How to complete your identity check
Before you start a new qualification at the University, you will need to complete an online identity check.
You must provide:
- your student number
- a passport-style photograph
- a scan or photograph of your identity documents.
Find out what documents you need for your ID check.
When to complete your online identity check
- UK and Ireland students: After activating your IT account.
- International students (including EU/EEA/Swiss): After activating your IT account and are either in the UK or have received your visa ready to travel.
How to complete your online identity check
UK and Ireland students
- Go to the online identity check form.
- To access the form, you’ll first need to activate your IT account and get your University username and password. Find out how to register with the University.
International students (including EU/EEA/Swiss)
If you’re on a Student visa, there may be two parts to the identity check process, one before you arrive in the UK and one after.
Step 1: before you arrive
- Go to the online identity check form.
- To access the form, you’ll first need to activate your IT account and get your University username and password. Find out how to register with the University.
Step 2: after you arrive
- Once you’re in the UK, you might be contacted to provide documentation that prove your entry into the country.
- Once verified, you’ll get instructions to collect your student card.
If you have difficulty accessing the online identity check form
If you see a permission error when trying to open the form, you may be logged into a different Microsoft account. You will need to:
- Go to the Microsoft Office website.
- Select your initials/photo and sign out.
- Close the browser that you are using.
- Re-open the browser and go to the Microsoft Office website and log in using your University of Leeds email and password.
- Re-open the Online Identity Check Form.
Alternatively, try using a private browsing window to access the form.
After you have completed your online identity check
A member of staff will check the documents you have provided. If more information is required you will receive a Request for Information via email.
After a member of staff has checked your documents you will receive an email inviting you to collect your student card. Please note that during peak periods it can take up to 10 working days for your documents to be checked.
If you have an approved student loan, we will notify the Student Loan Company to allow your payments to be released as scheduled.
Distance/off-campus students can apply for their student card remotely using this student order form. Please note that we will not post student cards to a non-UK address.
Documents you need to complete your identity check
Students from the UK and Ireland
When completing the identity check you will need to upload an image of your passport information page (download Word doc example, 101KB).
If you do not have a passport and you have a loan approved with the Student Loans Company, you can upload an image of a UK Driving Licence (provisional or full licence).
If you do not have an in-date passport and you are not receiving student finance from the Student Loans Company, please use the online ID check form to state that you do not have a passport, and you will be automatically emailed an ID Check Verification Form and further instructions.
Students with a Student visa
You will need to upload:
- An image of your passport information page (download Word doc example, 101KB).
- Your Share Code. You can get your share code by visiting the GOV.UK view and prove your immigration status site. Please make sure you choose ‘something else’ as the option when asked for the purpose of the check.
- An image of the UK entry stamp in your passport.
- If the UK Border Force did not stamp your Passport, then we will need to see your boarding pass/plane ticket, that includes your name, date of arrival and location.
If you were already in the UK when you applied for your student visa, we do not need to see evidence of your date of entry. Instead, you will need to upload:
- An image of your Grant email (download Word doc example, 27KB) issued to you by UKVI. This will contain your visa expiry date, visa restrictions and sponsor details.
Students with European Settled or pre-settled status (EUSS)
When completing the identity check you will need to upload :
- An image of your passport information page (download Word doc example, 101KB) or an image of the front and back of your national ID card.
- Your Share Code. You can get your share code by visiting the GOV.UK view and prove your immigration status site. Please make sure you choose ‘something else’ as the option when asked for the purpose of the check.
Students studying for six months or less
If you are on a student visa for less than six months please follow the instructions in the Students with a Student Visa section.
You will need to upload:
If you are required to apply for a visa before entering the UK, please provide:
- An image of your passport information page (download Word doc example, 101KB).
- Your Share Code. You can get your share code by visiting the GOV.UK view and prove your immigration status site. Please make sure you choose ‘something else’ as the option when asked for the purpose of the check.
- An image of the UK entry stamp in your passport.
- If the UK Border Force did not stamp your Passport, then we will need to see your boarding pass/plane ticket, that includes your name, date of arrival and location.
Or, if you do not have an eVisa for your visit visa:
- An image of your Visitor visa vignette (travel visa) (download Word doc example, 126KB)
- An image of the UK entry stamp in your passport.
- If the UK Border Force did not stamp your Passport, then we will need to see your boarding pass/plane ticket, that includes your name, date of arrival and location.
If you are not required to apply for a visa, please provide:
- An image of your passport information page (download Word doc example, 101KB).
- An image of the UK entry stamp in your passport.
- If the UK Border Force did not stamp your Passport, then we will need to see your boarding pass/plane ticket, that includes your name, date of arrival and location.
Students with other types of immigration permission
If you have a different type of immigration permission, you will need to upload:
- An image of your passport information page (download Word doc example, 101KB). Or, if you do not have a passport, your travel document.
- Your Share Code. You can get your share code by visiting the GOV.UK view and prove your immigration status site. Please make sure you choose ‘something else’ as the option when asked for the purpose of the check.
Students with an outstanding visa application
You will need to upload:
- An image of your passport information page (download Word doc example,101KB).
- Your visa application submitted with unique application reference number as the proof of visa application made while waiting for the UKVI decision or a copy of the UKVI successful decision (download Word doc example, 18KB).
- Your previous visa. For example, a share code, or a screenshot of the eVisa.