How to Get a Proof of Address in the UK With 6 Methods

In the UK, providing a proof of address is a crucial requirement for various situations, including opening a bank account, renting a property, applying for government benefits, or verifying your identity, among other purposes.

This guide will offer an overview of what can be used as proof of address in the UK to help you comply with the local rules and regulations. We’ll also explore options for newcomers who may not yet have documents in their name and banking alternatives for those without a UK address.

Proof of address is a document that validates your residence in the UK, containing both your name and physical residential address.

Banks and government agencies require proof of address for compliance, security, and determining eligibility for specific services, benefits, or welfare programs, as well as for overall record-keeping.

In practical terms, documents confirming the active use of your current address, such as recent utility bills and credit card statements, serve as proof of address. Alternatively, a lease agreement can also be utilised.

You’ll most likely need proof of address in the UK for the following situations:

• Banking: When opening a bank account, applying for a credit card, or taking out a loan, banks require proof of identity and residential address to comply with anti-money laundering laws and security regulations. 

While banks may vary in their specific document requirements, they typically ask for one or two forms of address verification. Commonly accepted documents include recent utility bills, an HMRC tax notification, and a lease agreement.

• Renting a Property: When renting a property in the UK, it is required that you provide paperwork that confirms your current address as part of verifying your identity, along with other documents that prove you have the right to rent in the UK.
• Government Registrations: For certain government registration processes like registering to vote, obtaining a driving licence, registering a birth, and applying for benefits, proof of address is required. This is because the government needs to both verify your identity and assess your eligibility for these services.

Banks and institutions have their own set of accepted proof of address documents. How you submit these documents and how recently they need to be dated to be valid can differ from place to place.

For example, a bank or credit card statement or a utility cannot be any more than 3-4 months old, whereas a council tax bill is valid for 12 months.

Here’s the list of commonly accepted documents as proof of address in the UK:

Conditions for a Legitimate Proof of Address in the UK

• Proof of address cannot be the same as proof of identity: You need to provide two separate documents for proof of identification and proof of address. You cannot use the same document for both. For example, even if an institution allows a valid UK driver's licence for both proof of identification and proof of address, if you use a valid UK driver's licence for proof of identification, you need to provide another type of document, such as utility bills, for proof of address.
• Documents must be recent: All documents must be recent within a specific timeframe, typically 3 - 12 months, depending on the type of document and the organisation requesting them.
• Documents must contain specific information: Documents used for proof of address should show your full legal name, current address, date issued and the issuing authority. 
• Handwritten documents are not accepted: Handwritten bills and letters are usually not accepted, as documents must come from an official source.
• Copies may not be accepted: Institutions typically require original documents to verify authenticity, so photocopies and screenshots are generally not accepted. Online documents, including printouts, may or may not be accepted depending on the institution, so it’s best to check beforehand.

The simplest and most common way to get proof of address in the UK is by using utility bills in your name. If you don't have a utility bill in your name, the next most likely accepted documents include a current-year council tax bill, a bank or credit statement from the last three months, a lease or mortgage agreement, or any official letter from a government entity that contains both your legal name and residential address.

In this section, we'll go over the most common ways to get proof of address in the UK.

If you live in the UK or own property, you should receive regular utility bills either by post or digitally. If these bills are in your name, they are the simplest and most reliable form of proof of address.

Utility bills are considered valid proof of address for 3 - 4 months, indicating the active use of the specified address.

If the bills aren't in your name because you live with others, you can either get your name added to the bills by registering with the provider, or you could ask the primary account holder to help verify your address through a letter. Some entities accept a written affidavit from a person living in the same household. 

If you've just arrived in the UK, setting up a utility account is a good way to ensure you have proof of address in the future.

Council tax is an annual fee paid to your local council in the UK, and the funds collected are utilised to support various services such as waste collection,  street lighting, police, and so on. 

You can check your mail for the annual council tax bill, which is usually sent out in March or April. You can also manage these bills online. If you can’t find it, you will need to contact your local council in the UK for information specific to your location.

This tax is paid by the household, making the bill a valid proof of address as long as it dates back no more than 12 months. 

Bank statements are commonly relied upon as proof of address since a trustworthy source, like banks, is the issuer. 

If you have an account or cards with a UK bank, make sure your registered address matches your most updated residential address. If it does, you can use the bank statement from the last three months as proof of your address.

If you need proof of address for a bank account or loan application, the statement needs to be from a different bank than the one you’re applying to.

Official letters or statements from government entities can be used as proof of address as long as they have your full legal name, address, date, and an issuing authority on the paper.

For example, you can use documentation from

• HM Land Registry - A government entity responsible for maintaining and recording property ownership in England and Wales.
• HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) - The UK's tax authority. Tax-related documents often contain the taxpayer's registered address, providing a reliable confirmation of residence. 

A lease agreement is a legally binding contract between a landlord and a tenant outlining the terms and conditions of renting a property. If you've rented a place, you may be able to provide a lease agreement stating your residence at the current address as proof of address.

