iOS 26.4 age verification without credit card or plastic ID

Proving that I am over 18 years old.

As you may be aware the latest update iOS26.4 in the UK requires me to prove that I am over 18 years old, I realise that this is a UK Government requirement and as such Apple UK are only prepared to as little as possible to close this requirement. Here is my issue, the means of identification that has been decided upon are as I am sure you know, either a Credit Card (because you have to be over 18 to have one) or a valid and full plastic drivers licence.

I am 66 years old, I no longer needed a credit card, a decision I took some years ago, so unlike a lot of people I do not have one. I gained my full motorcycle licence in 1985 and my full car driving licence in 1995, I have the same paper licence that was issued to me by the DVLA when I moved into my current address in 1997 (29 years ago).

I was born in December 1959, at the age of 9 in 1969 I watched live as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first men to step on the Moon. I left school in 1977 after staying on to do my GCE O Levels in sixth form, I have a valid National Insurance Number and can provide my NHS number, I even have a birth certificate that gives the date and further details of my birth. Apple even know my date of birth, its part of the information held by the company to enable my Apple Account. I also have a 66 year old face that I have to use to open my iPhone every time I want to use it, the same face I use for Apple Pay every time I use that and my online banking. Apple have details of my home address and my family, the British Government hold many many details about me that prove that I am over 18 years old, yet because I have chosen not to keep a credit card or unnecessarily update my driving licence or hold a Passport of a Government ID Apple refuse to allow me to prove that I am not a child. Is Apple UK really being as lazy as it appears? After all I am not the only OAP who holds no state recognised form of ID, and why should I? I live in a free country where I am not required to constantly prove my identity.

[Edited by Moderator]

iPhone 16 Pro, iOS 26

Posted on Mar 26, 2026 7:56 AM

Top-ranking reply

TCHDMF

Level 1

134 points

Posted on Mar 26, 2026 8:16 PM

lobsterghost1 wrote:

That's all good and well. But no matter how much you argue what OFCOM this or that is or isn't, isn't helping anyone who can't verify their age. This might be a great Social Media discussion. But this isn't a Social Media site. This is a technical support forum for users to ask how to do something on their iPhone. It simply makes no difference what OFCOM or the UK Government or Apple does here. None of those entities are here, nor will any of those entities comment here. I can imagine if you go to Reddit or Quora, you may find loads of people who will be happy to debate this with you. But this forum isn't the place to debate policies, regulations or laws no one here can change or has any control over.

Maybe I can explain this again in a way you can understand.

The original poster's issue is that he can't complete age verification on his UK iPhone because he does not have any of the three forms of identification Apple chose to implement in their age verification approach.

He was given the advice to call Apple support, which is good because at this time that is his only solution. Call Apple and complain and hope Apple changes the approach they have implemented. (Neglecting the option of obtaining one of the three required ID methods Apple has decided to accept.)

That's it, that's his only option. It is also the only option of the large number of us that have exactly the same issue. That is the correct tech support answer at this time. Which, by the way, he apparently did along with a large number of other people.

He then received incorrect advice to complain to the UK Government (which would be OFCOM in this case) about the problem because OFCOM is responsible because OFCOM picked the acceptable identification documents that Apple implemented. There are a large number of comments like that in this thread.

That advice was wrong.

OFCOM did not pick the acceptable documents or even method of age verification that Apple implemented. OFCOM specified the rules and regulations that must be followed and then they provided guidance to developers and companies as to possible methods of satisfying those rules and regulations. As far as I can find they never said, Apple you must implement age verification by examining Driving Licenses, or Credit Cards, or any other specific for of ID. OFCOM provided a non-extensive list of methods they thought could be acceptable and Apple chose three and created a fourth that they implemented.

So my post explained this and provided the relevant information from OFCOM for several reasons: So the original poster would understand why to call Apple as opposed to OFCOM or his MP or someone else, so that the original poster might have some additional information to relay to Apple with his complaint so they might take some note and escalate the issue, and because when I originally simply said no this is really an Apple issue and not an OFCOM issue without any backing to that statement my post was removed by a moderator.

So, no, I am trying to provide some actual peer-to-peer tech support to the original poster.

