Requirements for your first UK ID card

Do you live in the UK but have never had a CitizenCard photo ID before? You will need to use a digital check that will authenticate your photo ID document or provide a suitable referee, who will have to confirm your identity.

You can apply for your first CitizenCard online or you can use a paper or printed application if you have one (many businesses stock our co-branded forms).

Requirements

// Read fully before applying

General Guidelines

General Guidelines

To get your first UK ID card online you must:

be a UK resident (live in the United Kingdom)
create your online account (complete a registration form and activate your account)
complete an online application for a new (first-time) CitizenCard and make a payment
choose a verification route - either a digital check that will authenticate your photo ID document or a referee who is a professional person that will confirm your identity
upload passport quality photograph and, if needed, any original documents required

We will:

verify your identity with a photo ID validation or by contacting your referee
post your UK photo ID card to you

Important!

Before we issue your first-time CitizenCard we need to verify your identity.

There are 3 verification routes available to you:

Electronic ID Validation that authenticates your original photo ID (online applications only)

If you have an original photo ID document that bears a recent likeness to you and states your current name we can verify your identity electronically. If you don't have any valid photo ID, you need a referee.

Referee that validates your original document(s) (also called Route 1)

A referee validating the original document(s) is a professional person that needs to see an official document(s) confirming your identity, e.g. a birth certificate, and validate it to confirm your identity.

Referee that confirms your details from official records (also called Route 2)

A referee confirming from official records is a professional person that confirms your details against official records held at their place of work (e.g. a doctor from NHS records).

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Electronic ID Validation authenticates your photo ID document

// For online applications only

Electronic ID Validation

If you already have a photo ID document stating your current name, we can verify your identity electronically using a digital check that authenticates it.

To use the Electronic ID Validation you must:

apply online
have access to a mobile phone, a tablet or a computer with a camera
have an original photo ID document that bears a recent likeness to you and states your current name (any copies including screenshots, photocopies or photos of a screen won't be accepted)

We only accept the following photo ID documents for the Electronic ID Validation:

Passport (UK or International)
Photo Driving Licence (UK or European)
European National ID Card

// For online or paper applications

Referee validating original document(s)

Referees validating original document(s) (also called Route 1) are professionals, who need to see and check an original document confirming your identity. Check our list of permitted referees validating original document(s) to find out who can act as one.

Your chosen referee must:

work in a recognised profession where their business details can be verified and are published/advertised in online professional business directories
be contactable at their registered business address via email and on their work telephone number during office hours i.e. Mon-Fri, 9.00 - 17.00 (we will call them)
not be related to you or in a personal relationship with you (cannot be a guardian, foster carer, spouse, civil partner, fiancé, boyfriend/girlfriend)
not live with you

Referee validating original document(s) checks an official document confirming your ID

If the referee knows you personally the document confirming your identity can be one of the following:

Adoption certificate
Biometric Home Office photo ID
Birth certificate
Certified copy of a birth certificate
Disclosure and Barring Service certificate (DBS)
European National ID Card (must bear a recent likeness to you)
Global or European Health Insurance Card
Gender Recognition Certificate
Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
NHS Medical Card
Passport (UK or International; must bear a recent likeness to you)
Photo Driving Licence (UK or European; must bear a recent likeness to you)
Proof of Age Standards Scheme card
UK Marriage certificate which states applicant's date of birth
UK Naturalisation Certificate

If your referee doesn't know you the following photographic ID documents can be used:

Biometric Home Office photo ID
European National ID Card (must bear a recent likeness to you)
Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
Passport (UK or International; must bear a recent likeness to you)
Photo Driving Licence (UK or European; must bear a recent likeness to you)
Proof of Age Standards Scheme card

If you are applying online you will need to take and upload a photo of an original document confirming your identity - we will not accept any copies including screenshots, photocopies or photos of a screen.

If you are applying using a paper or printed application you must show an original document confirming your identity to your referee, ask them to countersign a photocopy of it and post it to us together with your CitizenCard application. Please do not send original documents.

Additionally, if you have changed your name since birth and the document shows your old name, please show the original change of name document(s) - marriage certificate(s), change of name deed(s), Court Order(s) or Gender Recognition Certificate to your referee. Note that for a paper or printed application your referee needs to countersign the photocopies of your change of name document(s) and you need to post them to us together with the other documentation.

Referee with access to official records confirms your details against their official records

// For online or paper applications

Referee with access to official records

Don’t have any official documents confirming your identity?

Referees confirming from official records (also called Route 2) are professionals, who know you and can confirm your details against their official records held at their place of work.

Your chosen referee must:

work in a recognised profession where their business details can be verified and are published/advertised in online professional business directories
be contactable at their registered business address via email and on their work telephone number during office hours i.e. Mon-Fri, 9.00 - 17.00 (we will call them)
not be related to you or in a personal relationship with you (cannot be a guardian, foster carer, spouse, civil partner, fiancé, boyfriend/girlfriend)
not live with you

We only accept the following referees with access to official records:

your Doctor / Dentist / Nurse / Administrator at your GP / Dental Surgery
your Teacher / Tutor / Head of Year / Administrator / Careers Adviser at your School / College / University
(must be contactable at their place of work during academic holidays)
your Social Worker
your Certified Solicitor
a Bank / Building Society staff member at your branch
your Prison or Probation Officer
your Jobcentre Plus work coach
your Immigration Adviser registered at the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner
if you are employed with any of the above referees, they can verify your identity from their personnel
records
if you are employed by a Public Authority / Government, your employer can verify your identity from
their personnel records
if you are employed by a Local Authority, your employer can verify your identity from their personnel
records
if you are employed by a UK business that has more than 250 staff, your employer can verify your identity
from their personnel records

How we helped Carly on her night out at a nightclub

How we helped Carly on her night out at a nightclub

// Get your UK ID Card

Apply Online

Apply Online

Apply for your CitizenCard using our paperless, online application system:

manage your application using your account
pay securely by debit/credit card or PayPal
no need to print forms or photos
no need to post anything to us

Apply Online

Important Points For Online Applicants

If you need your card right away, make an Urgent application using our paperless online application system.
Make sure you follow our photo requirements when you upload your photo.
If you don't have a valid Passport (UK or International), Photo Driving Licence (UK or European) or European National ID Card,
you need a referee - a professional person validating original document(s) or confirming your details from official records.
If applicable, check whether your referee completed the Digital Referee Declaration Form to submit their work details to us.
If applicable, make sure that your referee can be contacted by phone and email during office hours at their place of work.

TRUSTED ID SINCE 1999

The PASS hologram on each CitizenCard is endorsed by the Home Office, Police, SIA and retailers.

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Address:

7 Prescott Place, London
SW4 6BS

Email:

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