# Identification Documents Requirements **URL:** \ **Category:** Monzo Chat\ **Created:** [22 September 2017 17:01 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/identification-documents-requirements/23414 "2017-09-22T17:01:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![anon93718513](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d78d45/32.png) [@anon93718513](https://community.monzo.com/u/anon93718513)\ **Post date:** [26 September 2017 16:26 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/identification-documents-requirements/23414/41 "2017-09-26T16:26:42Z")
> [@Feathers](#): > > While OK for me (so perhaps I shpuldn’t care?) that makes it interesting for my nearly 18 yr old daughter who doesn’t have a driving license and may or may not have a valid passport (expiry sometime soon). As I think I’ve said before on another thread this really is a problem with the Goverment’s failure to come up with some set standards over what ID is acceptable for what (there are loads of different documents saying different things) or provide some kind of photo ID card which isn’t a driving licence. By default people seem to want photo ID, yet if you don’t drive/don’t have a passport there is literally no way to provide this. ---
**Author:** ![anon70107404](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@anon70107404](https://community.monzo.com/u/anon70107404)\ **Post date:** [26 September 2017 23:11 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/identification-documents-requirements/23414/42 "2017-09-26T23:11:12Z")
> [@anon44204028](#): > > I found not only do most banks ask for photo ID my friend was told at one bank branch they needed to have 3 months validity left on the ID! That’s a completely illogical, arbitrary and unnecessary requirement. ---
**Author:** ![tomsr](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/tomsr/32/44861_2.png) [@tomsr](https://community.monzo.com/u/tomsr)\ **Post date:** [28 January 2018 16:52 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/identification-documents-requirements/23414/43 "2018-01-28T16:52:36Z")
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**Author:** ![anon66431831](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4af34b/32.png) [@anon66431831](https://community.monzo.com/u/anon66431831)\ **Post date:** [28 January 2018 16:53 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/identification-documents-requirements/23414/44 "2018-01-28T16:53:46Z")
So after waiting all this time for a current account I get told I will only be accepted if I can provide a Passport or Photo Driving Licence. I don’t have either. A pity as I do love Monzo but seems Im going to have to stick with Barclays (which Ive had for about 30 odd years) and Nationwide. By the way I opened Nationwide online in 2015 without providing photo id. ---
**Author:** ![anon70107404](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@anon70107404](https://community.monzo.com/u/anon70107404)\ **Post date:** [12 September 2017 10:03 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/identification-documents-requirements/23414/45 "2017-09-12T10:03:22Z")
Similar to the points mentioned in this post: [Changing Surname](https://community.monzo.com/t/changing-surname/17412/8) ---
**Author:** ![anon85014982](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@anon85014982](https://community.monzo.com/u/anon85014982)\ **Post date:** [12 September 2017 10:05 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/identification-documents-requirements/23414/46 "2017-09-12T10:05:54Z")
I could be wrong But I’m sure I read previously that you can post in other forms of ID for Monzo to verify you manually… ---
**Author:** ![anon66431831](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4af34b/32.png) [@anon66431831](https://community.monzo.com/u/anon66431831)\ **Post date:** [12 September 2017 10:28 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/identification-documents-requirements/23414/47 "2017-09-12T10:28:45Z")
The reply I have had from the Help Team is that there is no way round this at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![anon85014982](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@anon85014982](https://community.monzo.com/u/anon85014982)\ **Post date:** [12 September 2017 10:34 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/identification-documents-requirements/23414/48 "2017-09-12T10:34:58Z")
Ah ok, maybe something they are planning once out of beta then ---
**Author:** ![anon44204028](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed655f/32.png) [@anon44204028](https://community.monzo.com/u/anon44204028)\ **Post date:** [26 January 2018 08:51 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/identification-documents-requirements/23414/51 "2018-01-26T08:51:41Z")
Passports are not just for travel, they are proof of identity. My friend who is wheelchair bound (as has never been out of the country) got one as not only is ID needed for opening accounts it was needed by recruitment agencies and employers too. She could not get a job without one. ---
**Author:** ![anon81274823](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@anon81274823](https://community.monzo.com/u/anon81274823)\ **Post date:** [26 January 2018 09:33 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/identification-documents-requirements/23414/52 "2018-01-26T09:33:54Z")
> [@Our Plans to Close the Monzo Prepaid Cards](https://community.monzo.com/t/our-plans-to-close-the-monzo-prepaid-cards/31329/277): > > ID needed for opening accounts Out of interest are provisional licences accepted equally as ID? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_R](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/peter_r/32/26102_2.png) [@Peter\_R](https://community.monzo.com/u/Peter_R)\ **Post date:** [26 January 2018 09:34 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/identification-documents-requirements/23414/53 "2018-01-26T09:34:18Z")
