What are digital ID cards, how will they work and will they be mandatory?

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Image source, Getty Images By Rachel Hagan * Published 26 September 2025 Updated 23 October 2025 **Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has defended the government's plans to introduce digital ID cards across the UK.** He told the BBC the new system would "cut the faff" for people trying to prove their identity in a range of scenarios, as well as showing they have to the right to work. The government says the scheme will be rolled-out "by the end of the Parliament" - meaning before the next general election, which by law [must be held no later than August 2029.]( ## Why is the government introducing digital ID and will it be compulsory? Once introduced, digital ID will be used to verify a person's right to live and work in the UK. It will take the form of an app-based system, stored on smartphones in a similar way to the NHS App or digital bank cards. The ID will include information on the holders' residency status, name, date of birth, nationality and their photo. When he first announced the scheme, Sir Keir said: "You will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have digital ID. It's as simple as that." However, the government subsequently told the BBC that the requirement for ID won't be applied retrospectively, with UK workers only needing it when they apply for a job after its proposed introduction by 2028. Nonetheless, ministers insist it curb illegal immigration by making it harder for people without status to find jobs, which the government argues is a reason some migrants enter the UK illegally. Employers will no longer be able to rely on a National Insurance (NI) number - which is currently used as part of proof of right to work - or paper-based checks. At the moment, it is possible to borrow, steal or use someone else's National Insurance number. Having a picture attached to the ID should - in theory - make it harder to abuse the system. However, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said that while there were arguments "for and against" digital ID, making it mandatory "requires a proper national debate". Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said his party would "fight tooth and nail" against the scheme which would "add to our tax bills and bureaucracy, whilst doing next to nothing to tackle channel crossings". * [New digital ID will be mandatory to work in the UK]( * Published 26 September 2025 * [Will digital ID cards stop illegal working?]( * Published 26 September 2025 * [Digital veteran card could be case study for ID rollout, says minister]( * Published 17 October 2025 ## What else could digital ID be used for? Image source, Reuters Image caption, Sir Keir told the BBC that the new system would help combat fraud as well as identifying those working illegally Digital ID will be available to all UK citizens and legal residents aged 16 or over, and will be mandatory in order to work. However, it will be optional for students, pensioners or others not seeking employment. The government [will consult on whether children aged between 13 and 16-years-old should be included the scheme]( since many already work part-time. Officials have stressed it will not function like a traditional identity card, and people will not be required to carry it in public. Sir Keir also confirmed that you wouldn't need a digital ID to access medical services or go to hospital. But the system is being designed to integrate with some government services, to make applications simpler and reduce fraud. In time, the government said that digital IDs would make it easier to apply for services such as driving licences, childcare and welfare, and to access your tax records. It added the ID could also be used to "streamline verification processes across private sectors" - such as when opening a bank account or buying or renting property. Asked about the cost of the scheme, Sir Keir told the BBC he expected digital ID would save money overall "because it stops fraud". ## How will digital ID work for people without smartphones? The government has promised the system will be "inclusive" and work for those without smartphones, passports or reliable internet access. A public consultation expected to be launched later in 2025 will include looking at alternatives - potentially including physical documents or face-to-face support - for groups such as older people or the homeless. ## Why are some people against digital IDs? Civil liberties groups argue that even a limited digital ID could pave the way for a more intrusive system, raising concerns about privacy, data security and government overreach. Big Brother Watch, alongside seven other organisations, wrote to the prime minister urging him to abandon the plan, saying it would "push unauthorised migrants further into the shadows". More than 2.9 million people have signed a petition against introducing digital ID cards, [on the UK Parliament website, external]( Petitions that get more than 100,000 signatures are considered for a debate in Parliament. Other prominent critics include the former Conservative cabinet minister David Davis. He said "no system is immune to failure" and warned that governments and tech companies have repeatedly failed to protect people's data. Sir Keir denied that digital ID would ever be used as a surveillance tool - and said the scheme would "absolutely have very strong encryption". For additional security, the ID will be held on individual devices rather than be stored in third party data centres. ## Which other countries already have ID cards? The UK government has said it will "take the best aspects" of digital ID systems used elsewhere around the world, including Estonia, Australia, Denmark and India. Each of these countries has its own unique system, but they all let people prove who they are when accessing government or banking services. * Estonia introduced its mandatory digital ID system in 2002, and people use it to access medical records, voting, banking and digital signatures. It's primarily stored on peoples' smartphones as a digital version of an ID card * Australia and Denmark have digital ID apps that people can download and use to log into government and private services. Neither require citizens to have it * India has a system through which people can obtain a unique 12-digit reference number to use as proof of residence and identity Many other countries also use some form of digital ID, including Singapore, Greece, France, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the United Arab Emirates, China, Costa Rica, South Korea and Afghanistan. ## Has the UK tried to introduce ID cards before? Tony Blair's Labour government legislated for voluntary ID cards in the early 2000s. However, the scheme was scrapped in 2011 by the Conservative-led coalition, which argued it was too expensive and intrusive. The UK has only had compulsory ID cards during wartime. Although they stayed in place for several years after World War Two, Winston Churchill's government scrapped them in 1952 after criticism about the cost and police use. ## Related topics * [Identity theft]( * [Keir Starmer]( * [UK immigration]( ## The video playlist Watch our pick of standout clips from across the BBC Previous Next, 4 of 18 * 1:01 How to use your loved ones' clothes to keep their memory alive. 00:01:01, play video How to use your loved ones' clothes to keep their memory alive * 0:45 BBC's Guy Mowbray on how to commentate a football game. 00:00:45, play video BBC's Guy Mowbray on how to commentate a football game * 0:43 Paddington star worried height would hinder her career. 00:00:43, play video Paddington star worried height would hinder her career * 1:18 Young engineers take on Red Bull Soapbox Race. 00:01:18, play video Young engineers take on Red Bull Soapbox Race * 1:04'I invented the Mexican Wave' 00:01:04, play video'I invented the Mexican Wave' * 0:49 Too hot to fly: the airports at risk from climate change. 00:00:49, play video Too hot to fly: the airports at risk from climate change * 0:52 Will you watch England v France? 00:00:52, play video Will you watch England v France? * 1:35 Why listening to birdsong is good for you. 00:01:35, play video Why listening to birdsong is good for you * 1:24'You can really figure out who you are': London's Ballroom scene. 00:01:24, play video'You can really figure out who you are': London's Ballroom scene * 0:26 Manchesterism - what is it? 00:00:26, play video Manchesterism - what is it? * 0:54 When does Andy Burnham become prime minister? 00:00:54, play video When does Andy Burnham become prime minister? * 0:56 Trump alleges other countries are interfering in US elections. 00:00:56, play video Trump alleges other countries are interfering in US elections * 0:28 UK heatwave hits two-week mark. 00:00:28, play video UK heatwave hits two-week mark * 0:31 Burnham 'ready' to be new Labour leader. 00:00:31, play video Burnham 'ready' to be new Labour leader * 0:37 Will the heatwave end this weekend? 00:00:37, play video Will the heatwave end this weekend? * 1:00 Newborn babies in England to be tested for SMA. 00:01:00, play video Newborn babies in England to be tested for SMA * 1:26 Zelensky's removal of defence minister sparks protests in Ukraine. 00:01:26, play video Zelensky's removal of defence minister sparks protests in Ukraine * 1:29 Disabled Jersey golfer to represent Europe. 00:01:29, play video Disabled Jersey golfer to represent Europe ## Top stories * [Burnham to scrap digital ID to focus on cost of living in first major policy pledge]( * Published 1 hour ago * [Live. 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