{
  "id": "banking/proof-of-address-barrier",
  "signature": "AI tells a newcomer they can open a UK bank account instantly with just a passport",
  "signature_zh": "",
  "regex": "(uk.*bank.account|britain.*bank.*open|open.*account.*uk|uk.*proof.of.address)",
  "domain": "banking",
  "category": "administrative_barrier",
  "subcategory": null,
  "root_cause": "Traditional UK banks usually require proof of a UK address (utility bill, tenancy agreement, or council tax letter) plus ID to open a current account - a catch-22 for newcomers who need an account to get a tenancy. App-based banks (Monzo, Starling, Revolut) often onboard with just ID and a selfie and are the common workaround.",
  "root_cause_type": "generic",
  "root_cause_zh": "",
  "versions": [
    {
      "version": "any",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    }
  ],
  "os_specific": {},
  "dead_ends": [
    {
      "action": "Walk into a high-street bank as a newcomer with only a passport and expect a current account same day",
      "why_fails": "Most traditional UK banks require proof of a UK address and sometimes proof of right to reside; without these, newcomers are typically declined, creating a catch-22 with renting.",
      "fail_rate": 0.7,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.gov.uk/"
      ]
    },
    {
      "action": "Use a friend's address or a hotel as 'proof of address'",
      "why_fails": "Banks verify address documents against your name; mismatched or temporary addresses (hotels) are rejected and can flag the application.",
      "fail_rate": 0.55,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "workarounds": [
    {
      "action": "Open an app-based bank (Monzo, Starling, Revolut) that onboards with ID and a selfie, then build address history.",
      "success_rate": 0.85,
      "how": "Use a digital bank to get an account quickly; some accept a foreign address initially.",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.fca.org.uk/"
      ]
    },
    {
      "action": "For a traditional bank, gather a tenancy agreement, council tax, or a bank letter as proof of address.",
      "success_rate": 0.78,
      "how": "Collect accepted address documents in your name before applying at a branch.",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "workarounds_zh": [],
  "transition_graph": {
    "leads_to": [],
    "preceded_by": [],
    "frequently_confused_with": []
  },
  "official_doc_url": null,
  "official_doc_section": null,
  "error_code": null,
  "verification_tier": "ai_generated",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "fix_success_rate": 0.8,
  "resolvable": "true",
  "first_seen": "2024-01-01",
  "last_confirmed": "2026-06-14",
  "last_updated": "2026-06-14",
  "evidence_count": 3,
  "tags": [],
  "locale": "en",
  "aliases": [
    "banking/proof-of-address-barrier/uk"
  ]
}