Guidance
Documents to verify your identity for Universal Credit
What you need to verify your identity at a jobcentre or during a home visit.
If you cannot verify your identity online when you make your claim, we may ask you to verify your identity in person. This could be at a jobcentre or at your home.
What you need to provide
To verify your identity in person, you will need to show all the following:
All documents must be originals.
You may be asked questions to verify your identity if your documents are not accepted.
Photographic ID documents
You will need 1 document with a photograph. This is in addition to 2 supplementary ID documents.
This can include any of the following:
- UK passport
- non-UK passport or other travel document showing that you are exempt from immigration control, are allowed to stay indefinitely in the UK, have the right to live in the UK, or have no time limit on your stay in the UK
- full or provisional UK photo card driving licence
- identity card with the Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) accreditation logo, issued in the UK or Channel Islands
- identity card from an EU or European Economic Area (EEA) country
- eVisa (online record of immigration status)
- non-UK photocard driving licence with an international driving permit. This must be valid up to 12 months after the date you entered the UK
- certificate of registration or naturalisation as a British citizen, showing you’re allowed to work in the UK
- immigration status documents showing no time limit on your stay in the UK, or indefinite leave to remain in the UK
- residence permit, registration certificate or document showing permanent residence. Issued by UK Visas and Immigration to an EU, EEA or Swiss national
- permanent residence card issued by UK Visas and Immigration to the family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss national
- National Health Service (NHS) identity card with a biometric chip
- HM Armed Forces identity card
- HM Armed Forces Veteran Card
- police warrant card
- asylum application registration card (known as ‘ARC’) and Home Office decision letter. These must be presented together. This can only be used if you’re a refugee and have not had your UKVI account created by the Home Office to access your eVisa
Supplementary ID documents
To verify your identity you will also need 2 supplementary ID documents.
If you have an additional photo ID document, you can use that instead of one of these supplementary documents.
Supplementary ID documents can include any of the following:
- birth or adoption certificate (original or certified copy from registrar)
- marriage or civil partnership certificate
- wage or pension slip. It must include the payee name and National Insurance number, and be dated within the last 6 months
- current debit, credit or store card, with a statement of account which confirms the details on the card
- enrolled deed poll
- divorce or annulment documents: conditional order, decree nisi, decree absolute or final order
- UK driving licence, full old-style paper
- life insurance or life assurance policy
- local council rent card
- name change statutory declaration
- older person’s (OAP) bus pass
- P45 or P60
- personal cheque book
- Power of Attorney (POA), court registered, dated within the last 3 months, showing your current address
- student loan documents
- vehicle registration documents
- accountant letter on headed paper
- apprenticeship agreement
- buildings or contents insurance policies
- building society passbook
- charge card, current with a statement of account
- educational institution letter on headed paper
- electoral register confirmation that you live at the address
- employer letter on headed paper
- firearms certificate
- grant of probate (court appointed), dated within the last 3 months, showing your current address
- HM Armed Forces certificate or contract of employment
- HMRC most recent tax notification, for example, tax assessment, statement of account, or notice of coding
- merchant navy certificate or contract of employment
- mortgage deeds
- mortgage insurance policy
- mortgage statement from a recognised lender
- financial statement, for example bank, building society, credit card or credit union statement
- NHS medical card
- Northern Ireland electoral ID card
- Northern Ireland Housing Executive rent card
- Northern Ireland Land and Property service-related documents
- personal loan account statement
- savings account book
- student ID card
- vehicle insurance policy
- Council Tax statement, current
- mobile phone contract account statement or bill, dated within the last 6 months
- utility bills, for example gas, water, electricity, landline phone or broadband, dated within the last 6 months
- utility supplier certificate or letter showing you use a pre-payment arrangement at your address, dated within the last 6 months
Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claimants
If you’re claiming JSA or ESA, find out What to bring to your Jobcentre Plus interview.
Updates to this page
Published 9 June 2026