The government has confirmed plans to introduce a digital ID system across the UK, making it mandatory for proving the right to work, but without requiring individuals to carry the ID on them at all times.
Instead, digital credentials will be stored directly on smartphones, functioning similarly to contactless payment cards or the NHS app. Employers will be obliged to verify these IDs as part of recruitment checks, replacing the current system that relies on passports and paper-based documents.
Legislation planned by 2029
The aim is to legislate for a nationwide rollout by the end of this parliament in 2029. Ministers present the scheme as a measure to strengthen border security, reduce illegal migration and curb the hidden economy.
Prime minister Keir Starmer argued that the proposals would deliver security and convenience. “I know working people are worried about the level of illegal migration into this country. A secure border and controlled migration are reasonable demands, and this government is listening and delivering.
“Digital ID is an enormous opportunity for the UK. It will make it tougher to work illegally in this country, making our borders more secure. And it will also offer ordinary citizens countless benefits, like proving your identity to access key services swiftly – rather than hunting around for an old utility bill.”
Security assurances
The government stressed that “best-in-class security” will be built into the system from the outset. The announcement came in the same week as high-profile cyberattacks disrupted airline check-ins and a chain of nursery schools, underlining public concerns around digital safety.
According to the prime minister’s office, the new system will use encryption and authentication technology that is comparable to that used for digital payments. If a phone is lost or stolen, digital credentials can be revoked and reissued immediately, offering what the government says is stronger protection than traditional physical documents.
The digital ID will be the definitive proof of identity and residency status in the UK. It will contain a person’s name, date of birth, nationality or residency details, and a photograph to enable biometric checks.
Employer responsibilities
Right-to-work checks apply to all employees, regardless of nationality. Under existing rules, employers who fail to carry out the checks can face fines of up to £45,000.
Ministers hope to simplify employer compliance by making digital verification the standard. Nick Carberry, chief executive of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), welcomed the move: “The REC has consistently championed digital verification with the government because it gets more people into work, makes hiring simpler for businesses and prevents fraud.
“This gives us a more fluent and dynamic job market – just what you need to achieve economic growth.”
Wider digital plans
The new digital ID scheme will be part of the government’s broader plans for a gov.uk digital wallet, including a digital driving licence scheduled to launch later this year.
Consultation will take place on the details of the scheme, including whether additional information, such as home addresses, should be included and how to support those who are digitally excluded.
Opposition and privacy concerns
Despite the government’s assurances, opposition parties, privacy campaigners and the devolved administration in Northern Ireland have already expressed scepticism.
Akiko Hart, director at human rights group Liberty, warned that mandatory digital ID could deepen social exclusion: “Compulsory digital ID will exclude some of the most marginalised members of society, including those in poverty and the elderly, from housing and employment.
“In a digital world there is a greater need for a safe and secure way to prove our identities. Any system should be designed with the purpose of helping people to access vital services or proving our identity more easily, not creating barriers or shutting people out.”
Echoes of past attempts
This is not the UK government’s first attempt to introduce national ID cards. In 2006, the Identity Cards Act under then-prime minister Tony Blair sought to establish physical ID cards after the “war on terror”. That legislation was eventually overturned.
The current government hopes that this latest effort will succeed where earlier proposals failed by focusing on convenience, modern digital infrastructure and employer compliance.
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