You’ll be asked to verify your identity by using the EU Exit: ID Document Check app during your application under the EU Settlement Scheme. Details of who is eligible are available on GOV.UK.

The app will:

• check that your identity document is genuine
• verify that the document belongs to you

You must use either:

• your EU biometric passport if you’re an EU citizen
• your UK residence card with a biometric chip if you’re the non-EU family member of an EU citizen

Check if you can use the app on your phone

You’ll need an Android phone with NFC (Near-Field Communication) to use the app.

Look in your phone settings to see if it has NFC. NFC is what the app uses to scan your document.

If you can use your phone to pay for things using contactless, this means it has NFC and you can use the app.

Your phone will need:

• Android 6.0 or above – you can find this in your settings
• at least 135MB of storage space to install the app
• to be connected to 3G/4G or WiFi
• NFC – you can find this in your settings

The app will need access to your phone’s camera. If the app does not prompt you requesting access, please enable access in your settings.

How to use the app

Scan your document

Scan the photo page of your passport using the camera on your Android phone. The full page must be inside the frame, including the two lines of numbers at the bottom of the page. Make sure your phone camera is focused on the text on the page.

The app will prompt you to adjust your Android phone to make sure you capture your document effectively. These prompts will appear in a text box at the top of your screen.

Check your document’s information

Remove any cases or covers from your document and Android phone and make sure the volume is turned up.

Click the ‘check now’ button in the app when you are ready to start checking your document.

Place the Android phone on top of your document when the app tells you to ‘check your document’s information’.

A progress bar will let you know when the check begins and when it is complete. Do not move the Android phone until the check is complete.

If the app doesn’t recognise your document, you should slowly move your phone around the document until the app recognises it. You’ll hear a beep if your document has been recognised and the volume on your phone is turned up.

If you’re using a passport and you continue to have problems, place the phone on the reverse cover or the photo page.

If the app cannot read the chip in your passport or UK residence card

If the app is not able to read the chip in your document, we’ll ask you to send your passport to us for manual checking of your identity and nationality.

Details of how you can do this are provided in the application. We’ll ensure that your document is returned to you without delay.

Scan your face

The screen will flash as it scans your face. You should hold your phone’s camera in front of your face until the scanning is complete.

You can skip this step and provide different evidence to prove your identity if flashing light may cause you difficulties. You can do this by going to the ‘Find out more’ menu and selecting ‘Skip this step’.

If you’re 10 years old or younger, you will not be asked to scan your face.

Take a photo of yourself

You should:

• look straight into the camera
• have a neutral expression – do not smile or frown
• remove tinted glasses, for example sunglasses

Your photo should:

• be well-lit in neutral lighting
• have no other faces in the background

Completing your application

After using the app to verify your identity, you can complete the rest of the application either on that device or on any smartphone, laptop or computer.