Gov announces UK Digital ID Scheme to transform access to services and jobs

UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer

The UK government has unveiled plans for a new digital ID system designed to make it easier for citizens to access vital services while tightening rules against illegal working.

The scheme will be rolled out nationally and become mandatory for Right to Work checks by the end of the current Parliament. Ministers say it will streamline identity verification, cut down on forged documents, and ensure that only those with legal residency can work in the UK.

Digital ID will be available to all UK citizens and legal residents. It will be stored securely on mobile phones, similar to the NHS App or digital wallets, offering faster access to services such as driving licences, childcare support, welfare applications and tax records.

The government confirmed that there will be no requirement to carry the ID daily, but it will be essential for proving the right to work.

A crackdown on illegal working

Officials say the scheme will help dismantle one of the “pull factors” attracting illegal migration by preventing those without the right to remain from gaining employment.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

“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 being able to prove your identity to access key services swiftly – rather than hunting around for an old utility bill.”

The initiative builds on the government’s “Plan for Change”, under which illegal working arrests have risen by 50%. Ministers also highlighted recent moves to tackle exploitation in the gig economy and the deportation of migrants under a new UK-France returns deal.

Global best practice and security

The UK’s digital ID will draw inspiration from systems already in use abroad. In Estonia, parents can use their national ID for everything from health records to nursery applications, while in India, the government reports saving billions annually through reduced fraud in welfare payments.

The government has promised “best-in-class security” for the system. Credentials will be stored on users’ devices, encrypted, and easily revoked if a phone is lost or stolen.

Digital ID will include biometric features such as a photo, date of birth and nationality or residency status, with the possibility of address details being considered in a future consultation.

Public consultation

A national consultation will take place later this year to gather views on the design and accessibility of the scheme.

The government stressed that inclusion will be central, with options for those without smartphones and targeted support for groups such as older people and the homeless.

Face-to-face assistance will also be provided as part of an outreach programme.

Mr Starmer added:

“We are doing the hard graft to deliver a fairer Britain for those who want to see change, not division. That is at the heart of our Plan for Change, which is focused on delivering for those who want to see their communities thrive again.”