Address verification checks
Whether you’re hiring in the UK or globally, Zinc offers secure and fast address verification checks for your candidates — keeping your team secure, without slowing them down.
Verify candidate address against independent records
Pair with ID checks for security and peace of mind
Get results in less than a minute, on average
What you need to know
Turnaround times
Available in
195 countries
Including
UK
USA
Ireland
Australia
Canada
and more
Ensure candidate identity and identify employee risk before it’s an issue.
Build a solid checking process
Address checks are like a second lock on the front door: an extra layer of security after identity checks to prove candidates are who they say they are. Without address verification, you could be relying on inaccurate or incomplete information without knowing.
Spot employee fraud
Collecting and verifying addresses aren’t the same thing. In a remote-first hiring world, testing whether a candidate’s identity data holds up across independent records helps you detect early signs of risk. Fake identities and ghost employee fraud rely on thin or inconsistent address history that can only be spotted with thorough vetting.
Stay compliant
Address checks are a mandatory part of the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance, and for BS7857 vetting of candidates working in secure or sensitive environments where safety of people, property, or data is paramount.
See it in action
Book a demo and choose a time to speak with one of our experts about a custom solution for your business.
13
hours
Average turnaround time
120
days
For candidates to securely re-use data
195
countries
Supported by Zinc
Fast, automated address checks that help you hire confidently and quickly.
Lightning-fast address checks
Detailed reports
Seamless candidate experience
Integrated with your HR tech stack
A true partnership.
“Zinc will flag if something’s not quite right. It meets both criteria: you’ve got the candidate experience side, with seamless onboarding. But from Numan’s side, it’s still really compliant.”
Verify candidate identity in minutes to kick off your entire checking process.
Step one
Candidates enter their address history using Zinc’s built-in address lookup. Returning candidates can confirm their existing address or flag a move with a single click, instead of starting from scratch. Zinc automatically calculates how many months they’ve entered, so it’s crystal clear when they’ve met the requirements.
Step two
Zinc cross-references submitted history against trusted records via Onfido and other providers, including electoral rolls. If documents are used to support address checks, like bank statements or utility bills, they generally need to be issued within the last three months and be in the candidate’s full name.
Step three
UK address verification typically completes in under a minute. Any mismatch is flagged in the final report and delivered to your dashboard. It’s also worth knowing that an address check is a prerequisite for DBS checks, so running it early keeps the rest of the process moving smoothly.
Integrations
Background checks, integrated
Zinc connects directly with your ATS or HRIS at no additional cost. Send checks, get results, and store reports without leaving your preferred platform.
Why businesses love using Zinc
%%An intuitive, easy platform%% with support that's far quicker than other providers. The answers are always reliable, especially when we're dealing with different countries.
%%The candidate experience is excellent.%% Integration was straightforward, the pricing is among the best on the market, and support is quick and consistently helpful.
%%It automates the screening of new employees%% and integrates well with our ATS and HRIS. The initial setup was super easy and we're really happy with the product.
Onboarding takes just a few minutes and %%running checks for international contractors is seamless%%. The pay-per-use model is a huge plus for a small company like ours.
%%It has made my role, and my colleagues' day to day, much easier and more efficient%%, while significantly improving the overall experience for our candidates.
Checks and paperwork sync automatically with our recruitment and HR systems, %%saving us so much time%% not having to check multiple systems. The support teams are always incredibly helpful.
For teams of every size
Flexible background checks
Whether you’re hiring a little or a lot.
Under 20 hires annually
Pay As You Grow
Get started in minutes. Our Pay As You Grow plan is built for lower hiring volumes — a flat rate per check, with no hidden costs or setup fees.
Start checking in minutes, no setup needed
Flat rate per check, no hidden fees
Pay only for what you use
20+ hires annually
Custom solutions
For larger volumes, our experts build a package around your needs. Flexible with your hiring and never expires, with integrations, setup, training, and support all included free.
A custom package built around your hiring
Credit pool that never expires or rolls over
Integrations, setup, and training included free
More from Zinc
Check out more resources, straight from our experts
Start screening in days, not weeks
Combine this check with right to work, references, criminal records and more, across 195 countries, in a single candidate journey.
Is an address verification check required before running a DBS check?
Yes. Address verification is a prerequisite for DBS checks. The Disclosure and Barring Service requires confirmation of a candidate's address history as part of the DBS application process.
If an address check fails or gets delayed, for example because of an invalid postcode, the entire DBS check is blocked from progressing. Running address verification early in the screening package keeps the DBS process moving without interruption.
Address verification also underpins credit and adverse financial checks, where address data is used to search financial records. For most screening packages that include criminal, credit, or financial checks, it's worth including address verification as a standard component.
How long does an address verification check take when run through Zinc?
Address verification through Zinc typically completes in under one minute. The candidate enters their address history using Zinc's built-in address lookup, and Zinc cross-references it against trusted records, including electoral rolls, via Onfido and other providers, almost instantly.
Any mismatch gets flagged in the final report and delivered to your dashboard. Returning candidates can confirm their existing address history with a single click or flag a move, without re-entering everything from scratch. That's particularly useful for company-wide recheck programmes.
Can Zinc reuse a candidate’s address history for repeat or company-wide rechecks?
Yes. Returning candidates can log back into Zinc and confirm their existing address history with a single click, or flag a change of address and update their details. No need to re-enter everything from scratch. That significantly reduces friction for company-wide recheck programmes, which is a common requirement in regulated industries where periodic rescreening is mandatory.
All historical check records are retained in your Zinc dashboard, so you keep a clear audit trail of when each person's address history was last verified. Reuse only applies to address information submitted within Zinc, and you can’t import address data from other providers.
What happens when a candidate’s submitted address doesn’t match independent records?
When the address history a candidate submits doesn't match the records Zinc checks against, including electoral roll data and credit reference records, the discrepancy is flagged in the final report delivered to your dashboard. You get the specific detail of what was submitted versus what was verified.
A mismatch isn't automatically a problem. Legitimate reasons include recently moving house, living in shared accommodation not on the electoral roll, or time spent overseas. Your team reviews the flag and decides how to respond: asking for supporting documents, proceeding based on other verification in the package, or investigating further. Zinc keeps a timestamped record of the flag and any action taken.