Choosing a referee
Before adding a referee to Vouchsafe, we recommend contacting them directly to make sure they can help.
Who can be a referee
Not everyone can be a referee. Some people aren’t eligible, even if you know them well.
Can be a referee 👍
A referee should be someone you know well who can confirm who you are. For example:
- A friend
- An extended family member (not a parent, child, sister or brother)
- Your caseworker
- Someone you work with
- Someone in a recognised profession who knows who you are
Cannot be a referee 🙅
A referee can’t be:
- An immediate family member (parent, child, sister or brother)
- Someone you’re in a relationship with
- Someone you live with
Ask a referee to vouch for you
If you don’t have a passport or driving licence, you can still verify your identity with Vouchsafe by asking a referee for help. Here’s how:
- Open the email you received from Vouchsafe.
- Get the Get started button and follow the process on screen.
- When asked How do you want to verify your identity? Select Ask someone to vouch for you, then select Continue.
- Continue the process providing accurate information about the referee until you see Done for now.
If your referee doesn’t help
If you have asked for help from a referee in Vouchsafe, but they do not follow up, we can restart the process so you can ask another referee. Email us at [email protected].
Contact your referee in advance
We recommend that you contact your referee in advance to make sure they’re available to vouch for you.
Questions to ask a potential referee
Before you add the referee’s details to Vouchsafe, it’s helpful to ask them:
- Are you available to vouch for me?
- What is the best email address or phone number for Vouchsafe to contact you on?
- When do you think you will be able to vouch? (If you have a deadline.)
If it helps the referee to have some information in advance, share a link to our help article: Referee essentials.