Digital identity certification for right to work, right to rent and criminal record checks
Updated 19 April 2024
1. Introduction
On 27 December 2021, the government announced its intention to enable employers and landlords to use certified digital identity service providers (IDSPs) to carry out identity checks on their behalf for many who are not in scope to use the Home Office online services, including British and Irish citizens. Alongside this the Disclosure and Barring Service’s (DBS) proposal will enable digital identity checking within their criminal record checking process using certified digital identity service IDSPs.
This guidance sets how IDSPs can become certified to complete digital identity checks for the Right to Work, Right to Rent, and DBS schemes respectively, in line with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) UK Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework (the trust framework).
The trust framework is a set of rules organisations agree to follow to conduct secure, trustworthy identity or attribute checks. The initial alpha version of the trust framework was published in February 2021, with an updated version of the trust framework published in August 2021 following feedback from the public, industry, and civil society. A consultation on underpinning the trust framework in legislation ran from July to September 2021.
The Right to Work, Right to Rent, and DBS initiatives form part of DCMS’s trust framework’s testing process, and learnings will help to further refine its development.
2. What this means for employers and landlords
Employers and landlords will be able to work with IDSPs to utilise Identification Document Validation Technology (IDVT) to carry out digital identity checks on behalf of British and Irish citizens who hold a valid passport (including Irish passport cards). The relevant changes to legislation will take effect from 6 April 2022.
Enabling the use of IDVT for Right to Work, Right to Rent and DBS checks will help to support long-term post pandemic working practices, accelerate the recruitment and onboarding process, improve employee mobility and enhance the security and integrity of the checks.
This supports the continued development of the DCMS trust framework and enables employers and landlords to make use of IDVT where they already have an established commercial relationship with an IDSP.
Whilst it will not be mandatory for employers and landlords to use a certified IDSP for the purposes of right to work and right to rent checks, the Home Office recommends employers and landlords use a certified IDSP. This will provide assurance that their chosen IDSP meets relevant scheme guidance and the standards set out in the trust framework. This means an employer or landlord can reduce risk by recruiting and renting in a safer way as they are able to assure prospective employee and tenants’ identities and eligibility using consistent and more secure methods. Employers and landlords will retain obligations that they must comply with under the Schemes, including to satisfy themselves that the IDSP has carried out an identity check on the employee/tenant, and to retain copies of the check.
For DBS checks, employers must use a certified IDSP.
3. What IDSPs become certified against
To become certified against the schemes, IDSPs must meet the criteria in the current version of the trust framework. Depending on the scheme(s) they want to join, they must also meet the requirements for the Right to Work and Right to Rent schemes and/or DBS scheme.
The beta version of the trust framework was published on 13 June 2022. New IDSPs looking to be certified will need to become certified against the beta version of the trust framework to participate in the Schemes which require certified IDSPs. IDSPs who are certified against the alpha trust framework will be expected to move to the beta version at the time of their next planned annual surveillance audit.
A consultation on proposed digital identity legislative measures ran from July to September 2021. These include a plan to legislate for formalised governance arrangements for the trust framework and under these arrangements the trust framework will move to the live phase. The process for certification may change under these arrangements, with IDSPs needing to meet any new requirements
4. How IDSPs become certified
A step-by-step process for how providers become certified against the trust framework and Right to Work, Right to Rent, and DBS Schemes is as follows:
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IDSPs who wish to become certified must firstly decide whether they want to be certified against a) the Right to Work and Right to Rent Schemes only, b) the DBS Scheme only, or c) both.
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IDSPs must engage with one of the selected certification bodies (see below) and agree a contractual relationship for completing the assessment process.
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IDSPs are assessed by a combination of desk reviews and on-site audits depending on the scope to be assessed. Although having taken part in the alpha testing of trust framework is not a requirement, those who did participate will be able to use their alpha self-assessments as supporting evidence as part of this process.
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After the audits have taken place, certification bodies will advise DCMS and the IDSP undergoing certification of their recommendation in regard to certification.
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DCMS will review the outcome of the assessment process and, if all requirements have been met, the name, contact details, and certification status of the IDSP will be published on this page. Employers, landlords and other relevant IDSPs interested in procuring digital identity services will be able to see which IDSPs have been approved.
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Certification is a time-limited process and IDSPs will need to undertake an annual surveillance audit and biennial recertification to remain on the list of certified IDSPs for these Schemes.
5. Certification bodies
A list of certification bodies can be found on the UKAS website. Organisations interested in becoming certified should engage directly with the selected certification bodies. Certification bodies listed as undergoing accreditation by UKAS are able to certify organisations for the purposes of Right to Work, Right to Rent and DBS. These certification bodies have undergone an initial assessment by UKAS and DCMS and have been selected to carry out certification of organisations whilst undergoing UKAS accreditation.
