Working in the UK will require job applicants to produce a digital ID, the Government has announced. The new scheme, targeted at combatting illegal working, is set to be in place by the end of this current Parliament (in 2029) and will overhaul the current right to work checking system.
The message from the Prime Minister, Kier Starmer, was clear. If a person is unable to show a digital ID, they must not be permitted to work in the UK.
The new IDs will be entirely digital, sitting in a GOV.UK digital wallet that can be accessed via an individual’s smartphone. Other means of access will be developed for those without access to a smartphone.
Digital IDs will be part of a new streamlined digital right to work check system designed to simplify the process, drive up compliance and crack down on forged documents. They will also provide data that can be used by the Home Office to act against employers who hire those without the right to work in the UK, which includes civil penalties of up to £45,000 for each illegal worker employed, increasing to £60,000 per worker for repeat offences.
How will digital IDs change the right to work process?
The new digital ID will be the authoritative proof of who someone is and their residency status in this country. It will include their name, date of birth, information on nationality or residency status and a photo — as the basis for biometric security — just like an eVisa or Passport.
A public consultation will be launched later this year to inform the Government’s decisions on how this service will be delivered and the exact information to be included with the IDs.
Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said: “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.
“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.”
How do I check the right to work of British and Irish citizens?