Digital ID will be rolled out across the UK as part of the government’s attempts to tackle illegal working.
But how will it work? Will everyone be legally required to have it? What if you don’t have a smartphone? How does it work in other countries?
We answer all those questions, and more.
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What details will be on the ID cards?
They will include name, date of birth, a photo, nationality and residency status. A consultation will determine if addresses will be included.
Will digital ID be mandatory?
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The pros and cons of digital IDs – and do we need them?
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Yes. All UK citizens will have to have a digital ID, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told Sky News.
However, she said it is “entirely their choice” if people want to use them.
The government said people will not be required to carry their ID – although it will be in phones, so people likely will – and they will not be asked to produce it.
The current method of providing a physical driving licence, passport, national insurance, bank statements and utility bills to prove your identity will still be available to use.
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How will digital ID be stored and how will you show it?
Earlier this year, the government announced it would launch a gov.uk wallet as part of the gov.uk app launched this summer.
This will look like the ‘wallets’ people can access on their smartphones, such as Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, where contactless bank cards, tickets and loyalty cards are stored and can be used from.
A person’s ID ‘card’ will be stored in the digital wallet, alongside a digital driver’s licence and an Armed Forces Veteran Card, which will launch later this year.
Only government documents will be able to be stored in the gov.uk wallet, and they will not be available through other ‘wallets’.
People will be able to digitally pull up the cards on their phone to display them.
What if you don’t have a smartphone, or don’t want to store ID on your phone?
The government has said people who do not operate digitally, or want to carry a digital ID, will be given a physical card, which will be free.
Read more: The pros and cons of digital IDs – and do we need them?
What will you be able to use digital ID for?
Anything requiring an identity check, ranging from buying alcohol to applying for government services such as driving licences, childcare and welfare.
How will it change employment checks?
For people who are not British citizens, it will be mandatory to show their digital ID to potential employers so they can see their immigration status.
The government said this is the main reason for introducing digital ID as they try to stop one of the key “pull factors” for people to come to the UK illegally.
British citizens will be able to show the digital ID, or their passports, to employers to prove their right to work, a check introduced in 1996.
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When will it be rolled out?
The government said digital ID will be available by the end of this parliament, which is set for 2029.
A consultation will first take place to determine how it would work for groups who may not use phones or have difficulty doing so, including older people, homeless people and those with disabilities.
How about cybersecurity concerns?
The government said it will use “state-of-the-art” encryption and authentication technology it already uses to protect digital transactions.
If a phone is stolen or lost, the digital credentials on it can be revoked and reissued straight away.
Ministers said they expect this to provide better security than traditional physical documents.
Will MPs and Lords have to pass legislation?
It seems not.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy suggested it would not have to go through the House of Commons or House of Lords and will be pushed through by the government.
When asked if it would have to go before parliament or would just take place, Ms Nandy said: “This is being done.”