6. List of certified IDSPs
A list of certified organisations can be found in the table below. This table will continue to be updated as organisations are certified.
Name | Address | Email Address | Telephone Number | Website | Schemes certified against | Proof of certification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yoti and Post Office EasyID | 6th Floor 107 Leadenhall St London EC3A 4AF |
certified@yoti.com | N/A | www.yoti.com | Right to work Right to rent Disclosure and Barring Service |
Certification document |
Hooyu Limited, A MiTek Company | Fora, 180 Borough High Street, London, SE1 1LB, United Kingdom | info@hooyu.com | N/A | www.hooyu.com | Right to work Right to rent Disclosure and Barring Service |
Certification document |
TrustID Limited | The Blade, Abbey Street, Reading, RG1 3BA | enquiries@trustid.co.uk | N/A | www.trustid.co.uk | Right to work Right to rent Disclosure and Barring Service |
Certification document |
OneID Ltd | 29 Wood Street Stratford upon Avon CV37 6JG |
hello@oneid.uk | +44 (0) 2045514452 | www.oneid.uk | Right to work Right to rent Disclosure and Barring Service |
Certification document |
Paycasso Verify Ltd trading as Xydus | French Railway House 178-180 Piccadilly London W1J 9ER, United Kingdom |
support@xydus.com | N/A | www.xydus.com | Right to work | Certification document |
Sterling (EMEA) Limited | Ground Floor, Matrix House Swansea Enterprise Park Swansea, Wales SA6 8RE |
infoUK@Sterlingcheck.com | N/A | www.sterlingcheck.co.uk | Right to work Disclosure and Barring Service |
Certification document |
T4 Communications UK Ltd T/A Rightcheck | The Techno Centre, Coventry University Technology Park, Coventry, CV1 2TT, United Kingdom | sales@rightcheck.io | 02476 158830 | www.rightcheck.io | Right to work Disclosure and Barring Service |
Certification document |
Deloitte LLP | 1 New Street Square, London EC4A 3HQ | deloittegoverify@deloitte.co.uk | N/A | N/A | Right to work | Certification document |
Credas Technologies Ltd | The Maltings, East Tyndall Street, Cardiff Bay, United Kingdom, CF24 5EA | Louis.Lancaster@dyedurham.com | N/A | www.credas.com | Right to work Right to rent Disclosure and Barring Service |
Certification document |
Amiqus Resolution Ltd | 3rd Floor, City Point, Edinburgh, EH12 5HD | trustframework@amiqus.co | 01315139757 | www.amiqus.co/ | Right to work Right to rent Disclosure and Barring Service |
Certification document |
Digidentity B.V. | Schenkkade 50 – 15th floor, 2595 AR Den Haag, The Netherlands | sales@digidentity.com | N/A | www.digidentity.eu | Right to work Right to rent Disclosure and Barring Service |
Certification document |
CDD Services Ltd T/A Spotlite Business Services | Manchester Digital Innovation and Security Hub Heron House 1 Lincoln Square Manchester M2 5LN |
hello@cdd.services | +44 (0) 161 511 5399 | www.cdd.services/ | Right to work Disclosure and Barring Service |
Certification document |
IDVerse (An OCR Labs company) | 1st Floor Healthaid House Marlborough Hill, Harrow United Kingdom, HA1 1UD |
hello@ocrlabs.com | N/A | www.ocrlabs.com/ | Right to work Right to rent Disclosure and Barring Service |
Certification document |
uComply Limited | 48 Peartree Lane Welwyn Garden City, United Kingdom AL7 3UD |
enquiries@ucomply.co.uk | 01707 802899 | www.ucomply.co.uk | Right to work | Certification document |
GB Group PLC | The Foundation, Herons Way Chester Business Park, Chester CH4 9GB |
enquiries@gbgplc.com | 01244 264 600 | www.gbgplc.com/en/ | Right to work Right to rent Disclosure and Barring Service |
Certification document |
Marston Holdings Ltd | Level 2, Henshaw House Cheapside, Oldham OL1 1NY |
checking@marstonholdings.co.uk | 0330 175 5925 | www.marstonholdings.co.uk/nsl/checking-services/ | Right to work | Certification document |
Onfido Limited | 18 Finsbury Square, 3rd Floor London EC2A 1AH |
sales@onfido.com | N/A | www.onfido.com/ | Right to work Disclosure and Barring Service |
Certification document |
ID Pal Limited | 145 Pearse Street Dublin 2, Ireland D02 CP08 |
sales@id-pal.com | +44 (0) 1280 825716 | www.id-pal.com | Right to work Right to rent |
Certification document |
Northrow Limited | 30 Upper High Street Thame, Oxfordshire OX9 3EZ |
sales@northrow.com | 01235 375000 | www.northrow.com/ | Right to work | Certification document |
