What is Proof of Address?

Proof of Address, meaning the evidence that an individual needs to prove that they truly live at their claimed address. It is also known as the proof of residence. Mostly, the proof of address is used by businesses to communicate with their customers properly so that if they need to send them some important bills, statements, or legal notices, it reaches the correct address. Some companies also use the Proof of Address (POA) to check whether the employee belongs to a high-risk country or not, which is essential for security and compliance purposes. 

In some jurisdictions, proof of address is a mandatory document that you need to submit. It can typically include the bank statements, utility bills, etc. If you are involved in financial services, fintech, e-money institutions, or similar businesses, it is necessary to provide proof of your address during registration. 

Documents for Proof of Address: Acceptable and Unacceptable

Acceptable Documents

There is no certain list for the acceptable documents, but here are the documents that are typically used as proof of address:

• Bank statements of the account
• Different types of utility bills, such as gas, electricity, internet, water, etc.
• Statements of Credit cards
• Certificate of the Employer for proof of residence
• House purchase deed
• Lease agreement of the place where you are currently living, with the signatures of the tenant and the landlord
• Letters from a known public authority, public servant, or any government-issued correspondence

Note: You can also use the passport, IDs, driving licenses, etc., as proof of address, but in some jurisdictions, it is not allowed to use the same document for proof of Identity and proof of address. 

Unacceptable Documents

The proof of address documents that are generally not acceptable are:

• Expired documents or documents that are past their validity period
• Library cards
• Photocopies of the original documents
• Invoices for purchases