Proof of address

Non-urgent advice: Important change for IFST 2026

Drivers licences (both provisional and full) will no longer be accepted as proof of address for the IFST application process. Applications which are submitted with a drivers licence provided as the only proof of address will be rejected. All applicants are required to provide one document as proof of address which meets the requirements listed on this page.

Acceptable evidence for proof of address

All applicants must provide one piece of documentation as proof of address, to evidence that they are already living in the region that they are applying to transfer to.

Documentation which does not meet the below requirements will not be accepted by the national review panel, and the IFST application is likely to be rejected.

The proof of address document you provide must:

  • Match the address which you have provided on your IFST application form and this must be for the foundation school area that you are requesting to transfer to.
  • Be an address that falls within the foundation school area that you need to transfer to
  • Meet the requirements listed below for an acceptable proof of address 
  • Be in your full name (first name and surname) and not solely in somebody else’s name.
    If your name is shown as an initial for your first name, and then your surname in full, this is permitted.
    If the document is addressed to both the applicant and to the other account holder (e.g. partner) and is therefore in both names, this is permitted (if it also meets all of the other criteria explained in this guidance).
  • Statements that can be printed off at home from accounts online, such as bank statements or utility bills, are acceptable.

The UKFPO will accept the following documents as proof of address

The following types of evidence must be dated/issued after the end of the application period for the foundation programme.

This means that the evidence/document must be dated on or after 09 October 2025 for FP 2026.

Utility bill (gas, electricity, water, satellite television, landline phone bill, internet provider)

Bank, Building Society or Credit Union statement or passbook

Solicitors letter confirming recent house purchase or land registry confirmation of address

Council or housing association rent card or tenancy agreement

Benefit book or original notification letter from the Benefits Agency/child benefit/Universal Credit

NHS Medical card

Letter of confirmation from GP’s practice of registration with the surgery

The following types of evidence must be dated/issued within the last 12 months prior to the close of the 2026 IFST application window (refer to IFST application timeline for the application closing date).

Annual local authority council tax bill

Annual mortgage statement (original) from a recognised lender

Annual HMRC self-assessment letters or tax demand

Electoral Register entry

Annual TV licence letter

Student loan/finance letter

The following types of evidence must be dated /issued after commencement of your foundation programme.

This means that the evidence/document must be dated on or after the August start date of the programme.

Utility bill (gas, electricity, water, satellite television, landline phone bill, internet provider)

Bank, Building Society or Credit Union statement or passbook

Solicitors letter confirming recent house purchase or land registry confirmation of address

Council or housing association rent card or tenancy agreement

Benefit book or original notification letter from the Benefits Agency/child benefit/Universal Credit

NHS Medical card

Letter of confirmation from GP’s practice of registration with the surgery

The following types of evidence must be dated/issued within the last 12 months prior to the close of the 2026 IFST application window (refer to IFST application timeline for the application closing date).

Annual local authority council tax bill

Annual mortgage statement (original) from a recognised lender

Annual HMRC self-assessment letters or tax demand

Electoral Register entry

Annual TV licence letter

Sudent loan/finance letter

Documents which are not accepted (and not limited to):

  • Drivers licence (provisional and full)
  • Mobile phone bills
  • Credit card statements
  • A letter provided by your university/medical school