NATIONAL
ENTITLEMENT
CARD

Proofs

PROOFS

Proof Documents for your Application

Proof of person (proving name and age), proof of residence and proof of photograph are all required to be verified as part of your application. If applying in-person at a Validation Point all proofs provided must be originals, however if applying via post or email please send clear photographs or scans of your proofs - please do not send any original ID evidence.

Please visit Transport Scotland's website for a list of acceptable proofs to the Concessionary Travel Scheme for people with a disability.

If a Local Authority Agent is in any doubt about the legitimacy of any documents presented they may ask for additional proofs or reject a customer’s National Entitlement Card application. Remember that the NEC can be used as proof of age as well as proof of entitlement for many services and the card application verification is critical to many services.

Proof of Person

These documents are acceptable as proof of person:

  • Birth Certificate
  • Current Passport [if applying for a young persons' NEC to access the Young Persons' Free Bus Travel Scheme a passport will be acceptable if it is valid and genuine and the photograph is still a true likeness of the applicant, even if it is no longer in date (expired)]
  • Adoption Order / Certificate
  • NHS Medical Card
  • Marriage/Civil Partnership Certificate
  • Photo Driving Licence
  • PASS Hologrammed Card
  • Residence Permit issued by Home Office to EU Nationals
  • Home Office Letter IS KOS EX or KOS EX2
  • GV3 Form (Declaration of Identity)
  • Current Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)
  • NHS Correspondence including name and date of birth
  • Home Office BAIL 201 Form
  • Home Office s95 Grant Letter
Proof of Residence

These documents (current or within last three months) are acceptable as proof of residence - please note as a temporary relaxation of measures, if applying for a young persons' NEC to access the Young Persons' Free Bus Travel Scheme, these documents (current or within last twelve months) will be acceptable as proof of residence:

  • Photo Driving Licence (if not used as Proof of Person)
  • Non-Photo Driving Licence
  • Residential Utility Bill (excluding mobile phone bills)
  • Current Council or Housing Association Rent Book / Statement / Letter
  • Current Bank, Mortgage, Credit Union or other financial institution Statement
  • Letter from DWP / SSS
  • Letter from Occupational Pension Scheme
  • Credit Card Statement
  • Current Television Licence
  • HMRC Letter
  • Home Office Immigration Letter
  • Letter from Care or Residential Home
  • Letter from Local Authority confirming that you are resident within the Council Area
  • Letter from School / University / College
  • Court Order
  • Current NHS correspondence including name and address (if not used as Proof of Person)
  • Home Office BAIL 201 Form (if not used as Proof of Person)
  • Home Office s95 Grant Letter (if not used as Proof of Person)
  • Tenancy Agreement (providing tenant is named as applicant)
Proof of Photograph

These documents are acceptable as proof of photograph:

  • Current Passport [if applying for a young persons' NEC to access the Young Persons' Free Bus Travel Scheme a passport will be acceptable if it is valid and genuine and the photograph is still a true likeness of the applicant, even if it is no longer in date (expired)]
  • Photo Driving Licence
  • PASS Accredited Card
  • Current Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

If you do not have one of the above photo verification proofs then you may be able to have a Photo Referee verify your identity. To find out more about Photo Referees please read the Photo Referee Guide.

Photographs included with applications must be of passport quality and standard. That means that they must be:

  • Passport photo sized – 45mm x 35mm
  • Recent and resemble the applicant
  • Be in colour, be clear and in sharp focus, with a clear difference between the applicant’s face and the background
  • Be taken with eyes open and clearly visible (no sunglasses or tinted glasses and no hair across the eyes)
  • Show the applicant’s full head, without any head covering, unless this is worn for religious beliefs or medical reasons
  • Be taken with nothing covering the face
  • Be a close-up of head and shoulders

For more information on the passport standard and quality of photo, please visit the Government's website.