What identification documents can I provide?
We’ll do our best to check your identity using credit reference agencies, but we might need confirmation of who you are and/or where you live. If so, we will ask you to provide documents from the table below. Proof of identity is marked ‘Identity’ in the ‘Proof of identity’ column. Proof of address is marked ‘Address’ in the ‘Proof of address’ column.
Please provide two different documents – one proof of identity and one proof of address.
Document
Requirement
Proof of identity
Proof of address
Document Passport
Requirement Currently valid; with certified translation if not in English
Proof of identity Identity
Proof of address
Document UK photocard driving licence
Requirement Currently valid; full or provisional licence
Proof of identity Identity
Proof of address Address
Document UK old-style driving licence
Requirement Currently valid; full licence
Proof of identity Identity
Proof of address Address
Document EU/EEA photocard driving licence
Requirement Currently valid; full licence
Proof of identity Identity
Proof of address Address
Document EU/EEA member state national identity photocard
Requirement Currently valid
Proof of identity Identity
Proof of address
Document Biometric residence permit
Requirement Currently valid
Proof of identity Identity
Proof of address
Document UK armed forces military ID card
Requirement Currently valid
Proof of identity Identity
Proof of address
Document Northern Ireland electoral ID card
Requirement Currently valid
Proof of identity Identity
Proof of address
Document Shotgun licence or firearms certificate
Requirement Currently valid
Proof of identity Identity
Proof of address Address
Document Benefits letter, such as Jobseekers or state pension
Requirement Issued within last 12 months
Proof of identity Identity
Proof of address Address
Document HMRC tax letter
Requirement Issued within last 12 months
Proof of identity Identity
Proof of address Address
Document Court letter, appointing you Court of Protection or grant of probate
Requirement No date requirement
Proof of identity Identity
Proof of address
Document Tenancy agreement or letter, such as from local authority, or housing association
Requirement Issued within last 12 months
Proof of identity
Proof of address Address
Document Utility bill, such as gas, electricity, water, landline (not mobile phone)
Requirement Issued within last 6 months
Proof of identity
Proof of address Address
Document Council tax bill
Requirement Issued within last 12 months or relating to current year
Proof of identity
Proof of address Address
Document Nursing or care home letter confirming your residency
Requirement Issued within last 1 month
Proof of identity
Proof of address Address
Document Statement or letter from a financial institution you’re a customer of, such as a bank, building society or broker
Requirement Issued within last 3 months
Proof of identity
Proof of address Address
Document Monthly mortgage statement
Requirement Issued within last 3 months
Proof of identity
Proof of address Address
Document Annual mortgage statement
Requirement Issued within last 13 months
Proof of identity
Proof of address Address
Document Student loan letter or statement
Requirement For current academic year
Proof of identity
Proof of address Address
Document Letter of introduction from university
Requirement Issued within last month for current academic year; provide along with valid passport or national ID card
Proof of identity
Proof of address Address
Document Birth certificate
Requirement No date requirement; you must be under 18
Proof of identity Identity
Proof of address
Document NHS medical card
Requirement No date requirement; you must be under 18
Proof of identity Identity
Proof of address Address
Document NHS medical letter
Requirement Issued in last 6 months; you must be under 18
Proof of identity Identity
Proof of address Address
Document Parent’s child benefit letter
Requirement Issued in last 12 months; you must be under 18
Proof of identity Identity
Proof of address Address
Document Adoption certificate
Requirement No date requirement; you must be under 18
Proof of identity Identity
Proof of address
Document Young Scots entitlement card
Requirement No date requirement; you must be under 18
Proof of identity Identity
Proof of address
Document Professional reference
Requirement Issued in last 3 months; written by manager; you must be under 18
Proof of identity Identity
Proof of address Address
Document HMRC national insurance card confirmation letter
Requirement No date requirement; you must be under 18
Proof of identity
Proof of address Address
Certifying photocopies of your documents
Please do not send any original photo identification to us by post. Instead, you’ll need to:
- Take photocopies of the original documents
- Bring both the originals and the photocopies to a professional person
- Ask the professional person to certify the photocopies.
Professions we accept for certification include: Accountant, Bank Official, Barrister, Civil Servant, Councillor (local or county), Justice of the Peace, Doctor, Member of Parliament, Minister of Religion, Officer of the Armed Forces, Police Officers, Prison Governors, Probation Officers or Solicitor.
The certifier must write (or stamp) the following on the photocopy of the document:
- Their employer’s name
- Their profession, and their job title within the organisation if different to their profession
- Their full name – they may not need to do this if the organisation they work for undertakes regulated activity
- Their full business address and non-mobile telephone number
- Confirmation that they have seen the original document – by writing, ‘I certify that this is a true copy of the original document’
- Confirmation that any photograph ID is genuine – by writing ‘The photograph bears a good likeness to the individual’
- Their signature and the date of signature.
Certifying translations of documents not written in English
Please provide certified English translations of your documents. You’ll need to ask a certified translator to translate them for you.
The certified translator must write the following on their translations:
- Confirmation that it’s a correct translation – by writing ‘I certify that this is a true and accurate translation of the original document’
- Their full name and contact details, or those of a representative of the translation company
- The date of the translation.
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