Proving Residency: Acceptable Documents You Can Get Today

This article was written by Jennifer Mueller, JD. Jennifer Mueller is an in-house legal expert at wikiHow. Jennifer reviews, fact-checks, and evaluates wikiHow's legal content to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. She received her JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2006.

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Whether you're opening a bank account, trying to get a new driver's license or other ID, or just seeking access to government benefits or services, chances are you'll need to provide proof of your address. At a minimum, this is a document that has your full legal name and address printed on it—but not just any document will do! Check out the list below so you can quickly pull together the documents you'll need.

• Use a pre-printed statement or bill addressed to you to most easily prove your address.
• Fill out a change-of-address card at the post office and use the confirmation you get back in the mail as proof of address.
• If you live with family, let them provide proof of address documents with their names on them, then provide proof of your relationship.
• Ask for a letter or affidavit of residency if you're staying in a shelter or other facility.

Paycheck Stub

• If you don't want the clerk who reviews your documents to see your income, go ahead and cover it up—they're only concerned about the part with your name and address.

Tax Forms

• If you pay property taxes, use your receipt for property taxes as proof of address—just make sure it's also dated within the past 12 months.

Lease or Mortgage Statement

• If you signed a lease online, you still have the option to print off a paper copy for your records. Pull it up through your online account with your landlord.

Bank Statement

• For some places, you can simply print off the statement from your online accounts. Others require you to take the printed statement to a local branch and get it stamped and verified, so ask about this ahead of time if you're not sure.
• Cover up your bank balance and any other information you don't want anyone to know. Your name and address at the top is the only part that's important.

Billing Statement or Official Letter

• Generally, the clerk reviewing your document is only going to be concerned about the address portion. But if there are things on the statement or letter you don't want them to see, black it out ahead of time.
• If you've moved recently and haven't gotten anything in the mail yet, try triggering a letter from a business. For example, if you've signed up for paperless billing, you might toggle that off—which typically generates a confirmation letter sent to your address.

Car Title or Registration

• This also works if the car is registered in your spouse's name, provided you have a marriage certificate that shows you're married.
• Title or registration of other vehicles typically works. You could also use any other license or registration issued by a government agency that includes your full name and address, such as a gun license or hunting and fishing license.

Current Insurance Policy

• An insurance card (the kind that goes in your wallet or your car's glovebox) typically won't work, though, because it usually doesn't have your address on it.

Voter Registration Card

• You could register in person as well—just make sure your voter registration card will have your full address on it so you can use it for proof of residency.

Government Account Statement

• For example, if you live in the US, you can get your Social Security statement. Just go to https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/statement.html and click on "Sign in" or "Create your account" to get started.

Change of Address Postal Confirmation

• Most places accept the confirmation letter as proof of address, but it's worth calling to make sure if you don't see this specifically listed as an acceptable document.

Immigration Documents

• Immigration documents typically aren't sufficient by themselves—you'll usually need at least one other document to put with them to prove your address.
• Passports, visas, and similar documents, on the other hand, generally won't work because they don't have your address on them.

Documents from Family Members

• You still need documents to prove your identity, such as a passport or a birth certificate.
• If you live with your parents, use your birth certificate—it proves your identity and shows your relationship to them for purposes of your proof of address documents.
• If you're married, you could also use a document with your address and your spouse's name on it (instead of yours). Just bring along your marriage certificate so you can prove you're married.

Student ID or School Transcript

• Still in high school? Your school record or transcript also has your name and address on it. Request one from your school's administrative office.

Letter of Residency

• The letter must clearly state that the facility will accept mail on your behalf.
• If you've recently moved to accept a new job or work assignment, your employer or employment agency can write up a letter on your behalf.
• If you're in the military, use military orders as long as they include your address or at least the base where you're stationed.

Affidavit of Residency

• Look for a notary at nearby bank branches, court buildings, postal or government offices, law offices, or check-cashing places. Search online to find the one closest to you.
• A notary is very different from a "notario publico," a high-ranking legal official in Latin American countries. [9] X Research source In fact, the law in many US states forbids the literal translation of "notary public" because of the profound difference between the two titles. [10] X Research source
• In the US, notaries charge a small fee for their services, usually less than $10. The maximum amount they can charge is set by law.

Expert Q&A

Tips

While they might be acceptable forms of identification to prove who you are, you typically can't use documents such as passports, insurance cards, or birth certificates as proof of address or residency because they don't display your current address. [11] X Research source

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1. ↑https://www.in.gov/bmv/files/BMV_Documentation_List.pdf
2. ↑https://dmv.colorado.gov/proof-address
3. ↑https://dmv.colorado.gov/proof-address
4. ↑https://thelibrary.org/about/identification.cfm
5. ↑https://www.in.gov/bmv/files/BMV_Documentation_List.pdf
6. ↑https://www.in.gov/bmv/files/BMV_Documentation_List.pdf
7. ↑https://dmv.colorado.gov/proof-address
8. ↑https://publicsafety.ohio.gov/static/bmv2336.pdf
9. ↑https://coloradosupremecourt.com/PDF/UPL/Notary%20or%20notario%20whats%20the%20difference_English.pdf

1. ↑https://www.sos.state.tx.us/statdoc/notariopublicoarticle.shtml
2. ↑https://moneyfacts.co.uk/banking/guides/can-you-open-an-account-without-proof-of-address/

About This Article

This article was written by Jennifer Mueller, JD. Jennifer Mueller is an in-house legal expert at wikiHow. Jennifer reviews, fact-checks, and evaluates wikiHow's legal content to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. She received her JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2006. This article has been viewed 684,072 times.

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