Atlantic Data | Atlantic House, 7 Davy Avenue Knowlhill, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England MK5 8HJ |
info@atlanticdata.co.uk | N/A | www.atlanticdata.co.uk | Right to work Disclosure and Barring Service |
Certification document |
Checkback International Group incorporating Vetting Solutions Centre Ltd | Suite E14, IMEX Building, 575-599 Maxted Road Hemel Hempstead, United Kingdom HP2 7DX |
solutions@checkback.co.uk | 01442 816 333 | www.checkback.co.uk/ | Right to work Right to rent Disclosure and Barring Service |
Certification document |
Datachecker Limited | 3rd Floor, News Building London Bridge Street, London, United Kingdom, SE1 9SG |
info@datachecker.co.uk and support@datachecker.co.uk | +4420 396 69103 | www.datachecker.co.uk | Right to work Right to rent |
Certification document |
Thirdfort Limited | Belle House Platform 1, Victoria Station, London, England, SW1V 1JT | contact@thirdfort.com | +44 161 768 0083 | www.thirdfort.com | Right to work Right to rent Disclosure and Barring Service |
Certification document |
Experian Limited | The Sir John Peace Building, Experian Way, NG2 Business Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom, NG80 1ZZ | customerservices@uk.experian.com | 0800 013 8888 (Monday – Friday 09:00 to 18:00) | www.experian.co.uk | Right to work Right to rent Disclosure and Barring Service |
Certification document |
Nuggets Ltd | 12-18 Hoxton Street, London, England, N1 6NG | Partner@nuggets.life | N/A | www.nuggets.life/ | Right to work Right to rent Disclosure and Barring Service |
Certification document |
Konfir | Labs Hawley Wharf, 1 Water Lane, London NW1 8NZ | Tom@konfir.com | N/A | www.konfir.com/ | N/A | Certification document |
Persona Identities Inc | 201 Post St, Floors 2, 3, and 5 San Francisco, CA 9415 | tim.chang@withpersona.com | +1 804.625.1563 | www.withpersona.com/ | Right to work Right to rent |
Certification document |
Virtual Signature ID Validate Ltd | Level 18, 40 Bank Street, Canary Wharf, London, England, E14 5NR | id.enquiry@virtualsignature.com | +44 (0) 333 335 5176 | https://virtualsignature.com/ | Right to work | Certification document |
Mastercard UK Management Services Limited | 1 Angel Lane, London, United Kingdom, EC4R 3AB | N/A | N/A | https://idservice.com/en/home.html | Right to work Right to rent |
Certification document |
Target Professional Services (UK) Limited | 3 Sherrington Mews, Ellis Square, Manor Road, Selsey, Chichester, PO20 0FJ | info@targetprofessional.co.uk | 0800 988 1255 | www.targetprofessional.co.uk/ | N/A | Certification document |
mypensionID Limited | Sherrington Chambers Unit 3, Sherrington Mews, Selsey, Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom , PO20 0FJ | info@mypensionid.co.uk | +44 (0)1243 608635 | www.mypensionid.co.uk/ | N/A | Certification document |
Veridas Digital Authentication Solutions, S.L. | 52 Grosvenor Gardens, London, SW1W 0AU | trustframework@veridas.com | N/A | www.veridas.com/en/ | Right to work Right to rent |
Certification document |
Due Diligence Checking Limited | Meltongate House, 1282a Melton Rd, Syston, Leicester, LE7 2HD, United Kingdom | newenquiries@ddc.uk.net | 0116 260 3055 or 0845 644 3298 | www.ddc.uk.net/ | Right to work Disclosure and Barring Service |
Certification document |
iPassport | 38-40 High Street, Croydon, CR0 1YB, United Kingdom | info@ipassport.global | N/A | www.ipassport.global/ | N/A | Certification document |
PPAC Solutions LTD | Highland House, The Broadway, London, England, SW19 1NE | info@ppac.co.uk | +44 (0)20 7971 7778 | www.ppac.co.uk | Right to work | Certification document |
Fragomen LLP t/a Workright | 95 Gresham Street, 1st Floor, London, England, EC2V 7NA | Workright@fragomen.com | N/A | www.fragomen.com | Right to work | Certification document |
Jumio UK Limited | 1st Floor, 43 Worship Street, London, England, EC2A 2DU | sales@jumio.com | N/A | www.jumio.com | Right to work Right to rent Disclosure and Barring Service |
Certification document |
Zinc | Eastcastle House, 27-28 Eastcastle Street, London, United Kingdom, W1W 8DH | hello@zincwork.com | N/A | www.zincwork.com/ | Right to work Disclosure and Barring Service |
Certification document |
Facephi Biometria SA | 48, Chancery Lane, London, Greater London, WC2A 1JF | Use contact form via https://en.facephi.com/contact/ | N/A | https://en.facephi.com/ | Right to work Right to rent Disclosure and Barring Service |
