The Government has announced a new digital ID scheme targeted at combatting illegal working. Under it, digital IDs will become a mandatory part of employers’ right to work checks by the end of this current Parliament (in 2029).
The scheme will be available, for free, to all UK citizens and legal residents. 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 do I check right to work documents?
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.”
On 23 October 2025, the Government confirmed that its proposed digital ID scheme, which will see prospective employees proving their right to work via a digital ID, will not be applied retrospectively once it comes into force. This means that employers will not have to carry out repeat checks on the right to work of their existing workforce when the new rules come in.
