Veterans ID Card

The Veterans ID Card is available to:

• All former members of the UK Regular Armed Forces (Army, Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Air Force) who have served for at least one day.
• Former members of the Reserve Forces who have been mobilised on operations (even for a single day) or who have completed a full service engagement in the Reserves.
• Veterans who served under a previous engagement including national service veterans.

Currently serving personnel are not eligible for the Veterans ID Card — they already have MOD F90 and other service identity documents. The card is for those who have left service.

Veterans who are in prison or on licence are entitled to apply, as are veterans living overseas.

Applications are made through the Veterans UK online portal:

1. Visit gov.uk/veterans-uk and create or log into your Veterans Gateway account.
2. Select the Veterans ID Card application and complete the online form with your personal details, service information (branch, dates of service, service number), and upload a recent photograph meeting the specified requirements (similar to a passport photograph — plain background, no headgear, clear face).
3. Your service details are verified against MOD records. This may take several weeks, particularly for older service records.
4. Once verified, the card is produced and posted to your registered address. There is no charge.

If you have difficulty applying online, contact Veterans UK (0808 1914 218) for assistance. Veterans without internet access can request paper application support.

The Veterans ID Card is accepted for a growing range of purposes:

• Veteran discounts: Many retailers, restaurants, cinemas, and services offer discounts to veterans. The card provides simple, official proof of status. Schemes such as Defence Discount Service (defencediscountservice.co.uk) and Veterans Discount provide centralised discount access.
• Healthcare: Veterans can use the card to confirm their veteran status when accessing veteran-specific NHS services such as Op COURAGE, or to access veteran-friendly GPs who have received specialist training.
• Housing and benefits: The card can be used as supporting evidence of veteran status when making housing applications, AFCS claims, or accessing veteran-specific welfare support.
• Employment: Some employers use the card to verify veteran status for veteran-specific hiring programmes or benefits.

The card is not currently accepted as a standard form of photo ID (like a passport or driving licence) for purposes such as age verification for alcohol or voting.

If your Veterans ID Card is lost, stolen, or damaged:

• Report it as lost or stolen to Veterans UK via the online portal or by calling 0808 1914 218.
• A replacement card can be issued — there is no charge for the first replacement in most circumstances.
• If the card was stolen, obtaining a crime reference number from the police is advisable to support the replacement request.
• Update your address through the Veterans UK portal before requesting a replacement if you have moved.

The Veterans ID Card is more than a discount tool — it is the practical key to a wide range of rights and welfare entitlements that flow from the Armed Forces Covenant.

The Armed Forces Covenant and the card: The Armed Forces Act 2021 placed the Covenant on a statutory footing, requiring specified public bodies — including NHS bodies, local authorities, and housing authorities — to have due regard to the Covenant principles when exercising relevant functions. In practice, this means the Veterans ID Card can be used to trigger Covenant-compliant treatment across public services: telling a housing officer you are a veteran (and showing the card) is relevant to how your housing need is assessed; showing the card to an NHS receptionist can trigger referral to veteran-aware services such as Op COURAGE or the Veterans Trauma Network.

Welfare access via SSAFA and the Royal British Legion: SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association) and the Royal British Legion (RBL) both provide free welfare caseworking for veterans. Presenting the Veterans ID Card to a SSAFA caseworker confirms your status quickly and helps access financial grants, housing support, and assistance with AFCS or War Pension claims. The Veterans' Gateway (0808 802 1212) uses a single helpline to route veterans to the right support organisation, and the card can be used as primary evidence of status.

The discounts ecosystem: Several schemes aggregate veteran discounts:

• Defence Discount Service (defencediscountservice.co.uk) — the MOD-endorsed scheme offering discounts at hundreds of retailers, restaurants, and service providers. Membership requires proof of service, and the Veterans ID Card is accepted.
• Veterans Railcard — one third off most rail fares for the veteran and a companion, at £30 per year. Proof of service (including the Veterans ID Card) is required at application via veterans-railcard.co.uk.
• Blue Light Card — also available to veterans (in addition to police, NHS, and emergency services). Discounts at over 15,000 brands online and in-store.
• Local authority discounts: Many councils offer free or reduced-price leisure centre membership, parking concessions, and council tax reductions for veterans — check with your local authority and show the Veterans ID Card.

The card scheme continues to expand. The Office for Veterans' Affairs (OVA) coordinates the growth of the card's acceptance and publishes updated guidance on GOV.UK.