I am sorry if my posts aren't clear enough for you to see that. I don't know your motivation for attacking my post. Possibly you think actually explaining the root cause of an issue is somehow irrelevant to someone asking for assistance. If that is how you feel, I disagree with you, particularly when there is currently no actual solution to their problem other than call and complain. Personally I wish there was a solution, a simple do this, do this, then do that. I would do it myself. But unfortunately there doesn't seem to be.

View in context

159 replies

AJP_850

Level 1

54 points

Mar 27, 2026 7:41 AM in response to ScrapyardGuitar

Sadly, provisional driving licences don't help those that can't drive due to chronic medical conditions and certain disabilities.

It's also not free. So pay £34 in order to regain what you purchased, potentially for a 4 figure sum of money, when a facial scan would be a perfectly legitimate, fair, and permitted way to do this, as detailed by the many links to what the law actually says. Great.

And FWIW, I cannot find any law that mandates device-level age verification, but please do prove me wrong.

Mar 27, 2026 8:43 AM in response to Zurarczurx

Zurarczurx wrote:

@Idris - the company is called Yoti. I'd never heard of them till yesterday but their website has some interesting stuff on their facial age verification. The rest I guess is just APIs. In the UK the mobile network operators have to put content locks on all accounts which can only be removed by an adult with proof of age - so I guess that must be API'd based on phone number and all the sender gets is a token. The DVLA has an API for getting driver information from a licence - dunno how that works, but uk.gov web services are pretty good (we can file our personal tax returns for free on uk.gov and it does all the calculations for you).

Yes, I know all of this.

Microsoft uses Yoti and I doubt that their lawyers are any less risk averse than Apple's but I don't reckon that's why Apple has limited it to CC and driving licence. I think they've picked the quickest and easiest. They already have the CC check in all their systems and the driving licence check is via a DVLA API. The others (email check, open banking) either require them to do more work or contract with someone like Yoti.

No one here knows why Apple did what it did. We can make lots of guesses (mine is that it has to do with creating one system rather than one for each country/state), but that's all they are.

Of course it might just be a US-centric view of the world where virtually everyone who is capable of driving has a licence, although that could open them up to disability discrimination legislation. I didn't get a driving licence til I was 27 or 28.

I'm not sure where you get your information about the U.S. About 33% of the U.S. population doesn't have a license. The percent is assumed to be higher in places like New York City. Also, between 45 and 55 percent don't have passports.

The problem with ID in the UK is that we (mostly older people, and not me) have a massive aversion to ID cards, which would solve this problem at a stroke.

That's not a problem Apple can solve.

Mar 27, 2026 10:17 AM in response to JackBauer83

Apple clearly states passports in the UK are not supported for this.

click here ➜ If you’re asked to confirm that you’re an adult - Apple Support

* Use an approved method: You can use a driver's license or national ID, or a credit card to confirm that you're an adult. Passports, debit cards, or gift cards aren't supported*.

nibor209

Level 2

451 points

Mar 27, 2026 12:02 PM in response to JackBauer83

JackBauer83 wrote:

Exactly. Ive tried passport about 10times now. Most of the time it says image quality too low. My passport is brand new. And i have the 17max pro. So what we saying?? The camera on the max pro is rubbish now??

Others have posted that a passport is not accepted to verify age.

Mar 28, 2026 2:55 AM in response to ScrapyardGuitar

I am 64 and I can’t verify my age, I don’t drive , I don’t have a credit card and my country doesn’t even do national ID card but you can buy something but not sure APPLE will accept it..I am now locked out of so much on my phone . I am a full time carer and I did apply for a credit card yesterday but as I don’t get much money I was turned down. Fir me there is no end in sight to this nonsense.

Mar 28, 2026 6:37 AM in response to Stelian999

Stelian999 wrote:

Subject: iOS 26.4 is a scam to force credit card collection!

It refuses to scan my ID document

No, it will scan your Drivers License and you don't need to have a Credit Card. Here are some tips that others have found useful to complete the scan successfully. You are not being scammed.

Be in a well lit area.
Hold the camera steady on your ID for an extended amount of time. Users have posted that it takes longer than expected to complete the scan and there is no visual indication of progress.
One user noted they placed their ID on a dark solid background and it worked for them.
Others had success after they restarted their phone.

If you have the Driver's License, it will work and even the Provisional ID is acceptable. The Passport is listed as not supported, along with Debit Card and Gift Cards.