I used mine to open Monzo ---
**Author:** ![ChrisBeldam](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/chrisbeldam/32/69477_2.png) [@ChrisBeldam](https://community.monzo.com/u/ChrisBeldam)\ **Post date:** [26 January 2018 09:38 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/identification-documents-requirements/23414/54 "2018-01-26T09:38:17Z")
Most of the time I have seen them accepted as ID ---
**Author:** ![anon44204028](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed655f/32.png) [@anon44204028](https://community.monzo.com/u/anon44204028)\ **Post date:** [26 January 2018 09:56 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/identification-documents-requirements/23414/55 "2018-01-26T09:56:02Z")
> [@Our Plans to Close the Monzo Prepaid Cards](https://community.monzo.com/t/our-plans-to-close-the-monzo-prepaid-cards/31329/278): > > Bring in National ID’s I say Bring back National ID’s I say…I loved my ID card before the ConDem (or was it LibCon) coalition ended them (without refunding my money) ---
**Author:** ![anon72173902](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@anon72173902](https://community.monzo.com/u/anon72173902)\ **Post date:** [26 January 2018 10:12 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/identification-documents-requirements/23414/56 "2018-01-26T10:12:43Z")
i never had one but since I had one from living in Dubai it’s handy ---
**Author:** ![SeMond](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/semond/32/13888_2.png) [@SeMond](https://community.monzo.com/u/SeMond)\ **Post date:** [26 January 2018 15:15 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/identification-documents-requirements/23414/57 "2018-01-26T15:15:43Z")
Yes, very handy. I use my Swiss one all the time. Just make it voluntary and free or very cheap and everyone will have one before you know it 👍 ---
**Author:** ![anon72173902](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@anon72173902](https://community.monzo.com/u/anon72173902)\ **Post date:** [26 January 2018 15:30 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/identification-documents-requirements/23414/58 "2018-01-26T15:30:24Z")
Voluntary won’t work, should be mandatory and free. We pay enough tax as it is. ---
**Author:** ![SeMond](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/semond/32/13888_2.png) [@SeMond](https://community.monzo.com/u/SeMond)\ **Post date:** [26 January 2018 16:24 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/identification-documents-requirements/23414/59 "2018-01-26T16:24:05Z")
I would be very suspicious of a mandatory ID card and hope this will always be optional. A different option would be to do it like Switzerland where you are required by law to be able to identify yourself at any time. So if a 👮‍♀️ asks for your ID and you can’t produce it you will be automatically arrested until your identity can be confirmed. Both options feel a bit too close to authoritarianism for me to be comfortable although that might just be me 🤷🏼‍♂️ ---
**Author:** ![j06](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/j06/32/97044_2.png) [@j06](https://community.monzo.com/u/j06)\ **Post date:** [26 January 2018 16:26 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/identification-documents-requirements/23414/60 "2018-01-26T16:26:57Z")
In the United Kingdom there is a long tradition, any change to which would be vehemently opposed by a large number of citizens, of not having to identify oneself to a police officer, unless suspected of an offence. ---
**Author:** ![anon81274823](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@anon81274823](https://community.monzo.com/u/anon81274823)\ **Post date:** [26 January 2018 16:41 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/identification-documents-requirements/23414/61 "2018-01-26T16:41:09Z")
> [@Our Plans to Close the Monzo Prepaid Cards](https://community.monzo.com/t/our-plans-to-close-the-monzo-prepaid-cards/31329/288): > > I would be very suspicious of a mandatory ID card and hope this will always be optional. We almost have the answer just requires a bit of lateral thinking: Rejig the driving licence as the ID card with driving privileges. Have one number identify the citizen - again the driving licence system is pretty good: therefore no NI, Tax, NHS, hospital or passport numbers. Require it every time a taxpayer funded service is accessed - schools, health care etc and allow it to be used by banks etc as the sole ID requirement. Allow everyone who has a driving licence now to continue but at photocard renewal time proof of citizenship will be required. ---
**Author:** ![j06](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/j06/32/97044_2.png) [@j06](https://community.monzo.com/u/j06)\ **Post date:** [26 January 2018 16:44 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/identification-documents-requirements/23414/62 "2018-01-26T16:44:12Z")
And for the millions of people who don’t have a driving licence? No matter what piece of plastic you use, people in this country will not accept a mandatory ID card. [Previous page](https://community.monzo.com/t/identification-documents-requirements/23414.md?page=2) [Next page](https://community.monzo.com/t/identification-documents-requirements/23414.md?page=4)