What do I need to open a student or graduate account in one of our branches?

You’ll need to bring three original documents (not copies) to prove your:

  1. Identity
  2. Student status
  3. UK address (you must have lived in the UK for at least three years)

Proof of identity

You need to show one of these:

  • UK photocard driving licence (full or provisional)
  • UK paper driving licence (full only)
  • EU/EEA/Swiss photocard driving licence (full)
  • Valid passport
  • Irish passport card
  • UK biometric residence permit (BRP)
  • Application registration card (ARC)
  • UK government benefit entitlement (excluding Universal Credit) letter from last 12 months
  • HMRC letter from the last 12 months
  • Disabled person’s Blue Badge that shows your photo
  • UK Armed Forces ID card
  • Valid Northern Ireland electoral identity card

Proof of student status

You need to show one of these:

  • Student ID card (not including NUS or student union cards)
  • UCAS letter, dated within the last 12 months, showing an offer of a place in the current or next academic year
  • Trusted-sponsor letter from an educational employment establishment
  • Letter from your university or employer confirming that you’re attending any one of:

Undergraduate course (2-year minimum length)

Postgraduate course (1-year minimum length)

Higher apprenticeship (2-year minimum length and Level 4 and above). You'll also need to your apprenticeship agreement and commitment statement. To apply for an overdraft, you’ll also need proof of your salary or income.

Living on campus?

If you’re living on campus (or in property owned or managed by your university) and have a letter from your university showing your student status and address, you can use the same document as proof of both.

Opening a graduate account?

If you want to open a graduate account, you'll also need to bring proof that you've completed your studies - such as your degree certificate.

Proof of address

You must have a UK address and lived in the UK for the last three years.

You can use any document from any of these three lists, but you can’t use the same document for proof of address and proof of identity.

An ID document

  • UK photocard driving licence (full or provisional)
  • UK paper driving licence (full only)
  • EU/EEA/Swiss photocard driving licence (full)

A document dated within the last three months

  • Bank statement (this can’t be for a Barclays account or a digital bank)
  • Credit card statement (this can’t be for a Barclaycard)
  • Gas, electricity, satellite/cable TV or landline phone bill
  • UK credit union statement
  • Universal Credit statement
  • Student finance or student loan letter
  • Royal Mail post redirection letter
  • UK Visas and Immigration licensed sponsor letter from your educational establishment or employer

A document dated within the last 12 months

  • Council Tax bill for the current tax year or an exemption certificate
  • Mortgage statement (this can’t be for a Barclays mortgage)
  • Local authority or housing association tenancy agreement
  • Private tenancy agreement
  • UK government benefit entitlement (excluding Universal Credit) letter
  • HMRC letter