Does Having a Fake ID Break the Law in the UK?
In short: simply owning a novelty or fake ID card is not, by itself, a criminal offence in the UK. What is illegal is using that card to mislead someone, gain entry, or acquire goods and services through deception.
It all comes down to how the card is used and what you meant to do with it. Just having one in your wallet isn't the problem.
Which Laws Apply?
Three main statutes cover fake ID in the UK. Here's what each one actually says.
Identity Documents Act 2010
This is the big one. It creates two offences:
- Having a false identity document and intending to use it to pass yourself off as someone else (Section 6). Up to 10 years inside.
- Making false identity documents or having the gear to do it (Section 5). Same penalty — 10 years.
Here's the important bit. The Act only covers these documents:
- Passports
- Immigration documents
- National identity cards from an EEA state
Driving licences fall outside this definition and are not covered by the Act.
Fraud Act 2006
This one's broader. Showing any fake document — driving licence, student card, whatever — to blag your way into somewhere or get something you shouldn't is fraud by false representation (Section 2). Max sentence: 10 years.
Flashing a fake ID at a bouncer, buying booze with one, waving a dodgy student card for 10% off at Nando's — all fraud.
Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981
Reproducing a protected document — driving licences included — is a separate offence under this Act, with a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment.
Where Do Novelty Cards Fit In?
Novelty cards sit in a grey area. The short version:
- Keeping a novelty card as a collectible, film prop, or keepsake? Legal.
- Selling novelty cards that are clearly marked and don't copy official documents? Legal.
- Showing a novelty card to trick someone into thinking it's real? Illegal.
- Producing exact copies of government-issued documents? Very illegal.
What Actually Happens If You're Caught?
Real-world outcomes vary widely depending on the circumstances:
| Scenario | Likely Outcome |
|---|---|
| Stopped by a door supervisor at a pub or club | Card confiscated, entry refused, possible police referral |
| Encountered by police during a routine stop | Card seized, caution or prosecution at the officer's discretion |
| Used to commit financial fraud or identity theft | Criminal prosecution and probable custodial sentence |
| Possession without any intent to deceive | No offence has been committed |
For most young people caught trying to buy a pint or get past a bouncer, the usual result is having the card taken off them and getting told to go home. But the police can always decide to take it further, and a fraud conviction stays on your record forever.
Summary
- Owning a novelty card isn't a crime. Just having one is perfectly legal.
- Using one to deceive someone is. That's fraud, and you can be prosecuted for it.
- Copying government documents is seriously illegal. Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981.
- Consequences range from getting it confiscated to going to prison. Depends what you did with it.
- A criminal record doesn't go away. It'll follow you into job applications, visa forms, uni admissions — everything.
Our detailed breakdown of the statutes is available at UK fake ID legislation. For sentencing information, see jail time for fake ID in the UK. For a broader look at scams, forgeries, and where novelty cards fit, see counterfeit ID cards and the law.