ID5 form verification by video call, by an SRA-regulated solicitor

What is an ID5 form?

An ID5 form confirms to HM Land Registry that your identity was verified remotely, over a video call, rather than in person. It is completed by the solicitor who checks your ID, and it is used together with your ID1 (for an individual) or ID2 (for a company). So whenever a Land Registry identity check is done by video, the ID5 is the form that records it.

The full name of the form is “Confirmation of identity by means of a video call”. You will sometimes see it called the video verification form, or simply the remote ID form. They all mean the same document.

What the ID5 form records

The ID5 is a record of how the check was carried out, rather than a record of who you are. Your ID1 or ID2 carries your personal details. The ID5 sits alongside it and confirms the method.

On the form, the verifying solicitor records:

• That the identity check took place over a live video call
• The date and time of the call
• Which documents were shown, and how they were checked
• Their own name, firm, professional capacity and signature
• Confirmation that they are satisfied you are the person you say you are

Because the solicitor signs and stamps it personally, they take professional responsibility for the check. That is why HM Land Registry treats a video verification as equivalent to meeting in person.

Why HM Land Registry accepts video verification

Remote verification is permitted under Practice Guide 67, which is the HM Land Registry guidance on evidence of identity. The guide sets out who may verify you and what evidence counts. It also allows the check to be done by live video call, provided the professional records it on an ID5.

In other words, a video-verified ID1 with a properly completed ID5 carries the same weight as an in-person check. There is no second-class treatment and no extra scrutiny. HM Land Registry simply needs to see how the check was done.

What happens on the call

The appointment is short and there is nothing to prepare beyond your documents. Here is what to expect:

• You join a secure video call at your chosen time, from a phone, tablet or computer
• The solicitor confirms who you are and what your application is for
• You hold your photo ID and proof of address up to the camera
• The solicitor checks the documents and asks a few straightforward questions
• They then complete, sign and stamp your ID5 alongside your ID1 or ID2

Most calls take around fifteen minutes. Afterwards, your completed forms are sent to you the same day so you can lodge them with the rest of your application.

Do you need an ID5 on its own?

No, and this is the point people most often get wrong. The ID5 is never submitted by itself. It is always paired with an ID1 if you are an individual, or an ID2 if the applicant is a company.

That is also why we never charge for the ID5 separately. One appointment covers the video check and both forms, so there is nothing extra to add on afterwards.

If you are unsure which forms your application needs, our guide to ID1, ID2 and ID5 sets out the differences. You can also read the full ID5 video verification guide, or browse all our HM Land Registry guides.

How it works

Why choose ID1 Verify

Common questions about the ID5 form