You can reach out to your landlord for assistance. They may be able to help you with the documents or even provide a letter confirming your address, known as a “proof of residency letter” or an “affidavit of residence”. 

In some cases, a mortgage loan or insurance that indicates ownership of the property and residency at the address can also be used as proof of address. 

If you have a mortgage, your mortgage provider should send an annual mortgage statement, usually in January. You can also contact them for recent documentation if necessary. 

While you can use a mortgage as proof of address, you usually can’t use a mortgage statement from the same bank when applying to that bank.

If you've recently arrived in the UK, you may not have typical documents like utility bills or bank statements with your updated UK address just yet. 

Some institutions and high street banks allow for alternative documents, such as the following:

• A document from your educational institution (university, college, or language school) if you've arrived in the UK for studies. Your UCAS details or a letter from the Student Loan Company may also be deemed acceptable.
• A letter from your employer verifying your address. 
• Some institutions may accept a written affidavit from a person you reside with.
• EU/EEA driving licences, but it's essential to consider that the address on that existing EU licence most likely needs to be a UK address.

In the past, EU residents who had just moved to the UK could open a bank account using their European address. Unfortunately, following the UK's withdrawal from the EU (Brexit), the opportunities for those with addresses outside the UK have diminished.

For a detailed breakdown of the necessary documents for each major UK bank, check out the following:

• Barclays’ proof of address requirements 
• HSBC UK’s proof of address requirements
• Lloyds’ proof of address requirements
• Natwest’s proof of address requirements  
• Halifax’s proof of address requirements
• Santander’s proof of address requirements
• Nationwide’s proof of address requirements 

You can also find a list of alternative options that a bank may accept based on the situation on  the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) website, which is the regulatory body for banks in the UK.

At the moment, all major traditional banks in the UK require proof of address for account opening.

If you’ve reviewed your preferred bank’s document requirements and find them difficult to meet, consider reaching out to the bank directly, as they are usually open to helping you.

If you're new to the country or planning to move but haven’t yet relocated, obtaining proof of address can be challenging. In the meantime, here are some alternative ways you can access banking services in the UK.

Open an Account Before Arriving in the UK

If your home bank has a correspondent banking relationship with a British bank, there is a possibility that they can set up a UK bank account for you.

There are also some cases where you can open an account with a UK bank from outside the UK. For example, you can apply for a UK account with HSBC from outside the UK. 

For these accounts, you need to be eligible to apply, usually meeting a certain income threshold. You’ll likely still need to provide proof of address, but they may be flexible with the requirements depending on your current location, and it may not necessarily need to be UK addresses.

Open an International Account

You might also be interested in an international account, which many UK banks offer. These accounts are designed for non-residents who may not have the option to supply proof of address in the UK yet.

Examples of banks that offer international accounts are:

1. Barclays International Bank Account, with options for non-UK residents and those planning to move to the UK.
2. HSBC International Bank Account, allowing you to open accounts overseas before you land in over 30 destinations, the UK included. 
3. Lloyds International Current Account, in which you have the flexibility of 3 currencies (GBP, EUR, USD) and a fee-free international payment. Lloyds Bank will require information about your country of residence, the country you are applying from, and the country you are moving to. Additionally, eligibility criteria include your gross annual income.
4. NatWest International Account empowers individuals to make their finances work both in the UK and internationally. Eligible for those residing in any of the listed countries found on the NatWest International Select Account and NatWest Cash Management Account page.

However, international bank accounts often need a large initial deposit and require a certain amount of minimum payments each month. 

Alternative to Traditional Banks 

Lastly, consider looking into financial institutions beyond conventional banks. 

Certain virtual banks, e-money providers, or neobanks — which usually own banking or money service licences but are not traditional banks—may have a more flexible list of what can be used as proof of address or proof of identity.

Since these providers often serve people in different locations, they may ask for proof of address from your current location instead, not necessarily an address in the UK.

Examples of such alternatives are:

1. Revolut account: Revolut is a global neobank that recently obtained a UK banking license. It operates in several locations and offers accounts in over 29 currencies, including GBP, EUR, and USD. You can use the account for everyday spending and international transfers. Revolut may request proof of address if necessary, but they support multiple locations. This means that Revolut may accept proof of address from your current location.
2. Wise multi-currency account: Wise offers a multi-currency account as a Money Service Business, providing accounts with access to 40 currencies across 160 countries. This account allows you to receive, send, and spend money. 

In the UK, proof of address is a fundamental requirement for various essential services, including banking, renting, and government registrations. Commonly accepted documents include utility bills, council tax statements, bank statements, and government-issued documents.

While all UK banks require proof of address, newcomers who lack common documents may consider obtaining a letter from official sources like universities, the Student Loan Company, or employers. 

Alternatively, exploring international account offerings or virtual banks may provide viable options. Conversations with these institutions can help clarify the possibilities. 

If you're in the UK for business and want to open a business bank account in the UK, keep in mind that there are extra requirements besides proof of address.