https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/britain-introduce-mandatory-digital-id-cards-2025-09-26/ Skip to main content Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionals Learn more aboutRefinitiv * World Browse World + Africa + Americas + Asia Pacific + China + Europe + India + Israel and Hamas at War + Japan + Middle East + Ukraine and Russia at War + United Kingdom + United States + Reuters NEXT * Business Browse Business + Aerospace & Defense + Autos & Transportation + Davos + Energy + Environment + Finance + Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals + Media & Telecom + Retail & Consumer + Future of Health + Future of Money + Take Five + World at Work * Markets Browse Markets + Asian Markets + Carbon Markets + Commodities + Currencies + Deals + Emerging Markets + ETFs + European Markets + Funds + Global Market Data + Rates & Bonds + Stocks + U.S. Markets + Wealth + Econ World * Sustainability Browse Sustainability + Boards, Policy & Regulation + Climate & Energy + Land Use & Biodiversity + Society & Equity + Sustainable Finance & Reporting + The Switch + Reuters Impact + COP30 * Legal Browse Legal + Government + Legal Industry + Litigation + Transactional + US Supreme Court * Commentary Browse Commentary + Breakingviews + ROI: Reuters Open Interest * Technology Browse Technology + Artificial Intelligence + Cybersecurity + Space + Disrupted * Investigations * More Sports + Athletics + Baseball + Basketball + Cricket + Cycling + Formula 1 + Golf + NFL + NHL + Soccer + Tennis Science Lifestyle City Memo Graphics Pictures Wider Image Podcasts + Reuters World News + Reuters Econ World + On Assignment + Viewsroom + The Big View Live Fact Check Video Sponsored Content + Reuters Plus + Press Releases My News Register Britain to introduce compulsory digital ID for workers By Reuters September 26, 20251:57 PM UTCUpdated September 26, 2025 * * * * * * * * 2025 Global Progress Action Summit in London Global Progress Action Summit Item 1 of 2 Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer attends a conversation on Governing for Working People at the 2025 Global Progress Action Summit, in London, Britain, September 26, 2025. REUTERS/Jack Taylor [1/2]Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer attends a conversation on Governing for Working People at the 2025 Global Progress Action Summit, in London, Britain, September 26, 2025. REUTERS/Jack Taylor Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab * Summary * Government says digital ID will make it harder to work illegally * Plan criticised for potential civil liberties infringement * Rivals say scheme won't deter illegal immigration LONDON, Sept 26 (Reuters) - The British government said on Friday it would require every employee to hold a digital identity document, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's latest attempt to tackle illegal migration and reduce the threat from the populist Reform UK party. Addressing the Global Progress Action Summit alongside the leaders of Canada, Australia and Iceland, Starmer said his left-leaning Labour government, like others, had been "squeamish" about discussing voters' concerns on immigration. Sign up here. That had allowed parties such as Reform UK to gain popularity, Starmer said, acknowledging that the party led by Brexit veteran Nigel Farage was likely to be Labour's main challenger at the next election, due in 2029. "That is why today I am announcing this government will make a new, free-of-charge, digital ID mandatory for the right to work by the end of this parliament," he said. BRITISH RIGHT-WING PARTIES CAUSE 'TOXIC DIVIDE' "In the UK ... we have got a right-wing proposition that we have not had in this country before ... so the battle of our times is between patriotic national renewal ... versus something which is turning into a toxic divide." Polling shows immigration is one of British voters' main concerns after the cost of living, and Starmer feels acute pressure to stop people entering the country illegally by crossing the sea in small boats from France. But his latest plan drew criticism from political opponents. "It's laughable that those already breaking immigration law will suddenly comply, or that digital IDs will have any impact on illegal work, which thrives on cash-in-hand payments," said a spokesperson for Reform, which is leading in opinion polls. The government said the digital ID would be held on people's mobile phones and become a mandatory part of the checks employers have to make when hiring staff. Over time, it would also be used to provide access to services such as childcare, welfare and access to tax records. Identity cards are relatively common elsewhere in Europe, including France, Germany, Greece, Italy and Spain. Britain, which has a poor track record in delivering major IT projects on time and on budget, said it would use the best aspects of digital IDs used in Estonia, Denmark, Australia and India in its design. MOST BRITONS SUPPORT ID CARDS More than half of Britons - 57% - support a national identity card scheme, polling by Ipsos found in July. But around three in 10 were concerned about personal data being used without permission, followed by worries about information being sold to private companies and security breaches, Ipsos said. Labour attempted to introduce an identity card when it was in power in the 2000s, but the plan was dropped on civil liberty concerns. Identity cards were abolished in the UK after World War Two, and Britons typically use documents such as passports and driving licences to prove their identity. Irish nationalist politicians in Northern Ireland, where many hold Irish rather than British passports and symbols of British rule are divisive, also criticised Starmer's plan; the nationalist first minister, Michelle O'Neill, called it "ludicrous and ill-thought-out". Reporting by William James and Paul Sandle; Additional reporting by Amanda Ferguson and Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Catarina Demony, Paul Sandle, Toby Chopra and Kate Mayberry; Editing by Kevin Liffey Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab * Suggested Topics: * United Kingdom * Human Rights * * * * * Purchase Licensing Rights Read Next * September 26, 2025 Member of Irish rap group Kneecap has his UK terrorism prosecution thrown out Member of Irish rap group Kneecap in UK court on terrorism charge * agoUnited Kingdomcategory King Charles to pay state visit to Vatican to see Pope Leo Britain's King Charles visits Coffee D'Ash in Barrow-in-Furness * ago UK to offer to pay more for some drugs to appease Trump, FT reports Illustration shows medicines * agoBusinesscategory Britain pledges $2 billion loan guarantee for Jaguar Land Rover A company logo is seen on the front of a newly finished vehicle outside Jaguar Land Rover's Halewood factory in Liverpool * agoSportscategory England finally deliver when it matters to win Women's World Cup Women's World Cup 2025 - Final - Canada v England LSEG Workspace World * People protest against the Trump administration's immigration policies in Portland Trump orders deployment of troops to Portland, ICE facilities United Statescategory * September 27, 2025 * 10:42 PM UTC * ago Portland's mayor Keith Wilson said Trump would not find lawlessness or violence "unless he plans to perpetrate it." * [68d861dbe4] IndiacategoryAt least 36 dead, over 50 injured in stampede at Indian actor-politician Vijay's rally, minister says 10:28 PM UTC * United Nations Security Council vote on a resolution by Russia and China to delay by six months the reimposition of sanctions on Iran during the 80th U.N. 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