The government of the United Kingdom has unveiled plans for a compulsory digital ID for workers, set to become mandatory for right-to-work checks by the end of the current Parliament in 2029.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer while announcing the policy, described the initiative as a cornerstone of the nation’s efforts to curb illegal immigration.
Starmer said his administration drew inspiration from successful digital ID systems in countries like Estonia and India.
He explained that the digital ID for workers would be dubbed the “Brit card”. According to the Prime Minister, the ID will require every working adult citizen and legal resident to obtain a free, app-based digital identity stored on their smartphones.
He added that the digital ID for workers aims to replace what he described as cumbersome paper-based checks, such as passports and utility bills.
“That is why today I am announcing this government will make a new, free-of-charge, digital ID mandatory for the right to work by the end of this parliament,” he said.
“You will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have a digital ID. It’s as simple as that.”
However, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said that while there are arguments “for and against” digital ID, making it mandatory requires a proper national debate.
In a post on X, she said: “Can we really trust [Labour] to implement an expensive national programme that will impact all of our lives and put additional burdens on law-abiding people? I doubt it.”
Liberal Democrats’ Shadow Attorney General Ben Maguire told the BBC the party was “struggling” to see how the policy would have a meaningful impact on illegal migration.
Meanwhile, the UK government has published how the new digital ID would be implemented.
This was contained in a statement posted on the official website of the UK government.
The statement reads: “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 the 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 whether any additional information, like the 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 the 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 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 the 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.”
