Documents that prove your identity and address

Like all financial institutions in the UK, we're required by law to check your identity and address when you apply to invest with us or register for our online and phone service. We might also need to check your identity at other times, to keep our records updated.

How we do this

We normally check your identity and address electronically through a credit reference agency. If this is unsuccessful, we'll ask you to send us some documents instead or upload copies of them online. Here we explain which documents you can use and how you can certify a copy of your document, if you need to.

Most of this information is for savers aged 18 and over living in the UK. Our requirements are different for:

• Savers aged 16 or 17
• Savers aged under 16
• Savers who live outside the UK

What you need to send us or upload

• One document from List A: evidence of your identity; and
• One document from List B: evidence of your address

Note that you can’t use the same document for proof of both your identity and address.

For valuable documents such as passports and driving licences, we recommend you use copies instead of the originals. If you send or upload a copy of any document from List A or List B, other than a GB passport or GB/Jersey driving licence, it must be certified – we explain how to do this below. If you do choose to send originals, please use a secure postal service.

How to certify copies of your documents

Just to let you know, we can’t accept:

• documents that have been altered in any way
• printed copies of online documents

List A: evidence of your identity

• A copy of your current, valid full passport. The copy must show nationality, place and date of birth, passport number, expiry date, photograph and signature. It must also legibly show the full strip of data as it appears across the bottom of the page. You do not need to include any blank pages or pages containing visa stamps.
• A copy of your current, valid full GB or Jersey issued (full or provisional) photocard driving licence with signature or ‘old style’ driving licence if relevant.
• A certified copy of your current, valid Guernsey, Isle of Man or Northern Ireland issued (full or provisional) photocard driving licence with signature or ‘old style’ driving licence.
• Armed Forces ID card. This must be certified by your commanding officer.
• Home Office issued UK biometric residence permit listing your full name and date of birth.
• Firearms certificate or shotgun licence.
• HM Revenue & Customs tax document that is less than one year old eg tax assessment, statement of account, notice of coding (P45s and P60s are not acceptable). Must be issued in the last 12 months.
• Letter from the relevant benefits agency confirming your receipt of benefits or state pension. Must be issued in the last 12 months.

List B: evidence of your address

The name and address on the document you send or upload must match the name and address on your NS&I application. The document must also show the name and contact details of the organisation that issued it.

• Household utility bill, eg gas electric, water or fixed line telephone but not mobile phone bill. Must be no more than 3 months old.
• A copy of your current, valid full GB or Jersey issued (full or provisional) photocard driving licence with signature or ‘old style’ driving licence if relevant.
• A certified copy of your current, valid Guernsey, Isle of Man or Northern Ireland issued (full or provisional) photocard driving licence with signature or ‘old style’ driving licence, if relevant - providing it shows your address.
• Bank, building society or credit card statement. Must be no more than 3 months old.
• Bank, building society mortgage statement. Must be issued in the last 12 months.
• Local authority tax bill (eg council tax). Must be issued in the last 12 months.
• Solicitors letter confirming recent house purchase or land registry confirmation (in this case, you’ll also need to send proof of your previous address).
• HM Revenue & Customs tax document eg tax assessment, statement of account, notice of coding. P45 and P60s are not acceptable. Must be issued in the last 12 months.
• Letter from relevant benefits agency confirming your receipt of benefits or state pension. Must be issued in the last 12 months.
• Rental or tenancy agreement issued by local authority. Must be issued in the last 12 months.
• New style medical card (listing name, address, health service number and date of birth).
• For applications in residential care, a letter on headed stationery from the management of the care home confirming residency.

• How to certify copies of your documents

  Choose one of the following people:

  • Qualified individual currently practising in the legal, financial, or teaching profession
  • Doctor or dentist or vet
  • Nurse (RGN or RMN)
  • Minister of a recognised religion
  • Civil servant
  • Prison, police or customs officer
  • An elected official such as a councillor, MP or Mayor

  The person you choose must not be related to you by birth or marriage. They also must not be in a personal relationship with you or live at the same address. The certifier should currently be practising in their profession. The certification must be dated within three months to be valid.

