The UK’s new Digital ID scheme is one of the most significant national developments in identity for a generation—but what does it mean for citizens, employers, and the future of digital trust?
Global systems have undoubtedly influenced the UK governmental shift towards digital ID infrastructure, with digital identity evolving in different ways around the world, from IDs to bank cards.
Ascertia has the solutions your business needs to stay ahead of the digital identity curve. Our digital trust products support digital identity cards, including solutions for creating and verifying digital signatures, managing secure identities, and integrating with Digital Identity Wallets.
The new UK Government Digital ID scheme
In September 2025, the UK government announced a new national Digital ID scheme for Right to Work checks for anyone entering new employment. The government announcement in January 2026 confirmed that the new Digital ID will be optional, not mandatory.
The phone-based digital identity will sit inside the GOV.UK Digital Identity Wallet, similar to how millions of UK citizens currently use the NHS App or contactless mobile payments. The UK government has made a clear commitment to share digital ID information only with a citizen’s explicit consent, store the ID only on the device, and ensure that data remains encrypted.
What will the UK Digital ID be used for?
The digital ID will contain your name, date of birth, nationality or immigration status, a verified photograph, and cryptographically protected attributes. This is all the information needed for employers to confirm right to work securely without the need for uploading or scanning physical documents or photocopying passports.
By the end of this Parliamentary term, all new employees can choose to have a digital ID to prove their Right to Work in the UK, and employers will be obliged to accept it.
Expansion of this scheme is likely, as the structure will facilitate its implementation in the future for credentials such as digital driving licenses, travel credentials, DBS checks, and proof of age.
Previous iterations of Digital ID in the UK
Even before the newly announced digital ID scheme, the UK government has experimented with wallet-based identity platforms, with trials rolled out for digital Right to Rent, Right to Work, and a pilot digital driving license credential. These early steps laid the groundwork for what’s to come.
The EU Digital Identity Wallet (eIDAS 2.0)
One of the most significant global developments in digital identity is the new EU Digital Identity Wallet (part of the revised eIDAS 2.0 regulation). EU citizens and residents will be able to download the EUDI Wallet onto their smartphones, enabling them to access online/offline public and private services (such as banking, healthcare, and travel) by storing and sharing verified digital documents and credentials (e.g. driving licenses, qualifications).
These wallets will be provided by 27 Member States by 2026, with plans to achieve widespread adoption by 2030. The EUDI Wallet has significantly influenced other countries’ digital identity scheme proposals.
Digital identity around the world
Each country reflects its own trust levels and approach to digital ID technology. Understanding some of these models helps us understand why the UK is heading down the path of digital ID.
Estonia is a perfect example of the government-led eID model. Citizens in Estonia use a state-issued digital identity card that is directly linked to their legal identity, providing them with access to tax portals, healthcare services, business registration, prescription management, and even online voting in elections.
Adoption and trust of the process were high from the start, with strong PKI from day one. This seamless digital experience with interoperability across all public services required deep trust in the government, which may be a difficulty for some nations. This digital identity system also reduced flexibility for private identity providers.
Sweden is another good example of global adoption of digital identity infrastructure. Instead of a government-issued ID card, a digital identity is often provided through banks. Sweden’s BankID is used to authenticate with government services, banks, online retailers, and almost everything else.
While citizens in Sweden were keen to adopt this new service and showed strong trust in banks, their excellent user experience was somewhat soured by an argument that this system gives banks too much influence and promotes lower government oversight.
Why did the UK choose the digital wallet design?
It’s clear that the UK has been inspired by Estonia, Sweden, and the EU when it came to choosing its digital ID scheme—but it opted for a uniquely British model.
The UK’s distinct scheme is a government-issued, wallet-based digital identity credential built on strong cryptography, designed for future expansion, and without a centralised database. The UK’s digital ID scheme will strike a balance between privacy, trust, and convenience in a manner that reflects the expectations of its citizens.
What UK Digital ID means in practice and for privacy
Digital identity is currently operating in a zero-trust environment, where online identity is complex and fragmented. Every day, thousands of scans of passports and driving licenses are uploaded, emailed, and submitted to unsecure platforms, directly contributing to the rise of phishing, spoofing, and identity fraud.
This is precisely why a secure, government-issued digital credential, such as the UK Digital ID scheme, is necessary.
Once set up, the UK digital ID:
- Sits securely inside the GOV.UK wallet
- Will be shared only when the user approves it
- Will initially be used to prove Right to Work (optional), with further access to public services, banking, housing, and other services in future
- Only needs the user to prove their identity once using the GOV.UK One Login app (with face scan) or at a Post Office, providing documents like a passport or driving license
This system is infinitely faster, safer, and significantly reduces the risk of fraud.
UK Digital ID: A game-changing scheme
The UK Digital ID scheme aims to demonstrate its commitment to transparency, privacy, and security.
It emphasises:
- Data minimisation: only sharing what is needed.
- Selective disclosure: proves eligibility to work without sharing complete data.
- Cryptographic protection: secure credentials with PKI.
- Explicit consent: the user approves every use
If implemented well, this system could improve the lives of millions of people in the UK. For employers and employees, this means a faster onboarding process and a smoother hiring experience. For the government, this means a more transparent and safer identity assurance system for its citizens.
As always, the crucial aspect here is trust. If the system proves itself as secure and transparent, it will be widely adopted and well-received.
The role of trust infrastructure
Behind every digital ID is a trust infrastructure that includes certificates, signing keys, validation, secure issuance, and tamper-proof records. This is where Ascertia plays a key role.
The success of digital identity and schemes like the UK government’s digital ID relies on the same cryptographic trust anchors that secure digital signatures, sealed documents and high-assurance transactions.
Find out more about Ascertia’s trust services, digital signatures, and how we support secure digital identity ecosystems.
