Keir Starmer Unveils Compulsory Digital ID to Curb Illegal Immigration

(UNITED KINGDOM) Prime Minister Keir Starmer on September 26, 2025 announced a plan to introduce a compulsory national digital ID for every person living in the UK, positioning the system as a core tool to curb illegal immigration and modernise right-to-work and right-to-rent checks. The government says the scheme, built on the existing One Login platform and the expanding Gov.uk Wallet, would roll out by the end of the current Parliament, with a public consultation later this year and full coverage targeted by 2027.

Officials argue the move will make it harder to work illegally, reduce forged documents, and give employers and landlords a simple way to confirm a person’s legal status. Under the plan, anyone starting a new job or renting a home would need to present their digital ID, which would be verified against a central database to confirm their right to work and live in the UK.

The government also framed the effort as a step toward cleaner, faster checks at the border by making immigration status easier to confirm in daily life. The Prime Minister’s team says the digital ID will be issued to all UK citizens and residents and will be free to the holder. The state will pay for setup and infrastructure.

Ministers have signalled an estimated setup cost of up to £1 billion for large-scale enrolment and core systems, though some narrower estimates for right-to-work credentials alone run between £140 million and £400 million. Officials stress that, while the programme will be taxpayer-funded, it should reduce fraud and compliance costs over time.

Policy design and timeline

The system will draw on the government’s One Login and the Gov.uk Wallet, which already supports digital driving licences and Veteran Cards. The government says this will allow people to prove who they are and show credentials in a secure, reusable way.

A digital ID would sit inside the Gov.uk Wallet, enabling a worker or tenant to share only the information needed for a specific check — for example, date of birth and confirmed work permission — rather than a full set of personal details.

Key elements presented by Downing Street include:
– Compulsory digital ID for all residents by 2027
– Mandatory use for new jobs and tenancy agreements
– Verification against a central government database
– Free for the holder; funded by taxpayers
– Public consultation planned in 2025

The Home Office will consult on data controls, security features, and redress routes for errors. Ministers say the consultation will also cover how people without smartphones can access their digital ID, including card-based or assisted options.

The plan references international models in Australia, Estonia, Denmark, and India, where digital IDs have been used to cut fraud and speed access to services.

For official background on the technology stack and delivery approach, the Government Digital Service has published details on GOV.UK One Login, which the UK plans to expand for the national rollout. The government emphasises that the digital ID will not be a traditional plastic card but a secure credential accessible through the Gov.uk Wallet, with offline options for those who need them.

Support, concerns, and industry reaction

Public polling cited by officials shows mixed views. Older voters tend to be more open to national identity measures. Recent surveys show 34% say they tend to support and 25% strongly support national identity cards. Younger adults are more sceptical, reflecting long-running UK debates over state ID systems.

Civil liberties and privacy concerns
– Civil liberties groups warn the scheme could lead to discrimination and bar some people from work or housing if they struggle to prove their status.
– Privacy campaigners argue a centralised identity system risks data misuse, scope creep, and exclusion for those with uncertain documentation.
– Migrant advocacy organisations fear wrongful refusals if checks fail during onboarding or if a person’s record is incomplete.

Ministers’ response
– Officials say strong audit trails, appeals, and clear correction rights will be part of the design.
– They insist the UK model will meet strict data protection standards and keep only what is needed for a given check.
– Employers and landlords will receive status confirmations, not full personal records, to reduce data exposure.
– The Home Office suggests a machine-readable, cryptographically signed credential in the Gov.uk Wallet will limit tampering and make fake documents easier to spot.

Industry reaction
– Some private digital ID firms say they were not consulted early enough and worry a state-run model could crowd out private innovation.
– Startups that built right-to-work verification tools call for open standards and clear technical interfaces to avoid duplication and to allow private services to plug in.
– The government argues a consistent national framework will raise trust, reduce fake documents, and still allow private providers to build additional tools and onboarding services on top of the base credential.

Employers and landlords
– Large employers expect fewer document checks and less risk from forged papers.
– Small businesses want simple, low-cost tools that do not slow hiring.
– Landlords and letting agents want a fast, reliable scan or code-sharing process and clear guidance on actions when the system is down.
– Ministers say fallback routes will remain and that right-to-work and right-to-rent checks must not block lawful hires or tenancies during outages.

Impact on migrants and vulnerable groups
– For migrants and mixed-status families, the stakes are personal: a care worker with a newly granted visa will need the digital ID to start shifts; a graduate switching visa routes will need it to sign a new lease.
– Community groups stress that people with limited English, older residents, and those without steady internet must receive in-person support and paper alternatives.
– Analysis by VisaVerge.com indicates the most effective digital ID programmes include robust helplines, local enrolment centres, and clear, multilingual instructions to avoid accidental exclusion.

Delivery risks and implementation considerations

Delivery risk remains a central question. A nationwide identity rollout within two years would require:
1. Mass enrolment capability
2. Strong cybersecurity
3. Smooth integration across employers, landlords, universities, and local councils

The government points to reusing One Login components to lower risk and cost, but accepts that enrolment at scale is complex. Ministers plan to:
– Test the system with phased pilots
– Publish draft rules during consultation
– Set clear service levels for verification times and support

Officials also plan to consult on:
– Data storage and retention limits
– Appeals and redress mechanisms
– Offline and assisted access options for those without smartphones

Delivery risks include possible technical failures, integration delays, and public or parliamentary opposition. If the system underperforms or the rollout stumbles, the government could face pressure to slow or change course before 2027.

Important: As the consultation opens, expect sharp debate over data storage, appeals, offline access, and whether the system should extend to other services. For now, the centrepiece goal is immigration control through work and housing checks.

If Parliament backs the plan and the technology performs, the UK could join countries that rely on digital credentials for daily life. If the rollout falters, ministers will likely need to revise timelines, safeguards, or scope to address practical and civil liberties concerns.