iPhone age verification in UK: no license or credit card

In the UK, Apple currently supports age checks through some existing account info, a credit card, or a driving licence / national ID. Passports and debit cards do not work. So if a person has none of those, there does not seem to be another supported method on iPhone at the moment.

Source: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/125662-mytxrhlive.net

So if people living in the UK update their iPhone to 26.4 and haven't got a driving licence, or credit card. How do they verify their age?

They can't.

So if a person has none of those, there does not seem to be another supported method on iPhone at the moment.

You are correct.

So, on a user-to-user support site.....(We are all users here....just like you).....We cannot change decisions that have been made by Apple. What is it that you think that we can do to help you?

Wouldn't it make more sense for you to provide feedback directly to Apple? After all, nothing is going to change unless you let them know.

Feedback - iPhone - Apple

UK legislation does not assert that phones have age verification for the users, but adult content sites must have age verification. Most interesting of all Apple does NOT stop users accessing bad sites via a simple Browser with this iOS 26.4 UK update! Many people use tablets and computers and TV's also to access things legally or not and Apple is not the gatekeeper for that.

One network setup blocks adverts "bad" sites. Every member can see and change those settings anytime themselves! Transparency that is best Apple knows works.

"iOS 26.4’s age‑verification system is not required by UK law. Apple chose to go further than the law demands with the side effect that many iPhone adult users have lost privacy features on their phones and lost access to some apps."

Knightlore_ wrote:

Apple took it on themselves to implement this. It is not part of the UK law at the moment.

The law was passed in 2023 and gave companies until March 25, 2026 to comply. It is now in effect. If you read the law you will see there is no definitive framework for a company to comply with the Age Assurance and leaves that up to them, and also more importantly the responsibility to make sure they are in compliance. That makes it much easier to fine them without taking any responsibility themselves by providing a means of Government approval. Apple has chosen the Credit Card and Driver's License method as the most reliable.

If Apple wanted to take it upon themselves to implement this, it would be the case for every region, but as you see it is only required in regions that have passed those Age Assurance laws. South Korea is another one.

at the end of the day

these forums are user helping other users like yourself, it's sort of going to a physical apple store and asking other customers their advice

This is a user helping users with tech questions forum, we are not apple and apple do not read your posts here

unless you think apple spend a lot of resources monitoring these forums for opinions and complains and advice from users then if it was me then I would be using their feedback channels which would have a bigger chance of reaching them

Product Feedback - Apple

or reach out to their official support channels they do have

Get Support (apple.com)

And or

Contact - Official Apple Support

And or

Contact - How to Contact Us - Apple

Or

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

because debating with the rest of the users like youself, is not garrenteed to have much of an impact on your situation.

Knightlore_ wrote:

none of the above are of any use unfortunately. Apple need to find an alternative.

Unfortunately, the best people here in this user-to-user forum is offer suggestions that may work now. We have no ability to change what Apple does.

You can let Apple know your thoughts here:

Product Feedback - Apple

Update: I managed to complete the verification. I used an expired(sic!) national card from my home country and carefully had to scan both sides on a dark background. It came back successful after a minute.

It's weird for ILR owners for sure, I don't have any other national card and by luck I had this lying around... frustrating.

you can suggest it to them

Product Feedback - Apple

or reach out to their official support channels

Get Support (apple.com)

And or

Contact - Official Apple Support

And or

Contact - How to Contact Us - Apple

Or

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

Knightlore_ wrote:

So if people living in the UK update their iPhone to 26.4 and haven't got a driving licence, or credit card. How do they verify their age?

I have heard that provisional driving licenses work. I've also heard that sometimes people in the UK get those for ID purposes even if they never plan on driving.

Knightlore_ wrote:

Apple should let us use our face picture. 🤔

Apple has no idea what you look like or who the picture is from if you send it to them. When using Face ID, your phones stores your data in its Secure Enclave where that information is not seen by Apple or anyone else. You can also add any Face to your phone and it does not even have to be yours.

Knightlore_ wrote:

The thing is, it’s not fair. I have six top of the range iPhones so they’re going to be brick now be because I can’t prove who I am. 😖

Then you need to call your MP and complain. This is not going away and you should know that. Android will be doing the same thing shortly if it hasn’t already to comply with the law.

Knightlore_ wrote:

Apple said they’re working on a fix otherwise they’re going to lose trade in the UK.

It certainly is possible. The UK has prevented their citizens from using other Apple features as well. For example, Advanced Data Protection has been blocked in the UK, so Apple users there are more susceptible to data breaches and Government data collection.

Apple can no longer offer Advanced Data Protection in the United Kingdom to new users - Apple Support

Many other features have been restricted or not allowed at all:

The Digital Markets Act’s impacts on EU users - Apple

Apple did not think it through and some beta testing showed many problems. Seems testing in an ideal world worked, but did not fly to the UK to test this out! They did not warn the users. So this google trends happened:

AGE VERIFICATION NOT WORKING iOS 26.4 UK:-

Worth a try.....

Make sure that you are in a room with very bright lighting....much brighter than normal.

If still no luck, make an appointment at the Apple Store / Genius Bar.

Exactly my question also. I do not own credit cards, don't have UK driving licence or passport... I'd assume Apple would be working on setting up an alternative way but still in the meantime there's no way.