What ID do you need for the Life in the UK Test?

Written by George Bielinski · Updated 13 June 2026

The test itself is rarely where people come unstuck. The admin around it is. Every year, people are turned away at the door because their ID does not match their booking, and the £50 fee is lost. This guide makes sure that does not happen to you.

Which documents are accepted

You must bring one original document with a photo that is a true likeness of you. Commonly accepted documents include:

• A current passport.
• A biometric residence permit (BRP) or biometric residence card (BRC). These must be standalone documents, not attached to anything else.
• An in-date EU, EEA or Swiss national identity card.
• Certain travel documents, such as a convention travel document, a certificate of identity document, or a stateless person document.

Rules and accepted documents can change, so always check the current identification requirements on GOV.UK before your appointment. If you do not have any accepted document, contact the Home Office nationality enquiries team well ahead of time rather than turning up and hoping.

If you have an eVisa

Many people no longer have a physical card, because their immigration status is held digitally as an eVisa. If that is you, you cannot show a card at the centre. Instead, you need a share code from your UKVI account.

Generate the share code from your online immigration status account before you leave home, and bring it with you. You may not be able to create or retrieve it reliably at the centre without internet access. If you also hold a passport, bring it as a backup, so a technical hiccup does not cost you the appointment.

The rule that catches the most people: your name must match exactly

This is the single most important point. The name you entered when booking must match the name on your ID exactly. That includes middle names. If your passport shows a middle name and your booking does not, that counts as a mismatch, and a mismatch means you cannot sit the test and you do not get a refund.

When you book, copy your name straight from the document you plan to bring, character for character. If you have changed your name, you may need to bring evidence of the change as well. Five careful minutes at the booking stage protects your £50 and your appointment.

What will not be accepted

• Photocopies or screenshots. The document must be the original.
• Expired documents, with limited exceptions for certain residence permits. If in doubt, check GOV.UK.
• Emergency travel documents.
• A different document from the one you used to book. It must be the same one.

Some centres also ask for proof of your address, so it is sensible to bring a recent document showing your name and address as well.

A simple checklist before you leave home

• The original ID you booked with, valid and with a clear photo.
• The name on it matches your booking exactly, middle names included.
• If you have an eVisa, a share code generated in advance.
• Proof of address, just in case your centre asks.
• Your booking confirmation.

Get the ID right and the only thing left to worry about is the questions. That part you can control completely, by preparing properly before you book. Our guide on how to book the test walks through the booking screens, and the 14-day plan gets you ready for the questions themselves.