In this article, we’ll explore the proof of address documents UK banks accept.
Many of these documents are easy to obtain as a UK resident. But, non-resident foreigners will have a more difficult time getting their hands on them.
So, if you’re a foreign non-resident looking to open accounts you may want to look elsewhere. You can start by accessing our free article on the easiest place to open bank accounts as a non-resident by clicking here.
Feel free to use the table of contents to jump ahead to the sections most relevant to you.
Table of Contents
- Proof of Address Documents UK
- How to Provide Proof of Address in the UK
- Alternative Banking Jurisdictions?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Ready to Explore Your Options?
Proof of Address Documents UK
Proof of address documents UK banks accept include public utility bills, local tax bills, statements from financial institutions (e.g. bank or credit card issuer), benefit statements (e.g. housing or income support), driver’s license, HMRC tax statements, car or house insurance, and more.
In short, UK residents should have no problem providing the proof of address documents that UK banks will accept. But, what about non-residents?
When it comes to address documents, UK banks are very particular about two things: (1) the address being provided and (2) the type of supporting documentation. Let’s take a look at both.
Address Being Provided
Similar to opening accounts in other countries, UK banks require account openers to provide an address. In almost all cases, this needs to be a residential address. Said differently, most UK banks will not accept a mail forwarding address or corporate service provider address.
This further complicates account opening, especially for non-resident UK LLPs or non-resident UK LTDs. In addition to overcoming a number of other challenges when opening bank accounts, these non-resident UK companies struggle with providing sufficient proof of address documents to UK banks.
Type of Supporting Document
Additionally, looking at the list of documents shared above, it’s clear that many of these are not available to non-residents. In fact, the vast majority of these documents cannot be obtained by a non-resident by virtue of needing to be a tax resident simply to get them.
As a result, many non-residents trying to open bank accounts in the UK find that the proof of address documents UK banks require is not worth the effort. Instead, they tend to look at banking elsewhere. We’ll share a few alternative banking jurisdictions later in the article.
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How to Provide Proof of Address in the UK
Non-residents that successfully open bank accounts in the UK, typically provide one of the following proof of address documents that UK banks accept.
Bank Statement
Bank statements are one of the most widely accepted forms of proof of address, this includes in the UK and elsewhere. If you have a bank account with the UK address listed, you can print out one of your most recent bank statements and use this to support your account opening.
Credit Card Statment
Similar to bank statements, UK banks accept credit card statements as a proof of address document. However, in most cases, they do require that credit card is a major card issued by a credible financial institution. In other words, if you have a pre-paid card from an offshore card provider, it is unlikely to be accepted.
Utility Bills
The most widely accepted proof of address document, in the UK and abroad, is a utility bill. In short, a bill from a public utility like an electricity, gas, or water provider is guaranteed to be accepted. However, they can be very difficult to obtain. Of course, if you own a property in the UK as an income property or second home, then utility bills may be available to you.
Address Documents
There are other alternative documents that both individuals and non-resident UK LLPs and LTDs can provide when opening bank accounts. We cover these in our Advanced Banking Reports, available to members of GlobalBanks IQ.
GlobalBanks IQ includes dedicated reports that provide the step-by-step process and specific banks that non-resident UK companies can use to successfully open bank accounts both in person and remotely.
Alternative Banking Jurisdictions
If you are struggling to meet the proof of address requirements imposed by UK banks, you may want to consider opening elsewhere. Fortunately, there are a number of jurisdictions available to non-residents from most countries. These alternatives include top banking jurisdictions like the Channel Islands, Singapore, Switzerland, Georgia, Panama, and many Caribbean countries.
If you are interested in opening accounts in any of these countries as a non-resident, you can get immediate access to the GlobalBanks Database and our step-by-step guides to help you open accounts when you join GlobalBanks IQ.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are three of the most common questions we receive from people in need of proof of address documents in the UK. If you have further questions you would like answered, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us directly.
What Counts As Proof of Address UK?
The documents that count as proof of address in the UK include utility bills, tax documents, driver’s licenses, benefits statements, and statements from financial institutions. That said, there are alternative documents that can be used when providing proof of address to UK banks, which we discuss in our premium reports.
How Can I Get Proof of Address Without Bills UK?
You can get proof of address without bills in the UK by obtaining an alternative proof of address document. In most cases, an alternative proof of address documents that UK banks accept include bank statements, credit card statements, tax documents, and more.
Ready to Explore Your Options?
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You can access GlobalBanks IQ, our international banking intelligence platform, in just a few clicks. Unlock our bank database, individual bank profiles, account opening strategies and reports, banker scripts, and more.
But, if you want a 100% personalized account opening service that taps into our team’s expertise and provides direct banker introductions, you can get started with GlobalBanks Insider.
Of course, if you have any questions, please contact us directly.