Proving your identity is a necessity for various everyday life scenarios, from job applications to opening bank accounts.

In the United Kingdom, such identity checks aren’t just a formality. They are required by law, including money laundering regulations. As such, the forms of ID accepted by UK institutions are highly contextual.

In this post, we’ll explore the various forms of identity verification that are applicable in the UK. We’ll also discuss how to prepare your ID documents for use abroad.

TL;DR – Acceptable forms of ID in the UK

Here’s a quick overview of the generally acceptable forms of ID in the UK:

  • Passport

  • Photocard driving license

  • Biometric residence permit

  • HM Armed Forces Veteran Card

  • Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) card

Common scenarios requiring proof of identity

In the United Kingdom, you’ll typically have to produce valid forms of ID in the following common situations:

  • Employment: The Right to Work (RTW) checks require all UK employers to verify the identity of all individuals seeking employment to prevent illegal working. The employer requests an original ID document, verifies its validity, and retains a clear copy.

  • Banking and finance: You must provide proof of identity for nearly all banking and finance services. When applying for a mortgage loan, for instance, you’ll need two forms of ID and proof of address.

  • Government services: You’ll need proof of identity when seeking various government services, including when applying for a driving license or passport, or when claiming benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions.

  • Voting: Changes to UK electoral law now require voters to produce photo IDs when voting in polling stations in Great Britain.

  • Age-restricted purchases: You’ll need to provide an ID to verify your age when purchasing alcohol or tobacco, or when attempting to access an age-restricted venue.

What are valid forms of ID in the UK?

UK institutions often distinguish between various forms of identification, categorising them as primary and secondary (or alternative) forms of ID.

The distinction is often based on the issuing authority, as well as the reliability and universality of the documents.

Primary forms of ID

Primary forms of ID are government-issued identity documents that prove both identity and nationality or residency. Such a document will typically have your signature and photo.

They include:

  • Passport: A full UK or international passport is a standard form of ID in the UK. Most institutions will require the passport to be current/unexpired.

  • Photocard driving license: Both provisional and full driving licenses are widely accepted. However, for high-security transactions, institutions will likely reject provisional licenses.

  • Biometric Residence Permit (BRP): Non-UK nationals with the right to live, work, or study in the UK can use a BRP. Often, you’ll be required to produce a passport alongside a BRP.

Secondary and alternative forms of ID

Secondary forms of ID are often accepted in low-risk or low-security scenarios. Institutions may also request them, along with the primary forms of ID, as accompanying evidence.

Secondary forms of ID include:

  • PASS Card: A Proof of Age Standards Scheme Card is acceptable when proving age for age-restricted goods and venues. Generally, it is not accepted for financial or government services.

  • Birth/adoption certificates: Institutions accept them for proof of identity or name. They may be rejected (or insufficient) when proving likeness or address.

  • Supporting documents to prove address: For proof of address, UK institutions often accept various documents issued within the last three to 12 months, including bank statements, utility bills, council tax bills, and HM Revenue & Customs statements.

Requirements for a valid ID document

Criteria for validity will depend on the institution requesting the ID. However, you can generally expect an ID document to be valid in the UK if it meets the following parameters:

  • Official authority: The ID document must originate from the office/authority charged with its issuance, e.g., HM Passport Office and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

  • Currency: For documents with expiry dates, such as passports, the documents must be current and unexpired.

  • Recency: For proof of address, institutions generally want documents issued within the last three months. Some may allow up to 12 months.

  • Photo likeness: To prove likeness, the photo on the document must be your true likeness.

  • Legibility: The ID document should be legible and clear. Many institutions reject documents that are faded, damaged, or laminated.

  • Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements: When authenticating your identity as a customer, organisations want such data to be unbroken, verifiable, and documented. For instance, banks will require that your supporting documents bear your name in the same order as it appears on your ID documents.

You should also account for validity outside the United Kingdom. For official purposes, an overseas authority will likely only accept your ID as valid if the document has been legalised for international use.

