Guidance

List of acceptable ID documents

Published 28 April 2025

© Crown copyright 2025

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/horizon-shortfall-scheme-appeals-proving-your-identity/list-of-acceptable-id-documents

You need to provide 3 forms of ID documents – one piece of photo identification and 2 proof of address documents. They must all be different. 

Acceptable photo identification documents

You must provide one of the following: 

  • current valid passport for any country
  • current biometric residence permit for the UK
  • current full or provisional photo card driving licence from the UK, Isle of Man or Channel Islands
  • birth certificate from the UK, Isle of Man or Channel Islands (this is issued within 12 months of birth)

Acceptable proof of address documents

You will also need 2 of the following: 

  • current full or provisional photo card driving licence from any country outside the UK, excluding Isle of Man and Channel Islands
  • current full or provisional paper driving licence from the UK, Isle of Man or Channel Islands only (issued before 1998)
  • birth certificate from the UK, Isle of Man or Channel Islands (this is issued within 12 months of birth)
  • marriage certificate – UK and Channel Islands only
  • civil partnership certificate – UK and Channel Islands only
  • mortgage statement – UK only (issued in the last 3 months)
  • financial statement, for example, a pension or endowment – UK only (issued in the last 12 months)
  • a statement from central or local government showing you are entitled to benefits (UK and Channel Islands only, issued in last 3 months)
  • bank or building society account opening confirmation letter – this must be a paper copy
  • original utility bill – this must be a paper copy
  • benefit statement – UK only (issued in the last 3 months)
  • P45 or P60 statement
  • Council Tax bill from UK and Channel Islands only (issued in the last 3 months) – this must be a paper copy

Reasons documents will not be accepted

Your documents will not be accepted if they are:

  • blurred
  • illegible
  • out-of-date
  • incomplete

This will cause delays to your application.

If you have changed your name, then you must also provide evidence of this.

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