Total VeteranHM Armed Forces Veteran Card: Eligibility, How to Apply and What It Gets You
A free MOD photo card that proves you served. Leavers since December 2018 get one automatically; earlier leavers can apply online or by post.
- The Veteran Card is free and proves UK Armed Forces service; Regulars and Reserves of all four services qualify.
- Leavers since 17 December 2018 receive it in their service leavers' pack; earlier leavers apply online or by post.
- Online applications usually arrive within 10 weeks; you need your service number, NI number, service dates and a photo.
- A digital version in the GOV.UK One Login app launched on 17 October 2025 for people who already hold the card.
- It is accepted as voter ID at UK parliamentary elections and as proof for the Veterans Railcard.
The HM Armed Forces Veteran Card is a free photo ID card issued by the Ministry of Defence that proves you served in the UK Armed Forces. If you left on or after 17 December 2018, you should already have one from your service leavers' pack. If you left before December 2018, you can apply online at GOV.UK using GOV.UK One Login, your service number and a digital photo. The card usually arrives within 10 weeks, and there is no fee.
The card has become the standard way to prove veteran status to the NHS, councils, charities, employers, polling stations and retailers. This guide covers who qualifies, how to apply, the digital version, what the card is accepted for, and how long each route takes.
Who is eligible
According to GOV.UK, you can get a Veteran Card if you served in the Regulars or Reserves of:
- the Royal Navy
- the Royal Marines
- the British Army
- the Royal Air Force
You may also qualify if you served in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, in the Merchant Navy while sailing in support of UK armed forces, or in another UK armed forces group. Service in another country's forces, including service alongside UK forces, does not qualify. A US or Canadian veteran living in the UK, for example, is outside the scheme.
Who needs to apply
| When you left | What happens |
|---|---|
| On or after 17 December 2018 | The card is issued as part of discharge and arrives in your service leavers' pack, within 6 weeks of leaving |
| Before December 2018 | You apply online or by post through Veterans UK |
| Still serving | You receive the card when you leave |
The MOD began issuing cards to new service leavers retrospectively from 18 February 2019, for anyone who had left from 17 December 2018. The application service for earlier leavers opened on 29 January 2024.
How to apply online
The online route is for people applying for themselves. Before you start, gather the items in this table.
| You need | Notes |
|---|---|
| Service number | The number from your last period of service |
| National Insurance number | Your own NI number |
| Approximate service dates | The years you started and ended service |
| Digital photo | A recent passport-style photo of your head and shoulders |
| GOV.UK One Login | An email address and photo ID, such as a UK passport or driving licence, to prove your identity. You can create a One Login during the process |
- Go to gov.uk/veteran-card/apply and select Start now.
- Sign in to GOV.UK One Login, or create an account, and prove your identity.
- Enter your service number, National Insurance number and the years you served.
- Upload your photo and check it meets the passport photo rules.
- Check your eligibility and submit the application.
If you cannot find your service number or have questions about eligibility, the Veterans UK helpline (below) handles Veteran Card enquiries.
Applying by post
Use the postal route if you are applying for someone else, for example under a power of attorney, or if you cannot use the online service. Contact the Veterans UK helpline and it will send you a form in English or Welsh.
- Phone: 0808 1914 218, Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm
- Email: veterans-uk@mod.gov.uk
GOV.UK states that people living outside the UK can apply online only. In Northern Ireland, you can have the card posted to you or collect it from a Veterans Welfare Service office (email dbsafvs-vws-ni@mod.gov.uk to find your nearest).
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The digital Veteran Card
The government launched a digital version on 17 October 2025, its first digital document in the GOV.UK One Login app. It shows the same details as the physical card: name, photo, latest service and date of birth.
- You need the physical card first. The digital card page is for people who already hold a Veteran Card.
- Phone requirements: an iPhone on iOS 16.7 or later, or an Android phone on Android 10 or later.
- Photo: you may need to submit a new photo if the one on your card is unclear.
- Speed: once approved, the download takes minutes.
At launch, the government said the digital card worked for in-person checks only. It could not yet be used online, for domestic flights, or to buy a Veterans Railcard. The physical card remains available, so keep it safe.
