Digital ID in the UK: what businesses can use in 2026
The UK cancelled its national digital ID on 21 July 2026. GOV.UK One Login, GOV.UK Wallet, certified identity services for AML and Ofcom age checks: what each means for a business.
In short
There is no national digital ID in the UK: the government cancelled the planned scheme on 21 July 2026.[1] Digital ID in the UK means three things today: GOV.UK One Login for government services, the GOV.UK Wallet that grows inside its app, and certified private digital verification services that firms can use for money-laundering checks since 26 February 2026.[2][8][16]
- GOV.UK One Login has 23 million users but is open to central government only.[2][3]
- For a business, accept a certified identity service or a chip-read document check first.
Digital ID UK searches mix three stories: an ID card that is no longer coming, a government login used by millions, and a wallet you cannot download yet. This guide separates them for a business verifying people in the United Kingdom.
The UK left the EU, so no UK scheme sits on the EU list of notified electronic identification (eID) schemes under eIDAS, the EU regulation on electronic identification and trust services.[22] UK assurance is set by its own standards and by a statutory trust framework instead.[4][12]
Digital ID in the UK: every scheme at a glance
The table lists every UK identity scheme in the research behind this guide, with the latest figure and its date. The UK has no national identity number, so no scheme returns one.[6]
| Scheme | Operator | Users (date) | Credential | Assurance | EU status | Data returned | Private-sector access | Didit status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GOV.UK One Login | Government Digital Service | 23 million, 250+ services (September 2026)[2] | Email, password and a code, or a passkey[2][3] | Medium confidence under GPG 45[4] | Not EU-notified | Names, date of birth, address, passport or licence details, email, phone[6] | No, central government only[3] | Not open to businesses |
| GOV.UK Wallet | Government Digital Service | 15,000+ Veteran Cards (January 2026)[8] | Credentials in the GOV.UK One Login app[8] | Not published | Not EU-notified | Not published for relying parties | Through certified services, not yet public[8][10] | Coming soon |
| Certified digital verification services | Private providers, overseen by OfDIA | 65 services from 47 providers (30 September 2026)[14] | Varies by provider | Certified against the UK trust framework[12] | Not EU-notified | Varies by provider | Yes[16] | n/a |
| National digital ID | Government (planned) | None: cancelled 21 July 2026[1] | Phone-based (planned)[11] | Never set | Not EU-notified | Name, date of birth, nationality or residency status, photo (planned)[11] | Never launched | n/a |
| GOV.UK Verify | Government Digital Service | Almost 10 million accounts at closure[7] | Closed | Closed | Not EU-notified | Closed | Closed | n/a |
| NHS Login | NHS | 45 million registered (June 2026)[7] | Not covered here | Not covered here | Not EU-notified | Not covered here | Not covered here | n/a |
UK identity schemes on 5 October 2026. NHS Login has no link with GOV.UK One Login.[7]
From GOV.UK One Login to a cancelled ID card: the timeline
GOV.UK One Login launched in 2021, had 13 million users in January 2026, and aims to replace more than 190 government login systems.[2][21][1]
- 2021LaunchGOV.UK One Login launches.
- 21 January 2025WalletGOV.UK Wallet announced with Veteran Card and driving licence.
- 25 July 2025Age checksMost services analysed by Ofcom start age assurance.
- 26 September 2025Digital IDNational digital ID announced.
- 1 December 2025StatutoryThe trust framework and register become law.
2021 to 2025.[2][9][20][11][12]
- 26 February 2026AMLCertified services accepted for money-laundering checks.
- 30 June 2026MLR reformSI 2026/621 changes due diligence rules.
- 21 July 2026CancelledThe national digital ID is dropped.
- 1 September 2026Framework 1.0Version 1.0 of the trust framework takes effect.
- End of 2027All credentialsTarget for every government credential in digital form.
2026 to 2027.[16][17][1][12][9]
The national scheme was announced as "mandatory for Right to Work checks by the end of the Parliament", lost its mandatory element on 15 January 2026 and was cancelled on 21 July 2026.[11][1] A petition against it gathered almost 3 million signatures.[1] The Commons Library notes there is "no indication" that GOV.UK One Login and GOV.UK Wallet are affected by the cancellation.[1]
No EUDI Wallet in the UK
The EU Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet is an EU project under Regulation (EU) 2024/1183, with Member State wallets due by 24 December 2026.[23] The UK is not part of it. EU customers of UK firms can hold one once their country issues it: see the EUDI Wallet guide.
