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Guidance

Immigration status checks: guidance for banks and building societies

Guidance for banks and building societies on carrying out immigration status checks on current account holders and applicants.

Updates to this page

From:
UK Visas and Immigration and Immigration Enforcement
Published:
12 December 2014
Last updated:
4 November 2025
Show all updates

  1. Welsh version of guidance added.

  2. Added translation

  3. Updated information on people proving their immigration status with an eVisa.

  4. The formatting of this guidance has been updated for consistency with comparable documents published by the Home Office. Further changes have been listed in the guidance document.

  5. Added links to the leaflets which should be given to people whose current account is closed or whose current account application is refused.

  6. Version 2.0 of guidance uploaded.

  7. Updated guidance.

  8. First published.

Documents

Guidance for banks and building societies on carrying out immigration checks on current account holders: Immigration Act 2014

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Details

This information helps banks and building societies comply with statutory requirements under section 40 and sections 40A to 40 H of the Immigration Act 2014.

Banks and building societies must not open a current account for those in the UK illegally. They must carry out an immigration check and notify the Home Office and in some cases they will be required to close accounts.

Read our guidance on current accounts closed or refused based on immigration status.

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