Identity verification documents - Private customers

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. 

We’ve put together a list of documents that we can accept for verification purposes.

We require you to supply one document from each section below. 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 below for details of who can certify copy documents for details.

We return all documentation to you using a recorded delivery service.

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:

Under-18s only

• Birth certificate
• Adoption certificate
• Confirmation from your work/school/college/university of your full name, current address and details of your employment/student status.
• NHS Medical Card
• National Insurance Card
• Student identification/matriculation card (from a recognised university or college) – This must be valid for current academic year
• Student Loan Company/Local Education Authority award notice
• HMRC notifications of Child Tax Credit or Child Benefit, where you are named as the child in respect of which the benefit is paid.
• Young Person's Identity Card (such as those accredited by the PASS scheme)

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 letter from the manager or warden of the nursing/residential home confirming permanent residence there. This also applies if you are Financial Adviser to a customer who is resident in a nursing/residential Home.

Usually, this would support a piece of documentation in List 1 such as an original notification letter from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) confirming the right to a state pension.

If you are providing documents on behalf of an incapacitated customer then an original Court Order appointing a deputy may also be accepted. This must be in respect of an appointment by the Court of Protection and name both the customer and the appointed deputy.

Armed Forces

We accept copies of documents certified as a true copy by a senior ranking officer. For details see "Certifying your documents" below.

In addition, 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 copy where the certifier also specifies the document they are certifying and ensures that your name and address is highlighted to us.