The United Kingdom has announced plans to roll out free digital identification for both citizens and residents, as part of a new strategy to tackle illegal migration and streamline access to government services.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer disclosed the initiative on Friday, saying the system will make it mandatory for individuals to prove their right to work in the UK while also easing access to essential services such as driving licences, childcare, welfare, and tax records.
According to the government, the new digital ID will be stored on mobile phones, eliminating the need for people to carry physical documents. However, authorities stressed that employers will be required to verify workers’ legal status through the platform.
“This will stop those with no right to be here from being able to find work, curbing their prospect of earning money — one of the key pull factors for people who come to the UK illegally,” the government said in a statement.
The announcement comes ahead of the Labour Party’s annual conference, with Starmer facing mounting political pressure over immigration policies. He described the initiative as a major reform that will deliver fairness and efficiency.
“Digital ID is an enormous opportunity for the UK… it will also offer ordinary citizens countless benefits. We are doing the hard graft to deliver a fairer Britain for those who want to see change, not division,” Starmer said.
The UK has traditionally resisted national identity card systems, but recent polls suggest growing public support for digital identification.
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