Hey everyone, I recently updated my phone and now I need to prove that I'm over 18 years old due to some UK legislation. The problem is, I don't have a credit card and I'm not planning to get one just for this. I also don't drive, so I don't have a driver's license. I know passports can be used for ID verification, but Apple doesn't accept them. Has anyone managed to successfully use a Citizen Card for age verification? What options do I have?
5 Answers
A provisional license could be useful even if you don’t plan on driving. It counts as a photo ID and might help you with the age verification. Have you looked into that option?
You can actually use a CitizenCard! Apple allows various forms of ID for verification, including citizen cards which are recognized. You just need to scan it properly for it to work.
I’ve heard folks have trouble with the scanning process, so be ready for that. Some users reported their IDs getting rejected.
True, and remember, passports and debit cards won’t work for this specific verification, so it’s best to stick with approved IDs.
Just to clarify, you need to verify your age primarily for certain apps and websites, not for everything on your phone. This legal requirement came up recently, and it’s not just a simple click to confirm like in some other countries. It’s important to understand that Apple is following UK law here.
If you don’t drive, you can still get an ID from your local government. It’s a good idea to have one as an adult. Just check with your local council about what’s available for non-drivers like yourself!
In the US, there are IDs that look like driver’s licenses but aren’t. Is the Citizen Card similar? It’s supposed to work as a legal ID. Have you thought about contacting Apple support directly for clarification?
I actually did reach out to Apple. They mentioned that while the law might accept passports, Apple only recognizes credit cards, drivers’ licenses, and national ID cards for verification. The Citizen Card is privately issued, so they don’t guarantee it’ll be accepted.
I'm not sure about that because of some health issues that could disqualify me if I were to drive. I’m just worried about whether they would know about my past health issues.