The rules: UK digital identity law, AML and age checks
Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, Part 2
UK digital identity rules sit in Part 2 of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, "Digital verification services".[13] Section 28 creates the trust framework, section 32 the register and section 50 a trust mark; those sections commenced on 1 December 2025.[13][12] The Office for Digital Identities and Attributes (OfDIA), part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), runs it, and the trust mark is "UK CertifID".[12] Section 45, which lets public authorities share data with registered services at the user's request, has not commenced yet.[12] The UK digital identity trust framework guide covers the certification in depth.
Money Laundering Regulations 2017
Regulation 28(19) of the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 (MLRs) already treats an electronic identification process as a reliable independent source, under conditions.[15]
Regulation 28(19)Money Laundering Regulations 2017
"it is obtained by means of an electronic identification process, including by using electronic identification means or by using a trust service (within the meanings [...] Regulation (EU) No 910/2014)" [...] and the process "is secure from fraud and misuse and capable of providing assurance that the person claiming a particular identity is in fact the person with that identity".
Source: legislation.gov.uk, MLR 2017 regulation 28[15]
Guidance from HM Treasury and DSIT on 26 February 2026 settles how certified services fit.[16]
GuidanceUsing digital identities with the Money Laundering Regulations
"entities are able to fulfil their obligations under Regulation 28 of the MLRs by verifying a customer's identity using certified and registered digital identity services"
Source: GOV.UK, HM Treasury and DSIT, 26 February 2026[16]
It covers identity verification, not all customer due diligence: you still need the purpose and intended nature of the relationship.[16] An amending instrument, SI 2026/621, took effect on 30 June 2026, and the Joint Money Laundering Steering Group (JMLSG) says its sector guidance "is currently being updated" to reflect it.[17] As of 5 October 2026 the research behind this guide found no separate Financial Conduct Authority, Gambling Commission or telecom-regulator position on digital ID.
Right to work, right to rent and alcohol
Certified services can run right-to-work and right-to-rent checks only for people with a valid British or Irish passport (or Irish passport card); everyone else uses the Home Office online eVisa share-code check.[1] An employer faces a fine of up to £45,000 for a first breach.[1] In June 2026, the Home Office laid regulations that let licensed premises in England and Wales accept digital age checks from registered services.[7]
Online Safety Act age checks
Under the Online Safety Act 2023, Ofcom lists methods capable of "highly effective" age assurance: open banking, photo-ID matching, facial age estimation, mobile network operator checks, credit card checks, email-based age estimation and digital identity services, including digital identity wallets.[18][19] Self-declaration is not.[19] Where a service uses age estimation, Ofcom expects a challenge age, with a second check for anyone estimated under it.[19] Over 69 million age checks ran across the services Ofcom analysed from July to December 2025.[20]
| Duty | What digital ID can do | Source |
|---|---|---|
| AML identity verification | A certified, registered service meets regulation 28 | HMT and DSIT guidance[16] |
| Right to work and rent | Certified services for British or Irish passports only | Commons Library[1] |
| Online Safety Act age checks | Digital identity services are one accepted method | Ofcom[19] |
| Alcohol in England and Wales | Registered services, under regulations laid June 2026 | NAO[7] |
What the user sees with GOV.UK One Login
GOV.UK Wallet credentials live inside the GOV.UK One Login app, and on 5 October 2026 GOV.UK still says "You cannot download or use GOV.UK Wallet yet".[8][10] The flow UK users know is the GOV.UK One Login identity check, started by a government service through OpenID Connect.[5][6]
Sign in
Email, password and a security code, or a passkey.
Continue
1The service sends the user to GOV.UK One Login to sign in.[3][2]
Prove your identity
Choose how to prove who you are.
Use the app
Answer security questions or visit a Post Office
2Three routes: the app, security questions online, or a Post Office branch.[5]
Scan your photo ID
Passport, photocard driving licence or residence permit.
Passport or biometric residence permit: hold the phone to the chip.
3The app scans the photo ID and reads the chip in passports and biometric residence permits.[5]
Scan your face
Your face is matched to your ID photo.
