What ID do you need for the SQE?

You need two forms of valid photo ID to sit the SQE, and at least one of them has to match the name on your exam booking exactly. That's the short version. The longer version, including what counts as valid ID and what happens if your documents don't line up, is worth five minutes of your time before exam day, because ID problems are one of the few things that can stop you sitting an exam you've spent months preparing for.

This post covers the ID rule only. For the full run-through of what happens once you're through the door, see our guide to what to expect on SQE exam day.

The core rule: two forms of photo ID

Pearson VUE, the test centre provider used for both SQE1 and SQE2, asks every candidate for two forms of identification at check-in. Both need to be current (not expired) and both need to carry your name and photo, or in some cases your signature.

A common combination is:

• A passport or a photocard driving licence as your primary ID
• A secondary ID such as a debit or credit card, or another piece of photo ID

The exact accepted document list is set out on your Pearson VUE confirmation email and on the SRA's exam guidance, and it's worth reading in full rather than assuming. Rules can differ slightly depending on your home country and the type of document, and test centre staff apply them strictly. This isn't the kind of check where a friendly explanation gets you through if a document is missing or out of date.

Why the name-matching rule catches people out

Here's the part that trips candidates up most often: the name on your primary ID has to match the name you used when you booked the exam, exactly. Not "close enough". Exactly.

This becomes a real issue for a few groups of candidates:

• Recently married or divorced candidates whose passport or driving licence still shows a previous surname
• Candidates with a middle name that appears on one document but not another, or is abbreviated differently
• International candidates whose name order or spelling on an official transliterated document doesn't match how they typed it into the booking system

If you've changed your name, or if you're not sure your booking name matches your ID exactly, don't leave this until the morning of the exam. Log into your booking, check the name field character by character against your primary ID, and contact Pearson VUE or the SRA with plenty of notice if you need to correct it. A mismatch discovered at the front desk is a much worse problem than one caught two weeks earlier.

What check-in actually looks like

Arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled start time. This isn't a soft suggestion. It's the buffer the SRA builds in specifically to cover ID checks and the other admin needed before the exam clock starts, and it assumes things go smoothly.

At check-in you can typically expect:

1. Your two forms of ID checked against each other and against your booking details
2. A digital photograph and signature taken at the centre
3. A biometric or palm vein scan, used by many Pearson VUE centres as an additional identity check
4. Your belongings placed in a locker, since almost nothing goes into the exam room with you

If you arrive right on time, or a few minutes late, all of that has to happen under time pressure, and some centres apply a strict cut-off after which you may not be admitted. Thirty minutes early turns a stressful scramble into a calm walk-in. It's a small habit that costs you nothing and removes one entire category of exam-day risk.

What happens if your ID isn't accepted

If test centre staff decide your ID doesn't meet the requirements, whether because a document has expired, the name doesn't match, or you've simply forgotten to bring the second form, you may not be allowed to sit that session. This is one of the more distressing ways to lose a sitting, precisely because it has nothing to do with your legal knowledge and everything to do with paperwork.

The practical fix is prevention. A week or two before your sitting:

• Confirm your booking name matches your primary photo ID exactly
• Check both documents are in date and haven't expired
• Lay both out with your confirmation email the night before, not the morning of

If you do run into a genuine ID problem close to your sitting date, contact the SRA or Pearson VUE as early as possible. Policies around rescheduling in these circumstances can vary, so check the SRA's current exam guidance rather than assuming a fix is automatic.

A short pre-exam checklist

Two valid, in-date forms of photo ID. One matches your booking name exactly. Confirmation email checked the night before. Route to the centre planned. Arrival time set for 30 minutes early, not on the dot.

None of this is complicated, but it's the sort of admin that's easy to deprioritise while you're deep in revision. Building it into your final week alongside your last practice sessions means one less thing to think about on the day itself.

If you're still mapping out your run-up to exam day, PasSQE's free SQE study planner can help you slot logistics like this in alongside your revision, so ID checks and route planning aren't an afterthought squeezed in the night before. If you're also weighing up the wider budget for your sitting, our breakdown of what the SQE costs and the full SQE dates for 2026-27 are useful companions for planning around your exam.

Frequently asked questions

What ID do I need for the SQE exam?

Two forms of valid photo ID. A common pairing is a passport or photocard driving licence as your primary document, plus a secondary ID such as a bank card or another photo ID. Check the exact list on your Pearson VUE booking confirmation, since accepted documents can vary by country.

Does my ID need to match my SQE booking name exactly?

Yes. The name on your primary ID needs to match the name on your exam booking. If you've changed your name recently, or your documents show a different spelling or order, sort this out with the SRA or Pearson VUE well before exam day rather than at check-in.

Can I use a photocopy or expired ID for the SQE?

No. Test centres require original, in-date documents. An expired passport or driving licence is treated the same as having no ID at all, so check expiry dates before your sitting rather than assuming last year's document is still fine.

How early should I arrive for SQE check-in?

At least 30 minutes before your scheduled start time. That covers ID verification, a photograph and signature, a biometric scan at many centres, and storing your belongings in a locker before the exam begins.

What happens if my ID is rejected at the SQE test centre?

You may not be permitted to sit that session. This is why it's worth checking your documents against your booking details well in advance, rather than discovering a mismatch on the day. If a genuine problem does arise close to your sitting, contact the SRA or Pearson VUE as early as you can.