UCAT Photo ID Policy
You must bring photographic identification from the list below to your test. It must be accepted in the country where you are testing.
You will not be allowed to test and you will lose your test fee if you do not have the correct photo ID.
Permitted Photo ID
|
Permitted ID:
|
Accepted for use:
|
| PASSPORT |
at ANY test centre |
| PHOTO-CARD DRIVER'S LICENCE (full or provisional) |
at test centres in the country of issue |
| EU IDENTITY CARD or IRISH PASSPORT CARD (information on the card must be presented in Roman script as well as the original character set) |
at test centres in the EU (no longer accepted in UK). |
| GOVERNMENT-ISSUED IDENTITY CARD FROM A NON-EU COUNTRY (information on the card can be presented in Roman script or local language) |
at test centres in the country of issue |
Exceptions apply - please check below.
Permitted forms of ID must:
- be government-issued
- be original (not a photocopy or digital ID).
- be unexpired
- include your name which exactly matches the name registered in your UCAT account (and appears in your appointment confirmation email). If it does not match, please refer to the FAQ section below before contacting us.
- include a photograph which must be a true likeness
ID that does not include your visible signature, will ONLY be accepted if presented together with an unexpired bank or credit card that has your printed name and visible signature. This also applies in the case of child passports signed by a parent.
The following are NOT accepted under any circumstance:
- Transport passes
- Library cards
- Student/employer ID cards
- Proof of age cards (e.g. CitizenCard, Post Office PASS card, Young Scots Card)
- Aadhaar Cards
If you are not sure whether your ID is acceptable, please email Pearson VUE Customer Services at least 10 working days before your appointment for advice. Please upload a photo of your ID with your enquiry.
Alternative ID for candidates testing in a UK Test Centre
If you are taking the test in the UK and cannot present one of the permitted forms of ID above, there is a fall back solution for some candidates. Please refer to this guidance on UK alternative ID.
Candidates who cannot meet the Test Centre Photo ID Policy
If you cannot obtain a permitted form of ID, please refer to the FAQs below.
ID Policy FAQs
How do I change the name registered on my account?
In some cases, a name change may not be needed. Test centre staff will refer to the Pearson VUE Name Matching Guidelines to check whether variations in name are acceptable before turning any candidate away. Some common scenarios where ID would be accepted are given below:
| UCAT Account Registration |
Name on Photo ID |
| First name |
Middle name |
Last name |
| Joseph |
Peter |
Bloggs |
Joseph Bloggs |
| Joseph |
[blank] |
Bloggs |
Joseph Peter Bloggs |
| Mohammed |
[blank] |
Saeed |
Saeed Mohammed |
Non-Western names: If a candidate's non-Western names have been entered into the incorrect fields during account registration, their ID will be accepted as long as all the names on their account also appear on their ID.
If you do require a correction or change to your registered name, please email Pearson VUE Customer Services at least 5 business days before your appointment. You must upload a photo of your ID to verify your request. If your name has changed you will also need to provide proof of your new name (e.g. a copy of your marriage or civil partnership certificate or a 'deed poll').
Name changes are not permitted once you have sat your test.
I cannot obtain permitted ID, what should I do?
Permission to use alternative ID is at the discretion of the UCAT Office and Pearson VUE to ensure the security of the test.
You may request an ID exception, if you:
-
are unable to obtain any permitted ID before the end of the test cycle.
-
are testing in the UK and are no longer in education and unable to obtain a letter confirming your identity from your school/college or university.
-
have unexpired alternative ID issued by an official government organisation which has checked your identity. It must contain your printed name, photograph and signature*.
*If your alternative ID does not include your visible signature, it will only be approved if you can also present a valid (unexpired) bank or credit card that has your printed name and visible signature.
Acceptable examples that can be approved as an ID exception include:
-
expired Passport (no more than 12 months) if the photograph is still a true likeness.
-
Home Office Application Registration Card (ARC).
-
UK Biometric Residence Permit (BRP).
Other government-issued ID that meets the criteria (above) can be considered.
You must email Pearson VUE Customer Services at least 10 working days before your appointment to request an ID exception. Please upload a photo of your ID (front and back) with your request. You will be advised of the outcome of your request by email.
Can I test if I don’t have correct ID?
If you arrive without permitted ID, you will not be allowed to test. Your test fee will not be refunded, and you will have to pay again to book a new appointment on another day. The availability of appointments will be limited towards the end of testing and you may not be able to rebook within the test window. For security reasons, test centre staff have no discretion to vary the ID rules.
What is the ID policy for the online proctored OnVUE UCAT?
If you have been approved to sit an online proctored test, please refer to the OnVUE UCAT ID Policy.
