IELTS ID requirements: which ID to bring on test day
Which ID is accepted for IELTS: a passport for most, a national ID card only where allowed. It must match your booking, and you're photographed on test day.
For most candidates a valid passport is the accepted ID, and in some countries a national identity card is allowed if your test centre and registration permit it. The ID must match your booking exactly, and the centre photographs you — and often takes a finger scan — on the day.
The identity document you register with is the one thing you cannot improvise on test day: bring the wrong card, or one whose details do not match your booking, and you can be turned away with no refund. For most candidates that document is a passport, though the exact rules depend on your country and test centre. Here is what holds true of IELTS everywhere, and where to check the detail that varies.
Which document counts as your ID
For the large majority of candidates the accepted identity document is a valid passport, and for some routes — IELTS for UKVI among them — a passport is the only document that counts. A national identity card is accepted in some countries, but only where your test centre, your test partner and the document you registered with all allow it, so it is never something to assume.
Whatever you use, it must be the original, current document — not expired, not a photocopy and not a photo on your phone. You must also bring the same document you named when you registered; the centre will not accept a different one on the day.
Your ID must match your booking — exactly
When you register you enter your name, document type and ID number, and these have to match the physical document you bring. A mismatch — a shortened name, the wrong number, a card you have since replaced — is one of the most common reasons a candidate is turned away, and a no-show of that kind is generally not refunded.
If your ID changes between booking and test day because you renew or replace it, contact your test centre as soon as you can rather than turning up with the new one unannounced. You bring the same document to every part of the test, including the Speaking test, which may be held on a different day.
The photo and finger scan taken on the day
Identity verification on test day is a security step, not a formality. When you arrive the centre checks your ID and takes a photograph, and in many locations a finger scan as well; you may be checked again when you go into the Speaking test. Arrive with your face uncovered — where you cover your face for religious reasons, arrange it with the centre in advance.
The photograph the centre takes is printed on your Test Report Form, which is how universities, employers and immigration authorities confirm that the person who sat the test is the person named on the result. That is also why the ID and the booking have to line up so precisely.
Where the rules vary, and who decides
The fine detail — which national identity cards are accepted, whether a specific document is required for your visa route, and how the photo and finger-scan steps are run — is set by your test centre and test partner (British Council or IDP) for your country, and by the SELT rules for IELTS for UKVI. It is genuinely local, so a rule that holds in one country need not hold in another.
Before you book, read the ID section on your centre's own booking page and confirm the document you intend to bring is accepted there. If anything is unclear, ask the centre directly — it is the one authority that can tell you what will be accepted at your test, and getting it right costs nothing while getting it wrong can cost a sitting.
Which ID is accepted for IELTS
The stable picture — the exact list is set by your test centre and country. Confirm your document on the official booking page before you rely on it.
| Document | Where it stands | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Valid passport | Accepted for all candidates; required for some routes | Must be current and match your booking exactly |
| National identity card | Accepted only where your country, centre and registration allow it | Not universal — confirm with your test centre before booking |
| IELTS for UKVI (SELT) | Passport is the usual requirement | Stricter identity checks; confirm the document with the approved centre |
| Expired, damaged or copied ID | Not accepted | Bring the original, current document — no photocopies or phone photos |
| ID at the Speaking test | Must be the same document | You may be photographed and checked again before you go in |
Which national identity cards are accepted, and whether a particular document is required, is decided by your test centre and test partner (British Council or IDP) for your country — always verify on the official page before booking.
Common questions
Can I use my national ID card instead of a passport for IELTS?
Sometimes. Some countries and centres accept a national identity card, but many require a passport, and IELTS for UKVI usually needs one. It depends on your test centre, your country's rules and the document you registered with, so confirm on your centre's booking page before you rely on it.
What happens if the name on my ID doesn't match my booking?
You may be refused entry, and a no-show of that kind is generally not refunded. The name, document type and ID number you register with must match the document you bring. If your ID has changed since you booked, contact your test centre before test day rather than arriving with the new one unannounced.
Do I need to bring my ID to the Speaking test too?
Yes. You bring the same identity document to every part of the test, including Speaking, which may be held on a different day from the other three modules. You can be checked and photographed again when you go in.
Is my ID photographed or fingerprinted on test day?
Yes. Centres verify your ID and take a photograph on arrival, and in many locations a finger scan as well. The photograph appears on your Test Report Form so that universities, employers and immigration authorities can confirm your identity.
Can I use an expired passport or a photocopy?
No. Your ID must be the original, current document — not expired, not a photocopy and not a photo on your phone. Renew it before you book if it is close to expiry, and register with the document you will actually carry on the day.
Which ID does IELTS for UKVI require?
IELTS for UKVI is a Secure English Language Test with stricter identity checks, and a passport is the usual requirement. Confirm the exact document with the approved UKVI test centre, since SELT rules can differ from standard IELTS.
Official sources
Confirm the current figures — fees, dates and exact policies — on the official sites, which set them.
Prepare for the test itself — full timed mocks in the real computer-delivered interface.
Start a mock testReviewed 10 September 2026. Procedures follow the official IELTS partners; always confirm current fees and dates on the sources above.