Contact our team today to initiate the ID document legalisation process. We’ll help you meet all the country-specific legalisation requirements of your destination.

When a notary must verify your ID

A notary public is an internationally recognised legal professional authorised to deal with non-contentious legal matters.

An overseas institution may request a certified copy of your ID. Such a request is typically required for medium- to high-security transactions, such as setting up an international bank account or purchasing property abroad.

In that case, you’ll need the services of a notary public to verify your identity and the authenticity of the signatures/stamps on the ID document.

The process will include the notary public receiving the original ID document, making a copy, and affixing their signature and stamp on the copy.

Legalising your ID for international recognition

Getting the public notary’s stamp and signature is a good step in getting your ID documents recognised abroad, but it isn’t enough. You must also legalise the documents for international use.

The legalisation ensures your documents carry the same weight internationally as they do in the UK. It involves getting a certificate, known as an apostille certificate, from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

There are two points to remember when you want to get your ID documents apostilled:

  • 1

    The FCDO will authenticate the seal/signature of the notary public (or solicitor), not the contents of the document.

  • 2

    The FCDO has registered apostille agents/facilitators to help you navigate government bureaucracy and obtain apostille certificates more efficiently.

We are London Apostille Services Ltd, a FCDO-registered apostille facilitator with over 15 years of experience. We can help you legalise various forms of ID, including apostilles for photo ID cards, UK armed forces ID cards, and more.

Why your documents may not pass legal checks

Let’s explore the common pitfalls that may cause your documents not to pass legal checks:

  • 1

    Mismatch of address: Where the address on one document doesn’t match the one on another. In this case, you’ll need to provide supporting documentation to explain the discrepancy.

  • 2

    Uncertified copies: Many institutions will reject uncertified printouts. Consider getting copies certified by either a solicitor or a notary public.

  • 3

    Missing signatures or stamps: If the signature or stamp of the solicitor/notary is missing, the document may not pass legal checks. Ensure both are present.

  • 4

    Suspicion of alteration: If there’s extensive wear, damage, or lamination, the institution may suspect an effort to conceal an alteration. If this applies to you, get a new, clean, and certified copy.

  • 5

    Unlegalised documents: For official use, international institutions will likely reject documents that haven’t been apostilled.

Also, even if you obtain an apostille certificate, a rejection may still occur if you present it without an embassy attestation in a country that is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention.

Therefore, if you intend to use your document in a country such as Angola, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, or the UAE, we’ll help you obtain an embassy attestation in addition to the FCDO-issued apostille.

Contact us today to get your identity documents ready for use abroad. We offer expedited services, completing the apostille process in one business day with our next-day service, or three to four business days with our standard service.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Here are answers to some of the common questions about acceptable forms of ID in the UK:

What if your ID is not in English?

For official use, a certified translation is often required. You must provide the translator’s credentials, plus their affirmation of the accuracy of the translation.

Yes, for many domestic use cases, a provisional license is a valid form of identification.

Within the UK, you can use it for proof of age, government services, and employment checks, among other purposes.

When the FCDO legalises a document, it certifies the signature or stamp on the document, not the identity (or age) of the holder.

Therefore, the child won’t need to provide any form of ID.

You will need to explain the mismatch and provide supporting documents as evidence. Depending on the reason for the discrepancy, you can provide the following supporting documents:

  • Typos or missing initials: Provide an affidavit or statutory declaration.
  • Foreign naming convention: Provide an affidavit or statutory declaration.
  • Legal name change: Provide a change of name deed or deed poll.
  • Marriage or civil partnership: Provide a marriage or civil partnership certificate.
  • Divorce or name reversion: Provide a decree absolute/divorce certificate or a change of name deed or deed poll.

If you plan to use the document abroad, it’s vital to seek the services of a notary public first.

Yes, e-notarisation or remote notarisation is allowed and is becoming increasingly common. You can email copies of your ID, and the notary will arrange a video call where you’ll show the original ID and proof of address.