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  1. Home
  2. Motoring
  3. Driving licences
  4. Renew, exchange or apply for a driving licence
  5. Identity documents and photographs

Providing proof of identity for a driving licence

If you want to apply for a photocard driving licence, you may need to provide some form of identification. The Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) can’t issue a driving licence until your identity is confirmed.

When identity documents are needed

If you currently hold a Northern Ireland (NI) or UK photocard licence, identity documents are not normally required.

If this is your first NI licence, or if you are changing your name or correcting your date of birth on your existing licence, you must provide valid identity documents.

Identity documents accepted

If you need to provide identity documents, they must be originals. DVA will not accept photocopies or laminated certificates.

DVA prefers one of the following documents as confirmation of your identity:

  • full valid current passport in your current name
  • a valid UK Biometric Residence Permit
  • UK or Republic of Ireland birth certificate

You should not send your passport if you are likely to need it for travel purposes soon. DVA cannot guarantee its return for a specific date or event.

In some cases DVA will accept:

  • certificate of registry of birth (provided your name is present on the certificate)
  • adoption certificate
  • ID card issued by a member state of the EEA (ID cards issued by the UK Passport Agency are not accepted by DVA as confirmation of your identity)
  • travel documents issued by the Home Office
  • certificate of naturalisation or registration (with supporting documents)
  • proof of entitlement for the State Retirement Pension

If your name is different now from that shown on your passport or identity card, you must have your passport or identity card updated to show this change.

If your name is different now from that shown on your birth certificate, you must also provide original documentary evidence to confirm your change of name - for example: marriage certificate, decree absolute or decree nisi papers, deed poll or statutory declaration. The evidence you provide must show a clear link between the name on your identity document and your current name.

If you are in any doubt about the identity documents you need to provide, you can contact DVA:

  • Driver & Vehicle Agency - driver licensing enquiries

Return of supporting documents

DVA will normally return your documents within 10 working days, separate from your licence. If you don’t receive them, contact DVA :

  • Driver & Vehicle Agency - driver licensing enquiries

The driving licence fee includes return of your supporting documents (where applicable) by second class post. If you would like your supporting documents returned by secure delivery, provide a suitable pre-paid Royal Mail Special delivery envelope.

Note – DVA will not provide compensation for any loss or delay resulting from the use of second class post.

DVA can't guarantee to return your documents by a set date, for example, a holiday.

  • Driver & Vehicle Agency - driver licensing enquiries

Proof of residency

If you are exchanging a licence other than a licence issued in Great Britain, or you have previously been resident outside Northern Ireland and wish to apply for a provisional licence, you must provide DVA with proof of residency.

Documents accepted by DVA as proof that you are resident in Northern Ireland are listed below. At least one of these documents is needed:

  • utility bill - for example gas or electricity bill
  • bank account or credit card statement (signed and stamped by bank official) 
  • hospital appointment notice
  • court notice 
  • correspondence from a United Kingdom government department for example Northern Ireland domestic rates bill or HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) income tax notification
  • correspondence from a Northern Ireland university confirming that you've been on a course of study for at least the last six months 

Note - your document must be an original copy, not a photocopy.

Your document must be dated within the last three months, immediately preceding the date of your application for an exchange or provisional driving licence. The document supplied must also be in your name and show your Northern Ireland address.

Photo

In some circumstances a photograph is not needed. The link below explains when a photo is needed:

  • The photo for your driving licence

More useful links

  • Driver licensing
  • Driving for a living
  • Exchanging your foreign driving licence
  • Getting your driving licence back after disqualification
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Identity documents and photographs

  • Having your photo certified for a driving licence
  • Providing proof of identity for a driving licence
  • The photo for your driving licence

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Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk 

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Carer's Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912
Email 
dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Call 0800 587 2750 
Email 
customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

Disability Living Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912 
Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

  • Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
  • Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme,  email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

  • Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
    contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
     
  • Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
    contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

 

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about  60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly.  We don't have access to information about you.

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