Skip to main content

When applying or enrolling at Nottingham College as part of the application process, you will be required to provide certain identification or evidence. This page covers the various scenarios of when this is required and what you need to provide.

Proof of identity

At a certain point during your application you will be asked to provide evidence for identification purposes (usually when you enrol). This is a standard check to confirm your identity which Nottingham College must carry out for all students.

You will only need to provide one item from the list of accepted identification documents outlined below for a standard identity check. Depending on your age, there are different forms of identity documents which can be used.

  • Passport
  • Birth certificate 
  • Driving licence (full or provisional) 
  • National insurance Letter 
  • Exam certificates/​exam results slip including your GCSE English and Maths
  • Adoption certificate 
  • Home office letter 
  • National Identity card and letter to show EU settlement 
  • UK Naturalisation/​Citizenship certificate 
  • Benefit letter – which states learner’s name 
  • Residence Permit Card
  • Passport
  • Birth certificate 
  • Driving licence (full or provisional) 
  • National Insurance letter or card 
  • Adoption certificate 
  • Home office letter 
  • National Identity card and letter to show EU settlement 
  • UK Naturalisation/​Citizenship certificate 
  • Benefit letter – which states learners name 
  • Residence Permit Card 
  • Student Loan letter or Advanced Learner Loan letter

Proof of VISA and immigration status

For some students with applications, we will request proof of VISA/​immigration status evidence. This evidence is requested by the college when proof of residency in the United Kingdom is required. If this is applicable to you, you will receive an email from the college requesting this. If you have been contacted to provide this information, you should follow the guidance below.

If you have not yet applied for a VISA to study in the United Kingdom, please visit the GOV.UK website for further information.

What documents do I need?

The following are valid documents that Nottingham College can accept for residency/​VISA evidence requirements.

If you are aged 16-18, please provide your own documents, birth certificate and also your parents/dependents documents.

In circumstances where you are a family member of a UK/EU/EEA national, please also provide the family members documents and also any marriage or birth certificates.

GOV.UK UK Visas and Immigration share code

If you have been told you can view your immigration status online you can use the GOV.UK online service to obtain a share code. In order to use this service you must have a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. If you do not have a UKVI account, you must provide an alternative form of evidence listed on this page.

A share code is 9 digits and contains letters and numbers.

What happens next
  1. Once you have obtained your share code, you can provide this to Nottingham College. You can screenshot or take a picture of it for uploading as evidence.
  2. Once provided, Nottingham College will enter this share code and your date of birth into the GOV.UK check immigration status service.
  3. Nottingham College will confirm the details returned by GOV.UK and progress your application, or get in touch if we have further questions.
GOV UK share code
Example passport

Current passport (with a home office endorsement)

Nottingham College requires to see confirmation of name, nationality and proof of eligibility to study in the United Kingdom on any passport with home office endorsement.

An example of a valid passport with home office endorsement can be found below.

Letter from the Home Office confirming residency status

Any letter from the Home Office must be dated within the current year to be accepted as valid evidence for residency status.

An example Home Office letter is provided below.

Example Home Office Letter
ARC Aspen Card Example2

Application Registration Card (ARC) and Aspen Card

The ARC is a credit card-sized plastic card issued by the Home Office to individuals who claim asylum.

You must provide both an ARC and Aspen card together to be accepted as evidence.

Biometric Residence Permit Card (BRP)

A valid Biometric Residence Permit card can be used as proof of identity and right to study in the United Kingdom.

An example of a Biometric Residence Permit card can be found below. A biometric card will have the biometric symbol.

Biometric residence permit card example

Other documents

  • Section 4 document
  • Refugee travel documents
  • Bail 201 letter
  • Section 98, 95 or 4 NASS support letter

If you are unsure about what evidence you need to provide regarding your application, please get in touch with our admissions team.

Telephone: 0115 9100100
Email: feadmissions@​nottinghamcollege.​ac.​uk

Uploading evidence

Evidence for general identification purposes or VISA/​residency can be uploaded through your student account. If you require help accessing your student account, please visit our application support page.

When accessing the Upload Evidence screen, you will need to select an option from Evidence Type menu. Make sure to select the correct category for the evidence you are uploading.

For example: If you are uploading ​“Proof of Visa and Immigration status” documents please use ​“Residency evidence” category. If you are uploading ​“Identification” documents please use ​“Enrolment Identity Evidence” category.