What the Veteran Card is accepted for
| Use | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Voter ID | Listed as "Ministry of Defence Form 100 (HM Armed Forces Veteran Card)" in the accepted photo ID for UK parliamentary elections. The Royal British Legion reports it has been accepted at polling stations since May 2025 | Electoral Commission |
| Domestic flights | Accepted as ID on domestic flights with British Airways and easyJet (physical card) | GOV.UK |
| GP registration | Proves service so your GP can record it and refer you to Op COURAGE (mental health) or Op RESTORE (physical health) in England | NHS |
| Housing support | Confirms military background for supported housing through Op FORTITUDE | GOV.UK |
| Careers support | Confirms eligibility for Op ASCEND, the free careers service for veterans | GOV.UK |
| Veterans Railcard | MOD Form 100 is accepted proof. The Railcard costs £35 a year or £80 for three years and gives a third off fares for you and one adult companion | Railcard |
| National Insurance relief | Listed by GOV.UK among the uses of the card | GOV.UK |
| Discounts | Restaurants, shops, attractions, gyms and travel at participating businesses | GOV.UK |
The card also helps charities and councils confirm eligibility quickly, which speeds up applications for grants, housing and the support covered by the Armed Forces Covenant.
How long it takes
| Route | Typical timeline |
|---|---|
| Service leavers' pack | Within 6 weeks of leaving |
| Online application | Usually within 10 weeks of applying (GOV.UK) |
| Postal application | About 14 weeks, according to the Royal British Legion |
| Digital card | Minutes after approval, once you hold a physical card |
The Royal British Legion reports that online cards often arrive in about 6 weeks. Plan on the official 10-week figure if you need the card for a fixed date, such as an election or a job start.
Other documents can prove service in the meantime. For the Veterans Railcard, for example, the Railcard site accepts an MOD Form 90 military ID card, a Certificate of Service, a Certificate of Discharge, an Armed Forces Compensation Scheme letter, a War Pension award notification, or an Armed Forces Pension payment slip. Check what each organisation accepts before you rely on an alternative.
Common problems
- Service number not recognised: check you used the number from your last period of service.
- Identity check fails in One Login: use the postal route through the Veterans UK helpline.
- Photo rejected: retake it following the passport photo rules, showing your head and shoulders.
- Applying for a parent or relative: online applications are for yourself only, so request a postal form.
Many of the organisations in our guide to UK veteran charities can help with an application if you get stuck.
What to do this week
- Find your service number from your last period of service and your National Insurance number.
- Get a recent passport-style digital photo of your head and shoulders.
- Apply at gov.uk/veteran-card/apply, or call Veterans UK on 0808 1914 218 for a postal form.
- Once the card arrives, show it to your GP so your service is recorded.
- Add the digital card to the GOV.UK One Login app if you have a compatible phone.
Questions people ask
Is the HM Armed Forces Veteran Card free?
How long does it take to get a veteran card?
Can I use my veteran card as voter ID?
Can I apply for a veteran card if I live abroad?
I served in the US or another country's forces. Can I get one?
- GOV.UK, "HM Armed Forces Veteran Card" (2026). https://www.gov.uk/veteran-card
- GOV.UK, "Apply for a Veteran Card" (2026). https://www.gov.uk/veteran-card/apply
- GOV.UK, "Get a digital Veteran Card" (2026). https://www.gov.uk/veteran-card/get-digital
- Ministry of Defence, "Digital version of Veteran Card launched for quicker and easier access to support" (17 October 2025). https://www.gov.uk/government/news/digital-version-of-veteran-card-launched-for-quicker-and-easier-access-to-support
- Ministry of Defence, "Veterans card rolled out to streamline access to services" (January 2024). https://www.gov.uk/government/news/veterans-card-rolled-out-to-streamline-access-to-services
- Electoral Commission, "Accepted forms of photo ID" (2026). https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/voter-id/accepted-forms-photo-id
- Rail Delivery Group, "Veterans Railcard" (2026). https://www.railcard.co.uk/veterans-railcard/
- Royal British Legion, "Veterans ID card" (2026). https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-support/expert-guidance/money-debt/veterans-id-card
- NHS, "Veterans, service leavers and non-mobilised reservists" (2026). https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/armed-forces-community/veterans-service-leavers-non-mobilised-reservists/
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