Referees confirming against original document(s) (also referred to as Route 1) are professionals who are required to verify an original document proving the identity of the applicant and must be contactable directly at their place of work.

Referee requirements:

• your chosen referee must not be a relative or be in a personal relationship with you (cannot be a guardian, foster carer, spouse, civil partner, fiancé, boyfriend/girlfriend)
• must not reside at the same address as you
• the referee needs to be in full-time employment and be reachable at their registered business address during regular business hours by work email or registered business contact number
• we have to verify their business details which must be published/advertised in online professional business directories.

For information on permitted referees validating documents, please go to Referees confirming against original document(s) page.

If your referee is known to you personally, you can use one of the following original documents:

• Adoption certificate
• Biometric Home Office photo ID
• Birth certificate
• Certified copy of a birth certificate
• Disclosure and Barring Service certificate (DBS)
• European National ID Card (must bear a recent likeness to you)
• Global or European Health Insurance Card
• Gender Recognition Certificate
• Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
• NHS Medical Card
• Passport (UK or International; must bear a recent likeness to you)
• Photo Driving Licence (UK or European; must bear a recent likeness to you)
• Proof of Age Standards Scheme card
• UK Marriage certificate which states applicant's date of birth
• UK Naturalisation Certificate

If your referee is not known to you personally, the following photographic ID documents can be accepted:

• Biometric Home Office photo ID
• European National ID Card (must bear a recent likeness to you)
• Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
• Passport (UK or International; must bear a recent likeness to you)
• Photo Driving Licence (UK or European; must bear a recent likeness to you)
• Proof of Age Standards Scheme card

If applying using a paper application form, your referee must be shown the original document(s) confirming your identity. The referee must sign and date the photocopies of your document(s) stating "I certify a true likeness to the original". The copies will need to be posted with your CitizenCard application and the photo signed by your referee. We only require the countersigned copies of the document(s); please do not post to us any original documents.

If you have changed your name since birth and the document shows your old name, please show the original change of name document(s) - marriage certificate(s), change of name deed(s), Court Order(s) or Gender Recognition Certificate to your referee. Please note that the photocopies of your change of name document(s) must be countersigned by your referee and sent with your application form and the photo signed by your referee if you are applying via the paper application process.

If you don't have an official document confirming your identity, use a referee confirming from official records.