I've been unable to enroll in the Apple Developer Program for approximately six years, despite multiple support cases.
I suspect there may be an identity verification record still associated with a permanently deleted Apple Account, although I can't confirm that this is the root cause.
What happened
Around 2019–2020, I attempted to enroll in the Apple Developer Program using an Apple Account, but never completed the membership purchase.
I later permanently deleted that Apple Account.
On October 8, 2026, I successfully created a brand-new Apple Account using the exact same email address as the deleted account.
I attempted Developer Program enrollment again, but it still failed.
Apple Developer Support confirmed that my identity had already been verified through another Apple Account.
I've provided eight possible historical email addresses, but Support has been unable to identify or resolve the conflicting association.
I've contacted Apple repeatedly since 2020. The issue was escalated to the Operations team in June 2026, but remained unresolved. During my latest call, I was told there was no further team available for escalation.
What I suspect
The original Apple Account may have been deleted while an identity verification record remained associated with its internal account identifier.
Reusing the same email address creates a new Apple Account, but does not restore the old account or its identity association.
Another historical account or a separate enrollment restriction is also possible.
The fundamental problem
Even though I can provide valid government-issued identification and prove that I am the same person, there appears to be no documented way to transfer, release, or re-establish identity verification under the correct account.
I understand Apple's privacy, security, and anti-fraud requirements. I'm not asking to bypass them.
Questions for Apple and other developers
What happens to Developer Program identity verification records when an Apple Account is permanently deleted?
If the historical account no longer exists, is there a way to correct or transfer its identity association after fresh verification?
Could Apple provide a masked identifier for the previously verified account, after verifying the applicant's identity?
Is there a formal technical review or identity-data correction process beyond standard enrollment support?
I also found two potentially related forum discussions:
https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/750659
https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/845581
Neither establishes a confirmed system bug, but both raise similar questions about historical account associations.
Has anyone experienced this exact situation or found a successful resolution?
I'd appreciate any guidance from Apple engineers or developers who have dealt with deleted accounts and identity verification conflicts.