Use an approved method: You can use a driver's license or national ID, or a credit card to confirm that you're an adult. Passports, debit cards, or gift cards aren't supported*.

If you’re asked to confirm that you’re an adult - Apple Support

It is OFCOM that provided the suggested forms for a company to use and many are ambiguous. Apple chose the Driver's License or Credit Card as they are more reliable. The Credit Card is acceptable as you have to be 18 to have one and the Debit Card is not, since those are available to minors. Apple is not checking for a Bank Account.

ChrisF-S

Level 1

8 points

Mar 28, 2026 11:33 AM in response to ScrapyardGuitar

Your UK passport will not work either !

59 years old, grey hairs, grumpy unless with granddaughter, (who is an angel).

No credit cards - I spend my own money,

Paper Driving license, same address for 32 years.

BIO-chip Passport in date with plenty of years left,

- so naturally it doesn't work with Apple Age Verification ID scanner.

What now ?

How the "Fergal Sharkey" can I sort this out?

Dsb43

Level 1

8 points

Mar 29, 2026 7:59 AM in response to ScrapyardGuitar

I absolutely agree. I have a modern UK passport and that apparently isn’t valid for age verification. You have to give a great deal of information to get a passport and even have to have it witnessed by 2 professional people who know you to get one. It clearly states your age, date of birth and comes complete with photo ID. It is the most secure document you can obtain and yet it still isn’t enough. I don’t have a credit card or modern driving licence so am not able to verify my age. I will think twice about buying Apple Mobil etc in the future due to this.

Katana-San

Level 10

100,885 points

Mar 29, 2026 5:12 PM in response to AJP_850

AJP_850 wrote:

And why would you think Google would make the same mistakes after seeing this fiasco? They won't.

Hello~ This issue is the very least of Google’s problems at present. Again…arguing and stating one’s opinions here is of very little consequence. Contact Apple…

Contact Apple Support - Apple

Product Feedback - Apple

~Katana-San~

Mar 30, 2026 3:00 AM in response to Dsb43

and it has an RFID card which can be read directly by an iphone that contains all the data required for verification as well (just in case anyones faked the image/printed part)

ReadID Me in the App store is an app that can do this so no reason why Apple couldnt have included it and needs no API verification with the UK Gov

Mar 31, 2026 5:02 AM in response to ScrapyardGuitar

I have also has issues with this. Yes I am also over 60 and have been with apple for over 16years. I have found this to insulting patronising and quite upsetting. The phone would not recognise my UK driving licence card. It forced me to load a credit card which I was unhappy about. Now in a discussion with an apple advisor she admitted that they passed those card details to the government. APPLE did not use it to verify, they took my details and passed them on. I am now very worried that this card has been compromised. So much for security, privacy or safety!

AJP_850

Level 1

54 points

Mar 31, 2026 8:55 AM in response to Katana-San

Facial age estimation is allowed by the government. Apple chose not to use it, and instead to allow restrict customer to methods that not everyone has. !00% their decision.

First item on the list...

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/age-checks-for-online-safety--what-you-need-to-know-as-a-user

Katana-San

Level 10

100,885 points

Mar 31, 2026 10:10 AM in response to AJP_850

AJP_850 wrote:

The purpose of my post was to correct your misinformation, not because I expect you to fix it.

Your second suggestion is correct right answer: this is Apples decision, so the correct advice is to take it up with them.

Hello~ Well… thanks so much!! Apple is trying to comply with new regulations put into place to try and protect children. We all should be interested in and supporting this…right? Take care now….

~Katana-San~

Apr 3, 2026 9:41 AM in response to Trilliano

The length of time an Apple Account has existed can be used to verify age.

It happens automatically when you initiate the process. There is no prompt or way to make it check it does so on its own. If it did not successfully verify, it will move on to the other verification options.

If it does successfully verify it will issue a message to that effect. (from AppleInsider.com)

Apr 4, 2026 6:48 AM in response to Dillonuk

Dillonuk wrote:

Just found out Apple won’t allow passport to be used as id in uk because for verification they would have to pay a fee for the process.

You would think that the UK would not have a fee to verify a persons age if the purpose was for Online Child Safety. I guess it IS all about the money.

Compare that to the US where you can use a Passport to create a Digital ID not only for age verification, but also identification at Airports for domestic travel and there is no fee at all.

iOS 26.4 age verification without credit card or plastic ID