SQE ID verification
Every rule on this page is the SRA’s, taken from its ID verification guidance. FQPS Academy is an SQE preparation provider and plays no part in the check.
Where ID verification fits in your SQE registration
Registering is mandatory before you can book or sit anything. The SRA recommends registering as early as possible, so every step is done before the booking window opens.
1. Create and activate your SQE account
Create your candidate account on the SRA’s SQE website and activate it.
2. Verify your identity
Log in and upload a clear, colour image of a valid, government-issued photo ID. Until this is done you cannot book or sit any assessment.
3. Finish the pre-booking tasks
Complete the diversity survey, and request reasonable adjustments or apply for an exemption if either applies to you.
4. Book when the window opens
Book through your SQE account while the window for your sitting is open. Each sitting has fixed opening and closing dates.
SQE1 January 2027: Booking closes 23 Nov 2026. SQE2 January 2027: Booking opens 13 Oct 2026. Our advice: verify your ID well before the window you want, so a rejected upload does not cost you the sitting.
Every sitting with its booking window and results date is on SQE exam dates. Applying for an exemption? See the SQE exemptions guide.
The ID the SRA accepts for verification
It must be government-issued, carry your photo, be current, and show every detail clearly.
| ID | Note |
|---|---|
| Passport | The SRA’s recommended option, and the easiest to verify. |
| Photocard driving licence | A licence with your photo on it. |
| National identity card | Must carry your photograph. |
For an upload that goes through
- A clear, colour image of the original document, taken in good light
- The ID is in date and every detail is readable
- The file format and size meet the upload requirements
- Your browser is up to date
What gets you rejected
- A digital or electronic ID: not accepted
- A name that differs from your SQE registration in any way
- An ID that has expired since you uploaded it, if you have not sent the new one
When your ID expires, send a photo of the new one to enquiries@sqe.sra.org.uk and the SRA will update your account. Keeping it current is your responsibility: sitting an assessment without doing so breaches the SQE Assessment Regulations. If an upload keeps failing, contact SQE Candidate Services.
The ID to bring to each SQE assessment
Originals only. The name must match your SQE registration exactly.
| Assessment | Bring | Which ID |
|---|---|---|
| SQE1 (FLK1 and FLK2) | Two original IDs | Primary: a valid passport (recommended), photocard driving licence or national ID card. Secondary: one showing your full name and signature, such as a signed debit or credit card. |
| SQE2 written | Two original IDs | The same as SQE1: one primary photo ID and one secondary ID with your full name and signature. |
| SQE2 oral | One original photo ID | A valid passport (recommended), photocard driving licence or national ID card. |
Photocopies and photos of ID are refused. If you arrive without the correct ID, you will be refused entry and lose your exam fee.
SQE ID verification: common questions
Do I have to verify my ID before I can book the SQE?
Yes. Verifying your identity is part of registering for the SQE, and the SRA will not let you book or sit any assessment until it is done. You upload your photo ID once, in your SQE account, and only update it if it changes or expires.
Which ID can I use to verify my SQE account?
A government-issued photo ID: a passport, a photocard driving licence or a national identity card with your photograph. The SRA recommends a passport. Digital or electronic IDs are not accepted.
What ID do I need on the day of the exam?
Two original IDs for SQE1 and the SQE2 written assessments: a primary photo ID (passport, photocard driving licence or national ID card) and a secondary ID showing your full name and signature, such as a signed bank card. One original photo ID for the SQE2 oral assessments. Photocopies and photos of documents are refused.
What happens if my name does not match my ID?
The name on your ID must exactly match the name on your SQE registration. If it does not, or you bring the wrong ID, you will be refused entry and lose your exam fee. If your name has changed, contact SQE Candidate Services before you book.
My ID has expired since I registered. What should I do?
Send a photo of your new ID to enquiries@sqe.sra.org.uk and the SRA will update your account. It is your responsibility to keep the uploaded ID valid: attending an assessment without doing so breaches the SQE Assessment Regulations.
Can FQPS Academy verify my ID for me?
No. Only the SRA verifies SQE candidates, through your own SQE account. FQPS Academy prepares you for SQE1 and SQE2; we have no part in registration or the ID check.
Registered? Start preparing with two free mocks
One full FLK1 and one full FLK2 mock in the January 2027 format, free with an account and no card.