The answer here is no, it’s perfectly possible to add a named driver who lives at a different address to you. All you need to do is contact your policyholder and explain the situation.
The most important thing to remember when adding someone as a named driver is that you are not guilty of fronting. Fronting is where the named driver ends up using the car as much or more than the main policyholder.
This is often done to bring costs down for someone with less driving experience who might find it harder to get a competitive premium. One of the more common examples is parents adding their children to policies when they do not have the intention of being the main driver.
If caught doing this, you risk invalidating your policy, getting points on your licence, and potentially even facing criminal charges. So, if your named driver seems like they might be using the car more than you, it might be time to consider a separate policy.