Certification document |
iProov Ltd | WeWork, 10 York Road, London, SE1 7ND | contact@iproov.com | +44 20 7993 2379 | www.iproov.com | N/A | Certification document |
Data Zoo Pty Limited | Bay 8, 1-3 Middlemiss Street, North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, NSW 2060 | Email via contact form on website https://www.datazoo.com/contact | N/A | www.datazoo.com/ | Right to work Right to rent Disclosure and Barring Service |
Certification document |
SQR Group Limited | Queen Victoria House, 41-43 Victoria Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2LF | info@sqr-group.com | +44 (0) 1624 815005 | www.sqr-group.com | N/A | Certification document |
Veriff OÜ | Niine 11, 10414 Tallinn, Estonia | support@veriff.com | (+372) 6075050 | www.veriff.com | Right to work Right to rent Disclosure and Barring Service |
Certification document |
Arissian Ltd | Basepoint Centre, Bromsgrove Technology Park, Isidore Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B60 3ET, United Kingdom | info@arissian.com | +44 (0) 121 318 8878 | www.luciditi.co.uk | Right to work Right to rent |
Certification document |
One Kosmos Inc. | 1 Tower Center Boulevard, Suite 1510-17, East Brunswick, NJ. 08816 | huzefa@1kosmos.com | +1 (323) 202-0077 | www.1kosmos.com/ | Right to work Right to rent Disclosure and Barring Service |
Certification document |
IDnow GmbH | Auen Str. 100, Munich 80469, Germany | Email via contact form on website www.idnow.io/contact/ | N/A | www.idnow.io/ | Right to work Right to rent Disclosure and Barring Service |
Certification document |
Tech5 SA | Rue de Neuchatel 8, 1201, Geneva, Switzerland | Info@tech5-sa.com | N/A | www.tech5.ai | N/A | Certification document |
DAON (UK) LTD | Suite 1 7th Floor, 50 Broadway, London, United Kingdom, SW1H 0BL | sales@daon.com | N/A | www.daon.com/ | Right to work Right to rent |
Certification document |
Sum and Substance Ltd | 30 St. Mary Axe, London, England, EC3A 8BF | hello@sumsub.com | N/A | www.sumsub.com | Right to work Right to rent Disclosure and Barring Service |
Certification document |
Amani Technologies Limited | Gate Avenue - DIFC Fintech Hive - D Level - 1 Al Mustaqbal St DIFC - Dubai - United Arab Emirates |
Email via contact form on website https://amani.ai/contact-us/ | N/A | www.amani.ai/ | Right to work Right to rent Disclosure and Barring Service |
Certification document |
ComplyCube | Crown House, 27 Old Gloucester Street, London, United Kingdom, WC1N 3AX | Sales@ComplyCube.com | N/A | www.complycube.com/en/ | Right to work Right to rent Disclosure and Barring Service |
Certification document |
7. Frequently asked questions
How long does certification take?
The length of the assessment process will be agreed between the IDSP wanting to become certified and their selected certification body. We estimate that it will take 4-8 weeks to complete this process.
How much does it cost to become certified?
The costs of the assessment are agreed between the IDSP and their selected certification body. Once certification is achieved, there is no cost to being placed on the list of the government’s certified IDSPs. (Please note this may change in the future.)
How long does certification last?
Certification lasts for up to two years, after which must become recertified against the most current version of the trust framework and relevant Scheme guidance to remain on the list of certified IDSPs. Surveillance audits must be undertaken annually, as part of maintaining certification, and will also facilitate a move to the most current version of the trust framework and scheme guidance available.
Can the identity checks be reused?
Whether and where identity checks can be reused in other contexts is dependent on the requirements of the use case and organisations involved. The reuse of checks may be possible where this is compliant with relevant legislation and rules within the trust framework.
8. Contact details
For questions from IDSPs interested in becoming certified, please contact digitalidentity@dcms.gov.uk.
For questions from employers and landlords regarding Right to Work and Right to Rent checks, please contact RighttoRentandRighttoWork@homeoffice.gov.uk.
For questions from organisations requiring DBS checks, please contact customerservices@dbs.gov.uk.