  Ask your chosen certifier to:

  • Write the following on the copied document in English: “I certify that this is a true copy of the original [type of document] belonging to [your name].”
  • Sign and date the document
  • Clearly print their full name
  • Write their occupation or the capacity in which they are providing the certification (eg lawyer, doctor, teacher)
  • Provide their work address and daytime telephone number
  • Affix any relevant official stamp where available
  • Include their professional registration number (If they have one)

• Savers aged 16 or 17

  You only need to send or upload one of the following documents:

  • A copy of your current, valid full passport. The copy must show nationality, place and date of birth, passport number, expiry date, photograph and signature. It must also legibly show the full strip of data as it appears across the bottom of the page. You do not need to include any blank pages or pages containing visa stamps.
  • A copy of your current, valid full GB or Jersey issued (full or provisional) photocard driving licence with signature.
  • A certified copy of your current, valid Guernsey, Isle of Man or Northern Ireland issued (full or provisional) photocard driving licence with signature.
  • A full or abbreviated birth certificate or an extract of an entry in the Registers of Births or the General Registry Office.

• Savers aged under 16

  If we’ve asked you to confirm your child’s identity, you only need to send or upload one of the following documents:

  • A full or abbreviated birth certificate or an extract of an entry in the Register of Births or the General Registry Office.
  • A copy of the child’s passport.
  • A certified copy of the child’s NHS medical card.
  • A certified copy of a child benefit or child tax credit document in the name of the adult and referring to the child.
  • A certified copy of a letter from an adoption or fostering authority confirming the guardian’s responsibility for the child.

• Savers who live outside the UK

  You need to send or upload two different documents:

  • One from List A: evidence of your identity; and
  • One from List B: evidence of your address

  Note that you can’t use the same document for proof of both your identity and address.

  The name and address on the documents you send or upload must match the name and address on your NS&I application. The documents must also show the name and contact details of the organisation that issued it. Please note it must be obvious what the document is otherwise we may ask you for a certified translation into English.

  Just to let you know, we can’t accept:

  • documents that have been altered in any way
  • printed copies of online documents

  List A: evidence of your identity

  • A copy of your current, valid full passport. The copy must show nationality, place and date of birth, passport number, expiry date, photograph and signature. It must also legibly show the full strip of data as it appears across the bottom of the page. You do not need to include any blank pages or pages containing visa stamps.
  • A certified copy of your current official National Identity Card showing your full name and date of birth.
  • A certified copy of your current official passport card showing your full name and date of birth.

  List B: evidence of your address

  • A certified copy of your current, valid overseas driving licence providing it shows your address.
  • A certified copy of a bank statement issued within the last three months.

  Savers aged 16 or 17 living outside the UK

  You only need to send or upload one of the following documents:

  • A certified copy of your birth certificate.
  • A copy of your passport.

  Savers aged under 16 living outside the UK

  If we’ve asked you to confirm your child’s identity, you only need to send or upload one of the following documents:

  • A certified copy of your child’s birth certificate.
  • A copy of your child’s passport.

  How to certify copies of your documents if you live outside the UK

  Choose one of the following people:

  • A practising lawyer or attorney
  • Justice of the Peace
  • Local Mayor (certification must be accompanied with the Mayor’s official stamp)

  The person you choose must not be related to you by birth or marriage. They also must not be in a personal relationship with you or live at the same address. The certifier should currently be practising in their profession. The certification must be dated within three months to be valid.

  Ask your chosen certifier to:

  • Write the following on the copied document: “I certify that this is a true copy of the original [type of document] belonging to [your name].”
  • Sign and date the document
  • Clearly print their full name
  • Write their occupation or the capacity in which they are providing the certification (eg lawyer)
  • Provide their work address and daytime telephone number
  • Affix any relevant official stamp where available
  • Include their professional registration number (if they have one)