This page provides information about the documents we will accept and what to do if you don’t have them.
All financial services firms within the UK follow guidance on the documents that are acceptable to verify the identity of its customers.
As an M&G customer we will always try to verify your identity using an electronic verification system first. However, if this is not possible we will then ask you to provide two pieces of documentation, one of which should include your date of birth:
- One to prove your personal identity such as a driving licence or passport
- One to prove your address such as a utility bill or bank statement
A full list of acceptable documents are detailed in the “Verification document requirements” tab below.
At M&G, we usually request a UK passport or driving licence and utility bill to check your identity and address. However, we understand that our customers may not have these documents or may be unwilling to send them to us in the post.
Below is a complete list of documents that we can accept for verification purposes.
We require you to supply one document from each section below, one of which should include your date of birth. Some documents appear in both sections. We’ll need to see two separate forms of identity, so you can’t use one document to cover both sections. Where address details are displayed this must reflect your current residential address.
We recommend that you don’t send original documents through the post using a non-secure service as we can’t accept liability for their safety en route to us.
We’re happy to accept copies of documentation if they’re certified by a professional person. See page 5 of our ‘Verifying Your Identity’ Guide for our full certification requirements, including the required certification wording.
We return all documentation to you using a recorded delivery service.
Personal identity evidence - list 1
Passport
- Full current UK or overseas passport
- The passport must be signed
Driving licence
- Full current UK driving licence
- EEA/EU photocard licence
Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and other benefits-related documents
- Original notification letter from the Benefits Agency confirming your right to benefits
- Letter confirming your right to a state pension
Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
HMRC notifications of:
- Child Tax Credit
- Disabled Person’s Tax Credit
- Working Family Tax Credit
- Tax code
Child benefit
- Self-employed registration cards for individuals and partnerships in the construction industry: CIS4(P), CIS5, CIS6, SC60.
Residence permits and identification cards
- EU Identity cards
- EEA or Switzerland national identity card
- Other national identity cards (not UK)
- Northern Ireland voter’s card
- Residence permit issued by Home Office to EU Nationals
Other
- Shotgun or firearms certificate
Address evidence - list 2
Local Authority documents
- Council Tax bill or payment book (valid for current tax year)
- Local council rent card or tenancy agreement
Driving licence
- Full current UK driving licence
- EEA/EU photocard licence
Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and other benefits-related documents
- Original notification letter from the Benefits Agency confirming your right to benefits
- Letter confirming your right to a state pension
Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) documents
- Any HMRC correspondence addressed to you at the stated address
Residence permits & identification cards
- EU Identity cards
- EEA or Switzerland national identity card
- Other national identity cards (not UK)
- Northern Ireland voter’s card
- Residence permit issued by Home Office to EU Nationals
Utility bills
Utility bill (not a mobile phone bill) or a certification from a supplier of utilities confirming the arrangement to pay for its services on pre-payment terms. This must be dated within six months
- Gas
- Electricity
- Water
- Phone (not mobile)
- TV licence renewal
Financial statements
All statements must be dated within six months. Online statements can only be accepted if they are certified by the issuer as a true copy, if they agree to do so.
- Bank statement
- Credit card statement
- Building society statement
- Mortgage statement
Other
- Solicitor’s letter confirming house purchase or land registry confirmation
We understand that you may not have the documents we have requested. In this situation, we may be able to accept some of the following as evidence of your personal identity or address:
Residents in a nursing/residential home
If you live in a nursing home and can’t provide any of the documents listed, we can accept a signed letter on headed paper from the manager or warden of the nursing/residential home confirming the date of birth and permanent residence there.
Armed Forces
We can accept an original UK Armed Forces ID card, or an appropriately certified copy.
Other documents that M&G may consider
Contact us if you don’t have any of the documents listed above but can provide one the following:
- Police warrant card (with photo)
- Vehicle registration document
- Probate document
- Letter confirming your National Insurance Number (The National Insurance Card can’t be accepted on its own)
- NHS Medical Card
- Letter from a GP addressed to you, and on headed note paper
Foreign documents
As a UK-registered company, we prefer to receive documentation translated into English. However, we may be able to accept your documentation if your name and address information is clear and we are able to recognise the bank or utility company that generated it.
In all other instances, you may provide an appropriately certified translated copy where the translator also specifies the document they are translating and ensures that your name and address is highlighted to us.
We can’t accept photocopied documents unless they are correctly certified by a professional person. See page 5 of our Verifying Your Identity guide for our full certification requirements, including the required certification wording.
This guide also provides the reasons why we may verify existing customers and the answers to your frequently asked questions.
This website is operated by M&G plc (“M&G”) and its local subsidiaries. M&G plc is registered in England and Wales under company number 11444019 and has its registered office at 10 Fenchurch Avenue, London, EC3M 5AG.