UCAT Test Centre Photo ID Policy
You must bring photographic identification as detailed below to your test which meets all the requirements and is accepted in the country where you are testing.
If you do not have the correct photo ID you will not be allowed to test and you will lose your test fee.
Permitted Photo ID
Permitted Photo ID must meet the following ID requirements AND be listed as Accepted Government-Issued ID in the table below.
ID Requirements
Permitted Photo ID must:
- be original (not a photocopy or digital ID).
- be unexpired.
- include a photograph which must be a true likeness.
- include your name which exactly matches the name registered in your UCAT account (and appears in your appointment confirmation email).
- include your signature.
Accepted Government-Issued 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 (not accepted in the UK). |
Government-issued Identity Card from a non-EU country Information on the card can be presented in Roman script or local language (refer to FAQs for guidance on Aadhaar ID) |
at test centres in the country of issue. |
If you cannot obtain Permitted Photo ID, refer to the FAQs below.
ID Policy FAQs
What ID is not accepted?
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)
If you are not sure whether your ID is acceptable, email Pearson VUE Customer Services at least 10 working days before your appointment for advice. Upload a photo of your ID with your enquiry.
My ID does not include my signature, what should I do?
ID from the Accepted Government-Issued ID list that does not include your signature, will be accepted as Alternative ID if presented together with an unexpired bank or credit card that has your printed name and signature. This also applies in the case of child passports signed by a parent.
If your bank or credit card does not include your printed name or signature refer to the FAQ “I do not have Permitted Photo ID, what should I do?”.
The name on my ID does not exactly match the name registered in my UCAT account, what should I do?
Test centre staff will refer to the Pearson VUE Name Matching Guidelines to check whether variations in name are acceptable. Some common scenarios where ID would be accepted are given below:
Name in 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 your non-Western name has been entered into the incorrect fields during account registration, your ID will be accepted as long as all names on your account also appear on your ID.
If you are not sure whether your ID is acceptable, email Pearson VUE Customer Services at least 10 working days before your appointment for advice. Upload a photo of your ID with your enquiry.
If you require a correction or change to your registered name, email Pearson VUE Customer Services at least 5 working 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.
What type of Aadhaar ID is accepted?
Only physical PVC (plastic) Aadhaar cards issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) are accepted. Letter, paper, or digital versions of the Aadhaar card or PVC (plastic) cards not issued by UIDAI are not permitted. The Aadhaar ID must also include the following:
- First and Last Name (which must match the name registered in your UCAT account)
- Recent, recognisable photo
- Ghost image
- Embossed holographic Aadhaar logo
- Guilloche pattern
The following image shows an example of an acceptable Aadhaar ID:
If your Aadhaar ID does not include a signature, refer to the FAQ “My ID does not include my signature, what should I do?”.
I do not have Permitted Photo 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.
If you are testing in the UK and currently in education you can obtain a document confirming your identity from your school/college or university. Refer to ‘Alternative ID for candidates testing in the UK’.
If you are out of education or testing outside the UK you will need to request an ID Exception. Refer to the FAQ “How do I request an ID Exception?”.
How do I request an ID Exception?
If you are out of education or you are testing outside the UK, you may request an ID exception if you have Alternative ID that:
- is issued by an official government organisation which has checked your identity.
- is original (not a photocopy or digital ID).
- contains your printed registered name.
- includes a photograph which must be a true likeness.
- includes your signature. If your Alternative ID does not include your signature, it will only be approved if you can also present an unexpired bank or credit card that has your printed name and signature.
- is unexpired. An expired Passport (no more than 12 months) can be approved if the photograph is still a true likeness.
To request an ID exception you must email Pearson VUE Customer Services at least 10 working days before your appointment. Your request must include:
- your candidate ID.
- your test date and location.
- a scan/photo of your Alternative ID (front and back for card ID).
- if your Alternative ID does not include your signature please confirm that you will also be able to present a bank/credit card that includes your printed name and signature (a copy of your bank/credit card is not required).
You will be advised of the outcome of your request by email.
If these options do not work for you, email Pearson VUE Customer Services at least 10 working days before your appointment for advice.
Can I test if I don’t have correct ID?
If you arrive without Permitted Photo ID (or approved Alternative 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.
For information about rebooking a test, refer to Missed Tests.
What is the ID policy for the online proctored OnVUE UCAT?
If you have been approved to sit an online proctored test, refer to the OnVUE UCAT ID Policy.