Website of the UK government

United Kingdom (UK) digital passports

If you hold a digital passport (the photograph and signature appear on the same page), DVLA can confirm your identity with the Identity and Passport Service. You don’t have to send your passport to them.

When applying online you’ll be asked to provide your nine digit passport number allowing DVLA to confirm your identity.

If you apply by post, using the D1 ’application for a driving licence’, write your nine digit passport number and your signature in the 'confirming your identity' section of the D1 form.

Other means of identification

DVLA also accepts the following original documentation as confirmation of your identity. Unlike the digital passport though, you'll need to send this with your application:

• full valid current passport
• identity card issued by a member state of the European Community/European Economic Area (EC/EEA)*with the exception of Sweden
• travel documents issued by the Home Office
• UK certificate of naturalisation

If you’ve reached State Retirement Pension age, you can provide originals of one of the following in your name:

• recent (within three months) bank or building society statement showing your pension payment and National Insurance number
• BR2102, BR2103 or BR2199 letter confirming your eligibility for the state retirement pension

UK birth and adoption certificates

UK birth and adoption certificates are also acceptable, however, as they’re not absolute proof of identity, they must be accompanied by one of the following:

• National Insurance card or a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions containing your National Insurance number
• photocopy of the front page of a benefits book or an original benefits claim letter
• P45, P60 or pay slip
• marriage certificate or divorce papers (decree nisi or absolute)
• college or university union card or school record

If you don't have a birth or adoption certificate, or the one that you have doesn’t show your full name or country of birth, contact your local registry office.

Change of name

You’ll also need to provide evidence if your name has changed and is different to the identity document you provide, eg an original marriage certificate, decree nisi or absolute, or deed-poll declaration.

The details you provide must show a clear link between the name on your identity document and your current name.

Return of your identity documents

DVLA will return your documents within 10 working days, separate from your licence. If you don’t receive them within this time, contact DVLA customer enquiries.

If you would like DVLA to return your identity documents by special delivery, please include a prepaid self addressed special delivery envelope. Keep a note of the serial number for your own reference.

DVLA cannot guarantee to return your documents by a specified date eg a holiday.

• DVLA Contact Details

The type of photograph you need to send

Your photograph must be:

• colour passport type photo (size of image 45mm x 35mm)
• taken within the last month, a true likeness, showing the full face, with no hat, helmet or sunglasses, although you may wear everyday glasses
• taken against a plain, and evenly lit background

DVLA is issuing a new driving licence with a number of enhanced security features. One of these is your colour photograph being laser engraved onto your licence resulting in a highly secure black and white photograph.

• More about the new driving licence

Having your photograph certified

Unless you are providing a full valid current UK or EC/EEA passport or a Home Office issued travel document, you’ll need to have your photograph certified. The back of your photograph must be signed and section seven of your D1 form completed by the same person. DVLA will make random checks on people who sign photocard driving licence applications.

Photocard licence holders renewing their photo entitlement will not need their photograph certified if:

• it has expired and is due for renewal after 10 years
• it is renewed before it expires

Signing your photograph

The person must:

• live in the UK
• know you personally (for at least two years)
• not be a relative

Suitable people include:

• a local business person or shopkeeper
• a librarian
• a professionally qualified person, for example, a lawyer, teacher or engineer
• a police officer
• a bank or building society officer
• a civil servant
• a minister of religion
• a magistrate
• a local councillor, MP, AM, MEP or MSP

Your nearest DVLA local office staff can help if you have no one to sign your photograph, if you have become a resident or returned to the UK within the last two years. They'll sign your photograph and complete section seven of the application form. Your application and original identity documents are then sent to DVLA Swansea for further authentication.

Premium Checking Service

A Post Office® or DVLA local office can check your application if you don’t want to send your identification to DVLA through the post. This service isn’t available for online applications.

• Premium checking service