What do I need to bring to the Life in the UK Test?

By the Mantlin team · Last reviewed 14 September 2026 · Sources GOV.UK and the official Home Office handbook

In short

You must bring the same photo ID that you used to book the Life in the UK Test. It has to be your original document, not a copy or a screenshot, and your photo is taken at the centre on the day. GOV.UK does not ask you to bring any proof of address, so accepted photo ID is the one thing you have to have with you.

If you do not bring the correct ID, or you refuse to have your photo taken, you will not be able to sit the test and you will not get a refund. The accepted list is set by the Home Office and can change, so always check the current rules on GOV.UK before your test.

Check this on GOV.UK

What must you bring?

There is really only one thing the test centre requires: the same original photo ID you gave when you booked. Bring that exact document. You do not need a printed booking confirmation or proof of your address, though it never hurts to have your booking details to hand.

Which ID is accepted?

According to GOV.UK, if you do not have an eVisa you can use one of these forms of photo ID to book, and you then bring that same document to the test:

a valid passport
a valid national ID card from the EU, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway
a valid travel document with a photo (an emergency travel document is not accepted)
a biometric residence permit (BRP) or biometric residence card (BRC), including one that has expired, if you cannot get to your eVisa. There is a deadline on this one, and it is just below

If you have an eVisa, you use a share code from your UK Visas and Immigration account to book instead. Whatever you use, it must be a photo document that still looks like you. If none of these fits your situation, GOV.UK explains how to contact the Home Office for help.

The expired BRP and BRC route ends on 31 December 2026

If you cannot get to your eVisa, GOV.UK lets you use a BRP or BRC that has already expired, but not forever. Two time limits apply and the earlier one is the one that counts. Your test must be no later than 24 months after the expiry date printed on the card, and it must be before 31 December 2026.

So if that card is the ID you were planning to use, book early rather than late. Do not plan to sit your test in the last days of December 2026, and remember GOV.UK asks you to book at least 3 days in advance. Your own deadline depends on the expiry date printed on your own card, and we cannot see that, so please double check the current rules on GOV.UK before you book. There is more detail in can I use an expired BRP for the Life in the UK Test.

Does your name need to match your ID?

The name you give when you book must be an exact match with the name on your ID, and you must bring that same document on the day. A mismatch, or bringing a different document, is one of the most common reasons people are turned away. If your details have changed, check what to do on GOV.UK well before your test.

What happens on the day?

Arrive early so a delay does not cost you your slot, and have your ID ready. Your photo is taken at the centre to confirm who you are, and then the test itself is 24 questions in 45 minutes. You can read more in how many questions are on the test and how long is it.

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Not affiliated with the Home Office or UK Government. This is an independent study tool and does not provide the official Life in the UK Test. The official test can only be booked and taken through GOV.UK.