Identification & Verification

When unable to complete electronic verification, we must identify the client from documents which confirm their identity and where they live.
FCA registered firms must ensure that documentation relied upon to verify aspects of a client's identity is copied and retained.
We reserve the right to request copies of identity documents seen for testing purposes.

Acceptable documentation

Two separate documents must be provided to verify the client's name, residential address and date of birth.

Documents must be originals and can only be used once throughout the whole process; i.e. used once for either address verification or for identification.

For Non UK/EEA nationals the only acceptable identification documents are passport with valid visa or biometric residence permit.

Identification Documentation
Document	Identification	Address Verification
UK/EU/EEA/Switzerland Passport (Non UK/EEA Passports must include a valid UK Visa)	Yes	No
UK Driving Licence	Yes	Yes
EU/EEA/Switzerland Identity Card (must show photograph and signature)	Yes	No
EU/EEA Driving Licence	Yes	No
Northern Ireland Voters Card	Yes	No
Biometric Residence Permit (must be valid for a minimum of 12 months)	Yes	No
EU or UK Bank, Building Society, or Credit Union Statement *	No	Yes
UK Credit Card Statement *	No	Yes
Mortgage Statement *	No	Yes
Firearms/Shotgun Certificate	Yes	No
UK Benefits/State Pension Notification Letter	Yes	Yes
Blue Disabled Driver's Pass (UK only)	Yes	No
HM Revenue & Customs Correspondence e.g. statement of account or correspondence relating to self-assessment	No	Yes
HM Revenue & Customs Tax Notification - Notice of Coding or Annual Statement – these cannot be used for ID if another HMRC correspondence has been used for address verification	Yes	No
Allocation of National Insurance Number from Job Centre Plus/Department of Work & Pensions Letter	No	Yes
Local Authority Tax Bill	No	Yes
Local Council Rent Card/Statement	No	Yes
Solicitors Correspondence	No	Yes
Utility Bill or a Certificate/Letter from a Supplier of Utilities* Excluding the following: Mobile telephone bills Broadband/Internet bills Reminders/Arrears letters Final/Closing bills Water bills	No	Yes
Young Scot Card – age restrictions apply – can only be used for applications for customers aged 18-26 years old	Yes	No

*A printed copy of an online statement can only be used as address verification with one of the following:

UK/EU/EEA Passport
UK Full Driving Licence
HMRC Tax Notification (notice of coding or annual statement only and must be original document sent by post).

How to certify a document

All ID documents must have the following present to satisfy certification requirements. This must be recorded by the FCA Registered Mortgage Intermediary:

Name of the certifier;
Title of the certifier - title is defined as describing someone’s position or job;
Signature of the certifier;
Date of certification, which must not be older than 3 months at the time of the application and;
Written confirmation from the certifier stating "I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of the original document as sighted by me" (suggested text / variations are acceptable).