Almost every guide tells you the same thing: your proof of address must be dated within the last three months.
That is true for some documents and wrong for others, and the difference is often what separates a rejected application from an approved one.
A utility bill genuinely does expire at around 90 days. A bank statement is commonly accepted up to six months. An annual government document such as council tax or a voter registration confirmation is commonly accepted for twelve.
So the person rejected on a four month old electricity bill frequently has, in the same drawer, a five month old bank statement that would have passed.
Validity by document type
| Document | Commonly accepted up to |
|---|---|
| Utility bill: electricity, gas, water, internet | 3 months |
| Landline or broadband bill | 3 months |
| Bank or credit card statement | 6 months |
| Mortgage statement | 6 months |
| Council tax or property tax bill | 12 months |
| Voter registration confirmation | 12 months |
| Government correspondence | 3 to 12 months, depending on issuer |
| Tenancy or lease agreement | Current term |
| Insurance policy schedule | Current term |
These are conventions across regulated institutions, not a single binding rule. Individual banks set their own policies, and some are stricter than the norm. Check the institution's published list before you submit, because the list is almost always published.
Where the 90 day convention comes from
Worth knowing, because it explains why the rule is a convention rather than a law.
It originates in Recommendation 10 of the Financial Action Task Force, the international standard on customer due diligence. That guidance was then codified into national frameworks: the JMLSG guidance in the United Kingdom, the technical standards under the European anti-money-laundering directives, and the KYC handbooks of most national regulators.
None of those documents say "three months for everything". They require that a document be current and reliable. Ninety days became the industry's working answer for a category of document that is issued monthly.
For a document issued annually, ninety days would make it useless eleven months of the year. Hence the longer window.
What counts as proof of address
The document has to do two things: show your name and show your address, both matching what you have declared, and come from a source the institution regards as independent.
| Usually accepted | Usually rejected |
|---|---|
| Utility bill in your name | A bill in someone else's name |
| Bank or credit card statement | A screenshot of a banking app |
| Council tax or property tax bill | A document you produced yourself |
| Government correspondence | A parcel delivery note |
| Tenancy or lease agreement | A mobile phone bill, at many institutions |
| Mortgage statement | An unaddressed marketing letter |
| Insurance policy schedule | A document with the address obscured |
Two rejections that surprise people.
Mobile phone bills. Widely rejected, because a mobile contract does not evidence residence at an address in the way a fixed utility does.
Bills in a partner's or parent's name. The name has to be yours. Where it genuinely cannot be, some institutions accept a document in the other person's name plus evidence of the relationship, but you have to ask rather than submit and hope.
Digital documents
Most institutions now accept them, subject to conditions.
The document must carry the issuer's branding and must not be editable. A PDF downloaded from your energy supplier's portal, with their logo and layout intact, is generally fine. The same information copied into a document is not.
| Format | Generally accepted |
|---|---|
| PDF downloaded from the issuer's portal | ✅ |
| Emailed statement from the issuer | ✅ |
| Photograph of a paper bill | ✅ usually, if fully legible |
| Screenshot of an app | ❌ |
| Document converted or re-saved | ❌ risky, metadata changes |
| Scan with parts redacted | ❌ |
Some institutions additionally require a digital statement to be certified, meaning stamped and signed by a qualified professional confirming it is a true copy. That requirement is more common for non-resident applicants.
Do not redact. People routinely black out account numbers or transaction lines before sending a statement. That converts an acceptable document into an altered one, and it is a common cause of rejection.
If you are a non-resident
This is the case the KYC vendors write least about, and the one that generates the most rejections for cross-border founders.
Any document showing your current foreign residential address can work. A utility bill, a bank statement, a driving licence or a national identity card bearing an address are all used for this purpose.
Three things make the difference.
Translation. A document not in the institution's working language usually needs a translation, and often a certified one. Arrange it before submitting rather than after a rejection.
