What ID Documents You Need for an ID1 Form

Turning up to your appointment with the wrong paperwork is the fastest way to waste a morning. HM Land Registry sets out exactly which documents count, and the list is shorter than most people expect.

This guide explains what to bring, which items are quietly refused, and why online bank statements cause so much trouble. For other situations, our full set of guides covers transfers, gifts and probate.

There are two lists, and you only need one of them

Section B3 of the ID1 form sets out two lists. You satisfy either List A or List B, never a mixture of the two.

List A needs a single photo document. List B needs two separate documents, which is the route for people without a valid passport or full driving licence.

So most people use List A, and the appointment takes minutes. However, List B exists precisely so that nobody is locked out.

List A: one photographic document

Any one of these three is enough on its own.

• A current, valid full passport. The verifier records the country of issue and the passport number.
• A current photocard driving licence from the UK, the EU, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands. A provisional licence is not accepted.
• A current Biometric Residence Permit issued by the Home Office to a non-UK national living in the UK.

The word “current” does the heavy lifting here. An expired passport fails, even by a day, and this catches out more people than any other rule.

List B: two documents, of different types

No passport and no full photocard licence? Then you need two items from this list, and they must be two different types.

• A credit or debit card carrying the Mastercard, Visa, Maestro, American Express or Diners Club logo, issued in the UK. It must come with an account statement less than three months old.
• A utility bill less than three months old.
• A council tax bill for the current year.
• A council rent book showing the rent paid for the last three months.
• A mortgage statement for the mortgage accounting year just ended.
• A current firearm or shotgun certificate.

Two utility bills will not do. Because only one item of each type counts, you need two genuinely different documents.

Why your online bank statement will be refused

This is the single biggest surprise for people using List B. The form says statements must be postal, and it says so in plain terms.

A PDF downloaded from your banking app does not qualify. Neither does a printout of an online statement, nor a screenshot of your balance.

So if you bank entirely online, ring your bank and ask for a paper statement by post. Allow a week or two, because some banks are slow with these requests.

The same logic applies to utility bills. A paper bill through the letterbox is safest, and a paperless account may leave you short.

The photographs catch people out too

For an in-person appointment you need two identical colour passport-size photographs, taken within the last three months. They must be printed on photographic paper, and your face must be clearly visible.

Then the verifier signs and dates the back of one photograph. Home printer prints on ordinary paper are regularly refused.

A photo booth or a high street photo shop is the safe choice. Meanwhile, the standard is slightly more relaxed than the passport office demands, so a plain, clear head-and-shoulders shot is fine.

Section A asks for five years of addresses

The part you fill in yourself is easy to underestimate. Alongside your name and date of birth, you must list every address you have lived at in the last five years.

People who have moved often, rented, or lived abroad should gather these details in advance. You also give your current address, how long you have lived there, and your telephone numbers.

Then you add the application details: the type of application, the title number if you know it, and the property address. Our guide to what an ID1 is explains how those details connect to the rest of your application.

If you verify by video call

Video verification changes how the documents are seen, not which documents count. The same List A and List B rules apply.

Instead of a printed photograph, the solicitor takes a screenshot during the call. That screenshot goes to HM Land Registry with your ID5 form, so you do not need photo booth prints at all.

Your documents are uploaded to a secure portal before the call. Therefore you should still have the originals to hand when the call starts.

Documents that are not accepted

A few items look official but carry no weight here. Knowing them in advance saves a wasted appointment.

• Provisional driving licences.
• Expired passports or expired licences.
• Electronic or app-based bank statements.
• Birth certificates, marriage certificates and National Insurance cards, on their own.
• Photocopies of anything. The verifier must see original documents.

A marriage certificate still matters if your name has changed, but it supports the application rather than proving identity. Our guide to changing the name on title deeds covers that point.

What to have ready before your appointment

Gather everything the day before, not on the morning itself. Check the expiry dates while you are at it.

You need your List A or List B documents as originals, your five-year address history, and the property details. If you are booking a video appointment, you also need a device with a working camera.

One last thing about timing

Your documents need to be valid on the day of verification. Also, the completed ID1 is only good for three months. The whole form must reach HM Land Registry inside that window.

Because of that, gathering documents early but booking late is the sensible order. The pricing page shows the fixed cost, and our ID5 video verification service explains how the appointment runs.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use an expired passport for an ID1?

No. The passport must be current and valid on the day your identity is verified. An expired passport is refused, even if the photograph is still a good likeness.

Will a provisional driving licence work?

No. The ID1 form specifically excludes provisional licences. You need a full photocard licence, a valid passport, or a Biometric Residence Permit instead.

Why was my online bank statement rejected?

Statements used as identity evidence must be sent by post. Downloaded PDFs, app screenshots and printed online statements do not meet the requirement.

Can I use two utility bills?

No. You may use only one document of each type, so two bills from different suppliers still count as one item. Pair a utility bill with a council tax bill instead.

How recent do my documents need to be?

A utility bill or a supporting bank statement must be less than three months old. A council tax bill must be for the current year. A council rent book must show the last three months of rent.

Do I need photographs for a video appointment?

No. The solicitor takes a screenshot during the call instead, and that image is sent to HM Land Registry with your ID5 form.

What address history do I have to give?

Every address you have lived at in the last five years. You also give your current address and how long you have been there.

Can I show photocopies or photographs of my documents?

No. The verifier has to inspect the originals. On a video call your documents are uploaded securely beforehand, and the solicitor still checks them with you.

What if I have no passport and no driving licence?

Use List B and bring two different documents, such as a council tax bill and a postal utility bill. Many people without photo identification qualify this way.