4A face scan links the person to the document.[5]
Identity confirmed
You will not need to prove it again.
5The proven identity is saved on the account.[5]
Passports are not accepted once expired; a DVLA licence is accepted up to 90 days after expiry.[5] Here is what a government service can request.
| Scope or claim | What it holds |
|---|---|
| openid | A pairwise subject identifier per service |
| email, phone | Contact details with a verified flag |
| coreIdentityJWT | Names, date of birth, level of confidence (identity level P2 or above) |
| address | The user's address (P2 or above) |
| passport, drivingPermit | Document details, when proven with that document |
GOV.UK One Login attributes. There is no age-over claim and no national number.[6]
Choosing a digital ID route in the UK by use case
With GOV.UK One Login closed to businesses, a UK company chooses between a certified digital verification service and its own document check. Your legal duty decides.
Which legal duty applies to the check
AML identity check
A certified, registered service, or your own check meeting regulation 28.
Right to work or rent
Certified services only for valid British or Irish passports or Irish passport cards. Everyone else: Home Office eVisa share-code check.
Age or trust only
Pick an Ofcom-listed age method, or a document check.
1Keep the evidence
Record the method, the result and the provider's certification.
| Use case | Main duty | Route to consider first |
|---|---|---|
| Fintech and payments | MLR customer due diligence, if in scope | Certified service or chip-read document, then AML screening |
| Crypto | MLR customer due diligence, if in scope | Same as fintech |
| Gambling | Set by your licence conditions | Document check; age assurance where content is age-restricted |
| Telecom | Your own fraud and contract rules | Document check with face match |
| Marketplaces | Seller trust; age for restricted goods | Document check; Ofcom-listed age method for adult content |
| Mobility | A valid driving licence | Photocard licence check; the digital licence is not public yet |
Starting points, not legal advice.[1][10][16][19]
People without a UK digital ID
The UK has no national digital ID scheme, but certified private services exist.[1][14] Residents without a suitable one can use a document route.
UK residents
Document verification
- Passport chip reading or photocard licence check
- Liveness, face match, or a certified service
MLR regulation 28
EU and EEA customers
Their national eID
- MitID, BankID Sweden, Smart-ID and others
- The EUDI Wallet from the end of 2026
eIDAS, Regulation (EU) 2024/1183
Foreign workers
eVisa share code
- Home Office online check for right to work
- Certified services cover British and Irish passports only
Commons Library
For EU customers, the guides for Sweden and France show what each scheme returns. GOV.UK One Login itself accepts non-UK chip passports, and EU or EEA ID cards at the Post Office.[5] For minors, no UK digital ID applies; Ofcom's challenge-age approach with a second check is the model for age-gated services.[19]
Launch checklist for the United Kingdom
- Map each duty: MLRs, right to work, Online Safety Act, alcohol.[16][1][18][7]
- Check any identity provider on the DVS register before you rely on it.[14]
- Collect purpose and intended nature separately from identity.[16]
- Set a challenge age if you use age estimation.[19]
- Route non-British, non-Irish workers to the eVisa share-code check.[1]
- Track the JMLSG update after SI 2026/621.[17]
- Watch GOV.UK Wallet for the wider driving licence rollout.[8]
How Didit helps with digital ID verification in the UK
GOV.UK Wallet is on Didit's roadmap, and so is OneID. For UK users today, Didit verifies people with the document route: ID verification with NFC chip reading, liveness and face match, plus AML screening, in one workflow. A full KYC check costs $0.33, AML screening $0.20 and NFC verification $0.15. For age gates, age estimation costs $0.10 per check.
Customers from Denmark, Sweden, Finland and the Baltics can sign in with the national eIDs in our digital ID wallets product, and EUDI Wallet acceptance is coming soon. Wallet prices are on our pricing page; setup is in the docs.
Didit provides
- Document checks with NFC chip reading, liveness and face match
- AML screening against sanctions, PEP and watchlists
- The evidence of every check
Stays with you
- The risk assessment and your MLR policies
- Purpose and intended nature of the relationship
- The onboarding decision
Bring GOV.UK Wallet to your sign-up
Start with the document route today and tell us which UK credentials your users hold.
