In February 2021 the government set out plans to roll out its Digital Identity program across the UK, along with a trust framework outlining the new standards for organisations adopting the scheme.
Credentially wholeheartedly welcomes any initiative that phases out physical documents. We also have a proven track record of putting our user base at the heart of every major software update; given that the list of certified IDSPs (Identity Service Providers) is extensive, our development team is taking the time to weigh up the merits of each provider in order to select one that will best serve Credentially users.
While we lay the necessary groundwork for this huge software update - expected to be delivered in Q2 of 2024 - we wanted to take a moment to address some misconceptions of the scheme as a whole.
Home Office Limitations and Changes
Some confusion abounds regarding what is covered by the new system. While we expect Digital IDs will go a long way towards removing the friction in the current checking system, there are some important points of note:
- Using an IDSP does not negate the need to verify a person’s identity; the onus is still on the hiring party to do this, though it can be as simple as matching the person’s image against the returned IDSP result (while on a Zoom interview, for instance).
- As of 30th Sept 2022, COVID adjusted checks have been removed. The face to face/postal route still remains an option, and The Online Checking Service (OCR) for in-date visas remains the same.
- Right to Work checks using Digital IDs cover UK and Irish citizens with an in-date passport. If they don’t have one, verification should be carried out using The Online Checking Service or face to face/postal route.
We’re gearing up…
We'll be in contact with our users as soon as the imminent decision on Credentially's IDSP of choice has been made. In the meantime, those wanting to get started with Digital Identity Checks sooner may wish to take advantage of our existing partnership with uCheck.
Further reading:
DBS Code of Practice (revised to reflect Digital ID changes)