When you want to open an account with any bank or building society, you will be asked to provide evidence of your identity and confirmation of your address. Yet for those who have been living abroad and are planning to move or return to the UK, this can be a harrowing experience.
Having no credit history in the UK and no proof of address are massive hurdles to jump before you can set up a new current account, which will enable your employer to pay your wages directly into your bank account.
Although most banks and building societies expect you to have a UK address before you can open a bank account, there are specialist products, such as the HSBC Passport account, designed for foreign nationals, which could be an alternative if you do not meet standard account criteria.
HSBC Passport account holders must be over 16 and, when applying, the bank requires applicants to bring one form of identification and one non-UK address verification into their local branch.
For those of us who have lived in the UK all our lives, having proof of residence can still be a problem if you have been renting a property with a partner and all the bills are in their name, renting a room in a shared house and do not pay any bills or if you are not on the electoral role for some reason.
That said, international banks such as HSBC do offer accounts (HSBC passport) for international citizens where proof of address is not required but a month fee is.
Alternatives you could try to get proof of address;
-If your employer has provided you with a contract of employment or payslip with your current address on it, you may be able to use that.Alternatively, your HMRC P2 'PAYE Coding Notice' which notifies you what your tax code is usually accepted as proof of address alongside a current Drivers License or Passport.
-Contact your local HMRC tax office
-Alternatively apply for a Prepaid Card. Prepaid cards are great for students and those that have little or no credit history. Once the card is sent to your home, use the letter that comes with it as proof of address.
A Prepaid Account Card can also be the perfect alternative to a bank account:
•Some prepaid cards allow you to use them like a bank account and have your wages paid directly to your card's account – without any links to any other account you may have.
•There are no unexpected bank charges and very little paperwork to fill in to get an account.
•Just use it like a bank account, pay bills online and set up regular payments for everything from your gas and electric bill to your broadband.
otherwise the standards forms of proof of address are:
•Utility Bills: gas, water, electric, cable TV or land-line phone bill (not mobile) that's less than three months old
•Local authority Council Tax Bill issued within the current financial year
•UK bank statement that's less than three months old (internet statements aren't acceptable)
•UK Credit Card statement that's less than three months old (internet statements aren't acceptable)
•Tenancy Agreement or Council rent book (must be current)
•Catalogue or Mail Order Statement that's less than three months old
•Hire Purchase Statement of Account
•Pension Book
•UK Photocard Driving License with current address and full paper counterpart
•Medical card / NHS Card
•UK Mortgage statement that's less than three months old (internet statements aren't acceptable)
•Motor insurance or Home Insurance certificate issued within the last 12 months
Having no credit history in the UK and no proof of address are massive hurdles to jump before you can set up a new current account, which will enable your employer to pay your wages directly into your bank account.
Although most banks and building societies expect you to have a UK address before you can open a bank account, there are specialist products, such as the HSBC Passport account, designed for foreign nationals, which could be an alternative if you do not meet standard account criteria.
HSBC Passport account holders must be over 16 and, when applying, the bank requires applicants to bring one form of identification and one non-UK address verification into their local branch.
For those of us who have lived in the UK all our lives, having proof of residence can still be a problem if you have been renting a property with a partner and all the bills are in their name, renting a room in a shared house and do not pay any bills or if you are not on the electoral role for some reason.
Before applying for a bank account, be aware:
- Passports, National Insurance Cards or Birth Certificates are not classed as adequate proof of address as these do not prove your address, just your identity.
- Passports, National Identity Cards and Travel documents must be current, i.e. unexpired.
- Letters should be of recent date, or, in the case of students, the course dates stated in the Letter of Acceptance should reasonably correspond with the date of the account application to the bank. All documents must be original.
That said, international banks such as HSBC do offer accounts (HSBC passport) for international citizens where proof of address is not required but a month fee is.
Alternatives you could try to get proof of address;
-If your employer has provided you with a contract of employment or payslip with your current address on it, you may be able to use that.Alternatively, your HMRC P2 'PAYE Coding Notice' which notifies you what your tax code is usually accepted as proof of address alongside a current Drivers License or Passport.
-Contact your local HMRC tax office
-Alternatively apply for a Prepaid Card. Prepaid cards are great for students and those that have little or no credit history. Once the card is sent to your home, use the letter that comes with it as proof of address.
A Prepaid Account Card can also be the perfect alternative to a bank account:
•Some prepaid cards allow you to use them like a bank account and have your wages paid directly to your card's account – without any links to any other account you may have.
•There are no unexpected bank charges and very little paperwork to fill in to get an account.
•Just use it like a bank account, pay bills online and set up regular payments for everything from your gas and electric bill to your broadband.
otherwise the standards forms of proof of address are:
•Utility Bills: gas, water, electric, cable TV or land-line phone bill (not mobile) that's less than three months old
•Local authority Council Tax Bill issued within the current financial year
•UK bank statement that's less than three months old (internet statements aren't acceptable)
•UK Credit Card statement that's less than three months old (internet statements aren't acceptable)
•Tenancy Agreement or Council rent book (must be current)
•Catalogue or Mail Order Statement that's less than three months old
•Hire Purchase Statement of Account
•Pension Book
•UK Photocard Driving License with current address and full paper counterpart
•Medical card / NHS Card
•UK Mortgage statement that's less than three months old (internet statements aren't acceptable)
•Motor insurance or Home Insurance certificate issued within the last 12 months
