Government opens consultation on digital ID that will integrate eVisas and right-to-work checks

The Cabinet Office and Department for Science, Innovation & Technology launched an eight-week nationwide consultation on 10 March setting out plans for a single government-issued digital ID app. The prototype would let users prove their identity, address and immigration status in one place, replacing multiple log-ins and paper documents. Crucially for global mobility, the press release states that new hires will be able to use the digital ID to complete statutory right-to-work checks by sharing their passport or existing digital eVisa. The Home Office’s eVisa platform already holds the status of some seven million foreign nationals; integrating it with a cross-government wallet would remove the need for employers to copy physical BRP cards, which are due to be phased out completely in 2026. Questions in the consultation include the minimum eligible age, what attributes (for example proof of address) should be stored, and how to ensure digital inclusion. A Citizens’ Panel will convene to debate privacy and data-sharing safeguards, reflecting concern from civil-liberties groups about centralised databases.



Employers and individuals looking to stay ahead of these changes can streamline their existing visa and right-to-work processes through VisaHQ, whose UK platform already offers online applications, document validation and status tracking compatible with the Home Office’s eVisa system. Find out more at https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/

For HR, future-of-work and relocation teams the proposal promises faster onboarding of overseas talent, unified employee-verification workflows and fewer document-handling risks. Vendors of identity-service providers will watch closely: the government hints that certified private-sector ID providers could plug into the system, creating new compliance choices for employers.