Guidance

Digital ID scheme: explainer

Published 26 September 2025

A new digital ID scheme will make it easier for people across the UK to use vital government services.

The roll-out will in time make it easier to apply for government and private sector services, such as helping renters to quickly prove their identity to landlords, improving access to welfare and other benefits, and making it easier for parents to apply for free childcare.

It will also be required for right to work checks to stop those with no right to be in the country from finding work. This is to send a clear message that if you come here illegally, you will not be able to work, deterring people from making dangerous journeys.

How the digital ID will work

Your free digital ID will be stored securely on your phone and will help to prove your identity, including age and residency status, simplifying access to government services and a range of uses across the private sector.

It is expected to be rolled out to all UK citizens and legal residents by the end of this Parliament.

It will be free to download and employers will be required to check it as evidence of your right to work in this country. This is to curb the prospect of work for illegal migrants, a significant factor driving small boat crossings.

Work is now underway to draw up the design and technical details of the scheme to ensure it is inclusive, fair and follows best practice for security and data privacy, including drawing on examples of where digital IDs are already delivering benefits internationally. 

The government will be launching a public consultation later this year to ensure we get the best possible input.

Police will not be able to demand to see your digital ID – as with current precedent.

What data will be held

The new digital ID will be the authoritative proof of who someone is and their residency status in this country.

It will therefore include:

• name
• date of birth
• information on nationality or residency status
• a photo – as the basis for biometric security – just like an eVisa or Passport, but updated for the modern digital world we live in.

The consultation will consider if any additional information, like address, would be helpful to include.

What the digital ID will do

• improve access to public services like education and social benefits – by making it easier for everyone to quickly and easily prove their identity. It will also be available to use to prove your identity when voting in elections
• reduce identity fraud by minimising personal details you give out and
• toughen employment checks, including across the gig economy, curbing the prospect of work for illegal migrants
• streamline verification processes across private sectors too – by enabling digital checks and efficient verification when doing things like opening a bank account or proving your age

How the digital ID will make access to services easier

With a digital ID, it will be easier to prove your identity in order to access public services.

A digital ID will:

Streamline access: you will need just one ID in one secure place on your phone. This will make it easier to access some services without tracking down your physical passport, birth certificate or driving licence – as well as various utilities bills and council tax letters.

Increase efficiency: it will prove who you are instantly, instead of waiting for manual checks and paperwork. That means you can get faster service across government departments.

Reduce wait times: it will cut lengthy time spent filling in forms and document scanning by verifying your identity in seconds, rather than days or weeks for processing.

Make it easier to keep your data up to date: personal information on a digital ID can be updated from your device, such as a change of name - a process that is often slower and more complicated with physical IDs.

How your data and privacy will be protected

The digital ID system will be designed with security at its core.

Digital credentials will be stored directly on your own device - just like contactless payment cards or the NHS App today.

The system will use state-of-the-art encryption and authentication technology that’s already protecting millions of digital transactions daily - in the same way banking apps do.

User control is at the heart of our proposals. Sharing of information contained in the ID should be instigated by you, and we will be transparent with whom information will be shared.

Your personal data will be better protected, that’s because if a phone is lost or stolen, the digital credentials can be easily revoked and reissued, providing better security than traditional physical documents.

We also intend to ensure there are safeguards in place to give users piece of mind about how their data will be used.

How we will ensure it is available to everyone

Millions of people in the UK lack access to traditional proofs of identity like passports. It is estimated that 10% of UK citizens have never had a passport, while 93% of adults own a smart phone.

This means it can be difficult to prove your eligibility for services such as opening a bank account and claiming benefits. Digital ID will give you free, secure identity verification.

To make sure those with physical or cognitive disabilities can use it, we will integrate assistive technologies like:

• screen readers
• voice commands
• biometric authentication

to make it is easier to navigate and people can do so independently.

This will:

• reduce exclusion
• promote more equal participation in society
• help ensure that more people can exercise their civil rights

As part of our consultation, we will be making sure the scheme is inclusive by considering:

• physical alternatives are available for those without smartphones
• face-to-face help is on hand during rollout and for ongoing support
• dedicated casework is provided for challenging situations such as people who lack proofs of their identity

Clarification points (FAQs)

Why will it be a legal requirement in some instances?

To help tackle illegal working, it will be a legal requirement for employers to check your digital ID as proof of your right to work, for instance before you start a new job.

That’s because only UK citizens and legal residents will be able to have one – so those coming here illegally, will not be able to prove their right to work.

However, we will ensure there are alternative routes to obtain the digital ID for those who cannot use a smart phone, or need extra assistance.

Will I have to pay?

No, the digital ID will be free to individuals, so everyone can access it.

Will it be implemented in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Yes, citizens right across the UK will benefit from the advantages of a new digital ID.

We will design this system to ensure everyone who has a right to live and work in any part of the UK can do so more easily and securely. We will ensure our commitments in the Good Friday Agreement and the Common Travel Area are respected. 

How do I know my data will be secure?

Your privacy and data will be protected using advanced security and encryption, just like banking apps do.

It will also be stored directly on your own device - just like contactless payment cards or the NHS App today.

That means if a phone is lost or stolen, the digital credentials can be easily revoked and later reissued, providing better security than traditional physical documents.

Will you sell my data?

No. User control is at the heart of our proposals. The government will only provide third parties with access to your personal data when you instigate this sharing or it is otherwise permitted under UK data protection laws.

Does it mean I will be able to travel abroad without my physical passport?

No, you will still need to travel using your physical passport. This is because the processes at airports and ports around the world require a physical passport to be presented when you arrive in a new country.

I don’t have a passport or driving licence - how will I get a digital ID?

For UK citizens and legal residents without any form of valid photo ID there will be additional options for proving identity.

For particularly challenging cases, personal support from a caseworker will be available.

This will be necessary to support inclusion for all eligible for a digital ID.

Will the police be able to spot check ID or use as a part of ‘stop and search’?

No. Police will not be able to demand to see the digital ID – as with current precedent.