Proof of Address in the UK—A Complete Guide (2024)
Learn about proof of address and why it’s needed in the UK.
Learn about proof of address and why it’s needed in the UK.
Proof of address is a must-have for anyone wishing to open a bank account in the UK. Providing proof of address may be simple for UK-born residents, but it gets complex for those who’ve recently arrived in the country. To resolve this issue, banks may substitute proof of address with other checks.
We at Sumsub prepared this article to explain what proof of address is, why it’s important, and how to obtain it.
Proof of address is a document verifying one’s current residential address. In the UK, banks verify such documents before opening accounts to minimize fraud.
Another essential for opening a bank account in the UK is proof of identity. Identity can be verified by a document with the applicant’s name and photo on it (e.g., passport). Clients, therefore, have to show two separate documents to prove their identity and residential address.
Proof of address verifies where you currently live (e.g., utility bills, bank statements), while proof of residency confirms legal residence status in a country (e.g., residency permit, long-term visa). Financial institutions may request both proof of residency and proof of address.
Proof of address checks are an important part of a bank’s security measures. Banks verify addresses to comply with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations and minimize the possibility of accounts being used for illegal activity. By asking for proof of address, banks link each account to an individual.
To simplify the proof of address procedure for banks in the UK:
In the UK, proof of address is required in several situations beyond opening a bank account. This includes:
In all of these cases, acceptable documents might include utility bills, tenancy agreements, or government correspondence.
Proof of address can be presented in different forms. Some examples include:
Additional documents may be accepted as well, depending on the bank’s policies. The validity of such documents also vary depending on their type. Utility bills usually get accepted if they’re less than three months old, whereas tax bills can be valid for a year. It should be noted that these validity periods are commonly used, but not set in stone. Therefore, individual banks have ultimate discretion over validity periods.
If an individual is new to the UK, it’s advisable to set up utilities (to arrange for essential household services such as electricity, gas, water, and internet) before they move. This way, an individual can receive a bill as soon as possible to use as proof of address.
In the meantime, there are a few options a person can use as temporary proof of address:
However, these documents may not always be accepted, so it’s best to check with the organization to confirm which documents they accept.
All major banks in the UK require customers to provide proof of address to open an account. Therefore, if you’re planning to operate a bank in the UK, you will need to ask for this document as well. However, there might be certain exceptions in cases when customers can’t provide standard proof of address. Instead, they may be able to provide:
For such situations, the person should get in direct contact with the bank. The complete list of exceptions may be found here.
You can learn more about KYC/AML in UK from our guide.
In the UK, proof of address typically includes documents like utility bills, bank statements, council tax bills, tenancy agreements, or government correspondence showing your name and address.
A National Health Service letter, as well as a letter from a medical center or utility bill, can be used as proof of address.
Yes, bank statements can be used as proof of address.
The Financial Conduct Authority, an organization regulating banks in the UK, has a list of possible alternative solutions that people can use to get proof of address. The best option is to get in touch with the bank and ask about its policies.
Proof of residency confirms legal residence status in a country (e.g., residency permit, long-term visa). Financial institutions may request both proof of residency and proof of address.