Identity documents needed for a driving licence application

How you prove your identity for a driving licence application depends on which identity documents you have.

There are different rules in Northern Ireland.

This page is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Prove your identity using a UK passport

If you have a valid UK passport, write the 9-digit passport number on the application form.

Do not send your physical passport.

You cannot use the passport number of a passport that has expired.

Prove your identity using a share code

You can prove your identity with a share code if you previously used the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ or ‘EU Exit: ID Document Check’ app when applying:

  • for a visa
  • to the EU Settlement Scheme

Get a share code from the view and prove your immigration status service. Choose the ‘something else’ option when you’re asked what you need the share code for.

Write the code on your application form. Do not send a physical identity document.

If you do not have a UK passport or a share code

You’ll need to send an identity document by post to prove your identity.

Send one of the following with your application:

  • a current and valid foreign passport that’s not from an EU or EEA country, with a visa sticker or stamp (called a ‘vignette’) showing you have permission to live in the UK
  • a current and valid Irish passport - it does not need to have a visa sticker or stamp
  • a UK biometric residence permit (BRP)
  • a travel document
  • a UK birth, adoption or naturalisation certificate - you’ll need to send further proof of identity with this
  • evidence you receive a state pension

UK birth, adoption and naturalisation certificates

You can use a UK birth, adoption or naturalisation certificate, but you must send it with one of the following:

  • National Insurance card, or a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions or HM Revenue and Customs showing your National Insurance number - find your National Insurance number if you’ve lost it
  • photocopy of the front page of a benefits book or an original benefits claim letter
  • P45, P60 or pay slip
  • your marriage or civil partnership certificate
  • your divorce or end of civil partnership document (decree nisi, decree absolute, conditional order or final order)
  • a gender recognition certificate
  • college or university union card, education certificate or PASS proof of age card (issued after June 2014)

If you’re a pensioner

If you’ve reached State Pension age, you can send an original of one of the following in your name:

  • recent (within 3 months) bank or building society statement showing your pension payment and National Insurance number
  • BR2102, BR2103 or BR5899 letter confirming your eligibility for the State Pension

How to send your identity document

You must send the original document with your driving licence application.

You cannot use:

  • photocopies or laminated certificates
  • certified copies including those certified by the Post Office document certification service

Consider delaying your driving licence application if you need your passport in the next 4 weeks.

Get your form and photo signed

You must get someone else to sign your form and photo to verify your identity.

You do not need to get your form or photo signed by someone else if you proved your identity using a UK passport or a share code.

The person signing the form and photo must:

  • hold a valid GB photocard driving licence
  • be resident in the UK
  • know you personally
  • not be a relative
  • not be living at the same address as you

Suitable people include a current or retired:

  • local business person or shopkeeper
  • librarian
  • professionally qualified person, for example a lawyer, teacher or engineer
  • police officer
  • bank or building society staff member
  • civil servant
  • minister of religion
  • magistrate
  • local councillor
  • Member of Parliament, Assembly Member, or Member of the Scottish Parliament

If they’re retired, you’ll need to write their former job on the form, for example ‘retired teacher’.

DVLA will contact the person who signs your application.

When you do not need your photo signed

You do not need someone to sign your photo if you’ve agreed to have DVLA check your identity by:

  • contacting HM Passport Office
  • providing a current passport, travel document or BRP
  • using a share code to show digital confirmation of your immigration status

You do not need someone to sign your photo if you’re renewing your licence with a new photo.

Get your documents back

You’ll get your driving licence and identity documents separately.

Identity documents are returned by second class post. Include a stamped, self-addressed special delivery or Signed For envelope with your application if you want to track when your documents are posted.

Contact DVLA if you have not received your licence or documents back.

If your name or gender has changed

You must provide additional evidence if your name or gender has changed since your identity document or driving licence was issued.

If you’ve changed your name, you need to provide at least one of the following:

  • your marriage or civil partnership certificate (if you’ve changed your surname)
  • your divorce or end of civil partnership document (decree nisi, decree absolute, conditional order or final order), along with your birth or adoption certificate, or UK certificate of naturalisation
  • a deed poll
  • a statutory declaration

If you’ve changed your gender identity, you need to provide at least one of the following:

You must also provide the identity document or driving licence that shows your previous name or gender identity.

Get a statutory declaration

You can get an official statement confirming that you’ve changed name or gender (called ‘a statutory declaration’) from:

  • a solicitor
  • a magistrate
  • a commissioner of oaths

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