Certification. Non-resident applications are more likely to require certified copies. A notary, a lawyer, an accountant or in some cases an embassy can certify. Ask the institution which professions it accepts, because the lists differ.
Consistency with your tax residence. The address on your proof should agree with the country of tax residence you declared and with the tax identification number you gave. A mismatch between the three is one of the fastest ways to have an application escalated.
Why institutions ask at all
Not bureaucracy for its own sake, and understanding the purpose helps you satisfy it.
Address verification underpins customer due diligence. It establishes where you are, which determines which jurisdiction's rules apply to your account, which sanctions and tax reporting regimes are relevant, and whether your stated profile is coherent.
It also serves fraud prevention. An address that cannot be independently corroborated is a characteristic of synthetic identities.
That framing tells you what a reviewer is looking for: not a perfect document, but a coherent picture. A slightly imperfect document that agrees with everything else on file will usually pass. A perfect document that contradicts your declared country of residence will not.
Common reasons for rejection
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| Document too old for its type | Use a document with a longer clock: statement, council tax |
| Name does not match exactly | Use the full legal name as on your identity document |
| Address abbreviated differently | Match the format on the application exactly |
| Screenshot rather than document | Download the PDF from the issuer |
| Redacted | Resubmit unredacted |
| Not translated | Provide a translation, certified if required |
| Mobile phone bill | Use a fixed utility, statement or government document |
| Address does not match declared tax residence | Resolve the inconsistency before resubmitting |
The summary
| You want to | Answer |
|---|---|
| Know how old a utility bill can be | ✅ About 3 months |
| Know how old a bank statement can be | ✅ Commonly 6 months |
| Know how old a council tax bill can be | ✅ Commonly 12 months |
| Use a screenshot from your banking app | ❌ Download the PDF instead |
| Redact your account number first | ❌ Never |
| Use a bill in a partner's name | ⚠️ Ask first, do not assume |
| Prove a foreign address | ✅ Any document showing it, likely translated and certified |
Frequently asked questions
What is a proof of address?
A document from an independent source showing your full name and your current address, used by regulated institutions to verify where you live as part of customer due diligence.
Does proof of address have to be less than three months old?
Not always. Ninety days is the convention for utility bills. Bank and credit card statements are commonly accepted up to six months, and annual government documents such as council tax or voter registration up to twelve.
What documents count as proof of address?
Utility bills, bank and credit card statements, mortgage statements, council tax or property tax bills, government correspondence, tenancy agreements and insurance policy schedules are the usual list. Individual institutions publish their own.
Is a mobile phone bill acceptable?
Often not. Many institutions exclude mobile bills because a mobile contract does not evidence residence at a fixed address. Use a fixed utility, a statement or a government document instead.
Can I use a digital document?
Yes, in most cases, provided it carries the issuer's branding and is not editable. A PDF downloaded from the issuer's portal is generally fine. A screenshot of an app is not.
Should I hide my account number before sending a statement?
No. Redacting converts an acceptable document into an altered one and is a common cause of rejection.
What if the bill is in my partner's name?
Ask the institution before submitting. Some accept a document in another person's name together with evidence of the relationship, but this needs to be agreed rather than assumed.
How do I prove my address as a non-resident?
Any document showing your current foreign residential address, such as a utility bill, bank statement, driving licence or national identity card. Expect to provide a translation and, frequently, a certified copy.
Who can certify a copy?
Typically a notary, a lawyer or an accountant, and in some cases an embassy. The accepted professions vary by institution, so ask before paying for certification.
Why was my proof of address rejected when the document was valid?
The most common causes are a name that does not exactly match, an address formatted differently from the application, or an address that is inconsistent with the country of tax residence you declared.
Sources
The origin of the 90 day convention in FATF Recommendation 10 and its codification in UK JMLSG guidance and EU technical standards is described as published. Validity periods by document type reflect common practice across regulated institutions rather than a single binding rule, and individual banks set stricter or looser policies. Always check the specific institution's published list before submitting.