Key takeaways
- The UK national digital ID was cancelled on 21 July 2026.
- GOV.UK One Login has 23 million users but serves central government only.
- Since 26 February 2026, certified and registered services meet MLR regulation 28 identity checks.
- GOV.UK Wallet cannot be downloaded yet; the wider driving licence rollout is promised for 2026.
- Ofcom accepts digital identity services and facial age estimation for age checks.
Frequently asked questions
Does the UK have a national digital ID?
No. The government announced a national digital ID on 26 September 2025 and cancelled it on 21 July 2026.[11][1] GOV.UK One Login and GOV.UK Wallet continue.
Can a private company use GOV.UK One Login?
No. GOV.UK One Login is available to central government departments and agencies, and free for them.[3] Private firms use certified digital verification services or their own document checks.
Can a regulated firm use digital ID for AML checks?
Yes. Since the HM Treasury and DSIT guidance of 26 February 2026, certified and registered digital identity services meet the identity verification duty in regulation 28 of the MLRs.[16] You still need the other parts of customer due diligence.
How do I know an identity provider is government-certified?
Check the DVS register, which listed 65 certified services from 47 providers on 30 September 2026.[14] Services certified against version 1.0 of the framework can carry the "UK CertifID" trust mark.[12]
What data does GOV.UK One Login share with a service?
At identity level P2 or above, a service can receive names, date of birth, the level of confidence, address, and passport or driving licence details, plus email and phone.[6] It returns no national number and no age-over claim.
When can I put my driving licence on my phone?
A private trial with government staff started in December 2025, and the government said the licence would roll out more widely later in 2026.[8] On 5 October 2026, GOV.UK says the wallet cannot be downloaded yet.[10]
Which age-check methods does Ofcom accept?
Open banking, photo-ID matching, facial age estimation, mobile network operator checks, credit card checks, email-based age estimation and digital identity services.[19] Self-declaration does not count.
Can employers do right-to-work checks with digital ID?
Yes, through a certified service, but only for valid British or Irish passports and Irish passport cards.[1] Other workers are checked with the Home Office eVisa share code.
Is UK digital ID recognised in the EU?
No. The UK is outside eIDAS and no UK scheme is on the EU notified list.[22] Its predecessor, GOV.UK Verify, had almost 10 million accounts when it closed.[7]
Sources
- Digital ID, Research Briefing CBP-10369, House of Commons Library, 4 September 2026.
- How we made it easier for millions of users to sign into government services, Government Digital Service blog, 16 September 2026.
- About GOV.UK One Login, Government Digital Service.
- Checking users' identities, GOV.UK One Login.
- Proving your identity with GOV.UK One Login, GOV.UK.
- Choose which user attributes your service can request, GOV.UK One Login technical documentation.
- Managing digital identity, National Audit Office, September 2026.
- Making the government's first digital wallet a reality, Government Digital Service blog, 21 January 2026.
- Digital driving licence coming this year, GOV.UK press release, 21 January 2025.
- GOV.UK Wallet, GOV.UK, read 5 October 2026.
- New digital ID scheme to be rolled out across UK, GOV.UK press release, 26 September 2025.
- OfDIA 2026 annual report on the operation of Part 2 of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, DSIT, 14 July 2026.
- Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, Part 2, legislation.gov.uk.
- Digital verification services register, OfDIA, last updated 30 September 2026.
- The Money Laundering Regulations 2017, regulation 28, legislation.gov.uk.
- Using digital identities with the Money Laundering Regulations, HM Treasury and DSIT, 26 February 2026.
- Current guidance, Joint Money Laundering Steering Group.
- Age checks to protect children online, Ofcom, 16 January 2025.
- Guidance on highly effective age assurance (Part 3), Ofcom, 24 April 2025.
- Report on the use of age assurance, Ofcom, 15 July 2026.
- Our approach to keeping GOV.UK One Login secure, Government Digital Service blog, 16 January 2026.
- Overview of pre-notified and notified eID schemes under eIDAS, European Commission, read 5 October 2026.
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1183 (eIDAS 2), EUR-Lex, Official Journal of 30 April 2024.
To verify UK customers by document today and add national eIDs for your European users in the same flow, see our eID verification solution.
Verify UK users in one workflow
Document checks with chip reading, liveness and AML screening, ready to start.
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