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The short answer
Nigerian banks that publish diaspora requirements ask for a recent document showing your name and foreign address, usually dated within three months: a utility bill, a bank or credit card statement, or a confirmation from your foreign bank. Access Bank and Providus Bank both ask for such documents to be notarised when sent from abroad. A UK council tax bill, utility bill or UK bank statement in your own name is the usual starting point; check your bank's own list before paying a notary.
Why the request comes
Nigerian banks must keep customer records up to date, and a customer who has moved abroad is a change of circumstances. Requests usually arrive when you update your address, upgrade an account, open a domiciliary or diaspora account, or when a periodic KYC review flags missing documents. Ignoring them can lead to restrictions on the account, so it is worth getting the document right the first time.
What two Nigerian banks publish
| Bank | Proof of address listed | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| Access Bank (diaspora banking FAQ) | A banker's confirmation, or a utility bill, bank statement or credit card statement within the last three months | IDs, statements and utility bills to be notarised; scans by email need a signed indemnity |
| Providus Bank (diaspora savings account) | Proof of address dated within three months | Notarised; may be notarised by a notary, court, lawyer, Nigerian embassy, high commission or consulate, foreign bankers, government security agencies or a commissioner for oaths |
Other banks have their own lists and may not publish them. Ask your account officer, or the bank's diaspora desk, for the list in writing before you start.
UK documents that usually exist in your name
The UK has no single national proof of address, so it helps to know what UK firms themselves treat as proof. Monzo, for example, lists utility bills (gas, electricity, water, landline, broadband) from the last three months, letters from DWP, the NHS or HMRC within three months, a council tax statement for the current year, statements from another UK bank, credit card, pension or investment provider within three months, a valid tenancy agreement, and a UK driving licence. Not every Nigerian bank will accept all of these, but they are the documents you are most likely to have.
What tends to cause a rejection
- A document older than three months, or with no date at all.
- A bill in a partner's or landlord's name, even if you live there.
- Arrears or reminder letters rather than the bill itself (Monzo excludes these too).
- A mobile phone bill, which many banks do not treat as a utility.
- A screenshot rather than a full PDF or printed statement showing the provider's name and address.
- A UK address that differs from the one on your application form, even by a flat number.
Notarisation, and when to ask first
Where a bank asks for a notarised copy, a UK notary public certifies that the copy is true. Notaries charge for this; one firm's published minimum, Blake Morgan Notaries, was £190 plus disbursements when checked in October 2026, so ask several and confirm the fee before booking. Before you pay, check three things with the bank:
- Whether it needs a notary, or whether certification by another listed person, such as a Nigerian mission, will do. Providus lists the embassy, high commission and consulate among acceptable notarising parties.
- Whether it needs the original posted to Nigeria or will accept a scan. Access Bank accepts scans by email with an indemnity form, and the customer pays the courier for originals.
- Whether one notarised document covers both ID and address, or whether each needs its own certificate.
If you do not have a document in your name
New arrivals often live in shared housing with bills in someone else's name. Options include asking your UK bank for a letter or statement showing your address, registering with your council for council tax if you are liable, and asking HMRC or your employer for correspondence. Our guide on opening a UK account without proof of address covers the UK side; for the Nigerian side, see updating your Nigerian bank address to the UK.
Keep the rest of your profile current too
An address update is often only part of the review. Banks commonly check at the same time that your phone number, email, BVN and NIN details still match, and that your signature on file is current. If your Nigerian phone line has lapsed, alerts and one-time codes may stop reaching you, which can lock you out of the account while you are abroad. Give the bank a number you actually use, confirm whether it can send codes to a UK number, and update your next-of-kin details while you are about it. If the bank also wants a Nigerian contact address, use the address of someone you trust who will pass on letters, and tell them to expect post.
Steps that avoid a second request
- Get the bank's list in writing, with the date window and certification rules.
- Pick a document dated within the window, in your full name exactly as on the account.
- Make sure the address matches your form letter for letter.
- Certify it the way the bank specified, and keep a scan of the certified copy.
- Send it through the bank's official channel, and ask for a written confirmation that KYC is complete.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme Personal Account is opened in the app from the UK, with identity checks done digitally, and holds naira alongside pounds. See how it works and multicurrency accounts. It does not replace an account you already hold with a Nigerian bank, whose KYC rules are its own.
Questions people ask
What proof of address do Nigerian banks accept from the UK?
Typically a utility bill, bank or credit card statement, or foreign bank confirmation, dated within three months and in your name. Some banks want it notarised.
Is a council tax bill valid proof of address?
Many UK firms accept a current-year council tax bill. Whether your Nigerian bank does is its decision, so check its list.
Can the Nigerian High Commission certify my documents?
Providus lists Nigerian missions among acceptable notarising parties. Check with the mission whether it offers this and what it charges.
Can I email my proof of address to my Nigerian bank?
Access Bank accepts scans by email with a signed indemnity. Other banks may want originals by courier; ask first.
Sources
- Access Bank: Diaspora banking FAQs · accessed Oct 2026
- Providus Bank: Diaspora savings account · accessed Oct 2026
- Monzo Help: How to open a Monzo Personal Account · accessed Oct 2026
- Blake Morgan Notaries: mandatory information for clients (PDF) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.