A veteran is a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released from service honorably. To show respect to them, veteran ID card is offered to connect them with easier specified services and preferential treatment for a better retirement life. Below are procedures and related clues that you may need to apply for a serviceman ID card online in the UK.
What is the Veteran ID Card
A veteran ID card is both an identity proof of the fact that you have served in the UK armed forces and a digital form of photo ID providing discounts at restaurants, stores, supermarkets, hotels, and other businesses. A UK ID card is meant to improve veterans’ lives and protect their rights and interests in daily life in terms of housing, financial advice, career guidance, and so forth. In other words, this ID card for British veterans is a strong supporter that brings convenience to British service leavers during retirement.
How is the Veteran ID card being phased in?
British veteran ID card system has been introduced and gradually established since January 2024 with a digital application service to verify the status of former Armed Forces personnel. Those who are eligible are welcome to apply for a verification of their military service status as part of the veteran protection system. In the UK, the veteran ID card is granted via a discharge process with effect from 18 February 2019. Those who left on or after 17 December 2018 are also a part of the group who are provided with such exclusive treatment. Furthermore, the British veteran ID card service covers a wider range at the veteran community level. More and more service leavers have a chance to revel in the benefits that come with their veteran ID card.
Who is eligible for Veteran ID Card
Those who served in the British Army, the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines or the Royal Air Force are automatically entitled to the ID card. Both regulars and reserves can apply for British veteran ID. However, those who are part of other countries’ armed forces are not permitted to apply for a UK veteran ID card. You cannot apply if you served alongside the UK armed forces, for example in the Canadian Navy or Royal Australian Air Force. More than that, to apply for a UK veteran ID card, you should also have a UK address to bolster your eligibility. But this is about to change later this year to welcome more overseas UK military leavers to apply for protection from the government.
When to apply for a UK veteran ID card
If you served in the RAF, Army, Navy or Royal Marines and you have been honorably released from the British Armed Forces after December 2018, you are allowed to have a British veteran ID card after application. Disappointingly, if you have served the UK military and left before December 2018, you will need to wait for an appropriate process for that. Such a process has not come out for existing military leavers yet.
Requirements for Veteran ID Card Application
During the application for a veteran ID card, identity check of the applicant is on top of everything. An ID card to guarantee retirement benefits for UK service leavers is usually subjected to imposters. Therefore, you need to prepare the information or documentation below to prove your military status.
- The starting and ending date of your service (this info does not have to be exact)
- Your national insurance number
- A recent digital passport size photo
- Your service number for the last period in which you served.
How to apply for UK Veteran ID Card online
If you are applying for UK veteran ID card on your own behalf, you can process it online. If you’re getting an ID card for your family member or someone else, you need to apply by post.
- Visit gov.uk/veteran-card, scroll down to the part “Apply online”, and click the green bar “Start now
- Answer related questions by choosing the option that best matches your personal situation and click the green bar “Continue”to proceed with.
- Prepare required documents and check photo requirements.
- To prove and check your identity, you will need to create a GOV.UK One Login account and get verification through the database system. If you already have an account, sign in to have your army status proved. To create a GOV.UK One Login, you need to provide an email address and a photo ID such as a driving license or UK passport.
- In addition to providing an email address, in order to create a GOV. UK One account with data security, you also need to enter a security code via the email address. Enter the digital code from your mailbox and click “Continue” to create an account.
- After you enter the security code successfully, you are supposed to fill blanks with password that is rememberable and you want for your GOV. UK One account.
- After getting a GOV. UK One account, sign in after visiting gov. uk as indicated in picture below.
- Fill blanks with your email address here and click the green bar “Continue” to the next step.
- Upload documentation and provide information as guided on the website. Then, your application stuff will be automatically checked via the website.
Once all materials needed are submitted, it will take around eight weeks to print and send your UK veteran ID card. You will be able to use the card and get benefits that you deserved after you receive your military ID proof.
Alternative ways to get Veteran ID Card
Apart from online application, if network was not available or you need to apply on someone else’s behalf, a paper-based application process by post is another preferred way for applicants. To proceed such type of Veteran ID card application, you could contact the Veterans UK Helpline and they will send you an application form that you need to fill in and return by post. They will send your veteran ID card back once your military identity is verified and application materials are approved. Alternative contact information of the Veterans UK Helpline is shown below.
Veterans UK Helpline: veterans-uk@mod.gov.uk
Telephone: 0808 1914 218 (Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm)
Find out about call charges
Once done, within eight weeks, you will receive your ID card and start to enjoy benefits from it after completing application and getting approved ID card.
How to create photo for UK veteran ID card
A digital passport size photo is required when applying for UK veteran ID card. AiPassportPhotos comes in handy when you need to create a compliant photo for veterans ID card, passport, driving license and more, without leaving your comfort home. In just a few steps, you can create a passport style photo for veteran ID online.
Step 1. Take a photo based on Veteran ID photo requirements
Step 2. Visit AiPassportPhotos and choose document type ” UK digital passport photo“
Step 3. Upload any photo from your device
Step 4. Wait for AI to automatically resize photo and change background color as required.
Step 5. Download your veteran ID photo and upload it for the application.
FAQ
1) Q: How long does it take to get Veteran ID card?
A: In most cases, eight weeks is enough to make a British ID card for military leavers if everything goes well during application process. However, if you need to update your personal information or re-submit your documents, it will take longer to complete the process. Therefore, make sure that you have all materials needed at hand before you get started will save your time and make it sooner to get benefits from the identity proof of your service record.
2) Q: How much does it cost to get veteran ID card?
A: The application is for free because the application itself is designed to be supportive for UK service leavers.
3) Q: What are the benefits of having a veteran’s ID card?
A: With a UK veteran ID card, you will have access to a wider range of services, including assistance from the NHS, easier application for social housing with your local authority and supports from veterans’ charities. Besides, you will have a chance to enjoy discounts at shops, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses once your identity is verified through GOV.UK One Login service.
Summary
If you have served in the British Army and discharged with honors, a UK ID card will easily connect you with benefits and conveniences in various situations in your retirement life. With simple operations to prove your military status and get a veteran ID card for that, your service experience will be recorded in UK military database and preferential treatments will be activated accordingly in a noticeably short time.
Erin Lo