing behavior in dev:
+- `attire`: live vision check using Vertex Gemini Flash Lite model.
+- `government_id`: third-party adapter path (falls back to `NEEDS_REVIEW` if provider is not configured).
+- `certification`: third-party adapter path (falls back to `NEEDS_REVIEW` if provider is not configured).
+
+## 4.5 Get verification status
+1. Route: `GET /core/verifications/{verificationId}`
+2. Auth: required
+3. Purpose: polling status from frontend.
+4. Success `200` example:
+```json
+{
+  "verificationId": "ver_123",
+  "status": "NEEDS_REVIEW",
+  "type": "attire",
+  "review": null,
+  "requestId": "uuid"
+}
+```
+
+## 4.6 Review verification
+1. Route: `POST /core/verifications/{verificationId}/review`
+2. Auth: required
+3. Purpose: final human decision for the verification.
+4. Request body:
+```json
+{
+  "decision": "APPROVED",
+  "note": "Manual review passed",
+  "reasonCode": "MANUAL_REVIEW"
+}
+```
+5. Success `200` example:
+```json
+{
+  "verificationId": "ver_123",
+  "status": "APPROVED",
+  "review": {
+    "decision": "APPROVED",
+    "reviewedBy": "<uid>"
+  },
+  "requestId": "uuid"
+}
+```
+
+## 4.7 Retry verification
+1. Route: `POST /core/verifications/{verificationId}/retry`
+2. Auth: required
+3. Purpose: requeue verification to run again.
+4. Success `202` example: status resets to `PENDING`.
+
 ## 5) Frontend fetch examples (web)
 
 ## 5.1 Signed URL request
@@ -163,5 +239,7 @@ const data = await res.json();
 2. Aliases exist only for migration compatibility.
 3. `requestId` in responses should be logged client-side for debugging.
 4. For 429 on model route, retry with exponential backoff and respect `Retry-After`.
-5. Verification workflows (`attire`, `government_id`, `certification`) are defined in:
+5. Verification routes are now available in dev under `/core/verifications*`.
+6. Current verification processing is async and returns machine statuses first (`PENDING`, `PROCESSING`, `NEEDS_REVIEW`, etc.).
+7. Full verification design and policy details:
    `docs/MILESTONES/M4/planning/m4-verification-architecture-contract.md`.
diff --git a/docs/MILESTONES/M4/planning/m4-verification-architecture-contract.md b/docs/MILESTONES/M4/planning/m4-verification-architecture-contract.md
index 64612e73..59731ea3 100644
--- a/docs/MILESTONES/M4/planning/m4-verification-architecture-contract.md
+++ b/docs/MILESTONES/M4/planning/m4-verification-architecture-contract.md
@@ -1,9 +1,20 @@
 # M4 Verification Architecture Contract (Attire, Government ID, Certification)
 
-Status: Proposed (next implementation slice)  
+Status: Partially implemented in dev (core endpoints + async in-memory processor)  
 Date: 2026-02-24  
 Owner: Technical Lead
 
+## Implementation status today (dev)
+1. Implemented routes:
+- `POST /core/verifications`
+- `GET /core/verifications/{verificationId}`
+- `POST /core/verifications/{verificationId}/review`
+- `POST /core/verifications/{verificationId}/retry`
+2. Current processor is in-memory and non-persistent (for fast frontend integration in dev).
+3. Next hardening step is persistent job storage and worker execution before staging.
+4. Attire uses a live Vertex vision model path with `gemini-2.0-flash-lite-001` by default.
+5. Government ID and certification use third-party adapter contracts (provider URL/token envs) and fall back to `NEEDS_REVIEW` when providers are not configured.
+
 ## 1) Goal
 Define a single backend verification pipeline for:
 1. `attire`
@@ -196,6 +207,19 @@ Rules:
 4. Log request and decision IDs for every transition.
 5. For government ID, keep provider response reference and verification timestamp.
 
+## 11) Provider configuration (environment variables)
+1. Attire model:
+- `VERIFICATION_ATTIRE_PROVIDER=vertex`
+- `VERIFICATION_ATTIRE_MODEL=gemini-2.0-flash-lite-001`
+2. Government ID provider:
+- `VERIFICATION_GOV_ID_PROVIDER_URL`
+- `VERIFICATION_GOV_ID_PROVIDER_TOKEN` (Secret Manager recommended)
+3. Certification provider:
+- `VERIFICATION_CERT_PROVIDER_URL`
+- `VERIFICATION_CERT_PROVIDER_TOKEN` (Secret Manager recommended)
+4. Provider timeout:
+- `VERIFICATION_PROVIDER_TIMEOUT_MS` (default `8000`)
+
 ## 9) Frontend integration pattern
 1. Upload file via existing `POST /core/upload-file`.
 2. Create verification job with returned `fileUri`.
diff --git a/makefiles/backend.mk b/makefiles/backend.mk
index 79b38bf8..5ee113c0 100644
--- a/makefiles/backend.mk
+++ b/makefiles/backend.mk
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ BACKEND_CORE_IMAGE ?= $(BACKEND_REGION)-docker.pkg.dev/$(GCP_PROJECT_ID)/$(BACKE
 BACKEND_COMMAND_IMAGE ?= $(BACKEND_REGION)-docker.pkg.dev/$(GCP_PROJECT_ID)/$(BACKEND_ARTIFACT_REPO)/command-api:latest
 BACKEND_LOG_LIMIT ?= 100
 BACKEND_LLM_MODEL ?= gemini-2.0-flash-001
+BACKEND_VERIFICATION_ATTIRE_MODEL ?= gemini-2.0-flash-lite-001
+BACKEND_VERIFICATION_PROVIDER_TIMEOUT_MS ?= 8000
 BACKEND_MAX_SIGNED_URL_SECONDS ?= 900
 BACKEND_LLM_RATE_LIMIT_PER_MINUTE ?= 20
 
@@ -131,7 +133,7 @@ backend-deploy-core:
 		--region=$(BACKEND_REGION) \
 		--project=$(GCP_PROJECT_ID) \
 		--service-account=$(BACKEND_RUNTIME_SA_EMAIL) \
-		--set-env-vars=APP_ENV=$(ENV),GCP_PROJECT_ID=$(GCP_PROJECT_ID),PUBLIC_BUCKET=$(BACKEND_PUBLIC_BUCKET),PRIVATE_BUCKET=$(BACKEND_PRIVATE_BUCKET),UPLOAD_MOCK=false,SIGNED_URL_MOCK=false,LLM_MOCK=false,LLM_LOCATION=$(BACKEND_REGION),LLM_MODEL=$(BACKEND_LLM_MODEL),LLM_TIMEOUT_MS=20000,MAX_SIGNED_URL_SECONDS=$(BACKEND_MAX_SIGNED_URL_SECONDS),LLM_RATE_LIMIT_PER_MINUTE=$(BACKEND_LLM_RATE_LIMIT_PER_MINUTE) \
+		--set-env-vars=APP_ENV=$(ENV),GCP_PROJECT_ID=$(GCP_PROJECT_ID),PUBLIC_BUCKET=$(BACKEND_PUBLIC_BUCKET),PRIVATE_BUCKET=$(BACKEND_PRIVATE_BUCKET),UPLOAD_MOCK=false,SIGNED_URL_MOCK=false,LLM_MOCK=false,LLM_LOCATION=$(BACKEND_REGION),LLM_MODEL=$(BACKEND_LLM_MODEL),LLM_TIMEOUT_MS=20000,MAX_SIGNED_URL_SECONDS=$(BACKEND_MAX_SIGNED_URL_SECONDS),LLM_RATE_LIMIT_PER_MINUTE=$(BACKEND_LLM_RATE_LIMIT_PER_MINUTE),VERIFICATION_ACCESS_MODE=authenticated,VERIFICATION_REQUIRE_FILE_EXISTS=true,VERIFICATION_ATTIRE_PROVIDER=vertex,VERIFICATION_ATTIRE_MODEL=$(BACKEND_VERIFICATION_ATTIRE_MODEL),VERIFICATION_PROVIDER_TIMEOUT_MS=$(BACKEND_VERIFICATION_PROVIDER_TIMEOUT_MS) \
 		$(BACKEND_RUN_AUTH_FLAG)
 	@echo "✅ Core backend service deployed."