The United Kingdom announced plans today to roll out a mandatory digital identification card system for citizens and permanent residents, marking a major policy shift aimed at tightening immigration controls and modernizing access to public services.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, speaking at the Global Progress Action Summit in London alongside leaders including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, said the digital ID will be required for individuals to obtain work in the U.K. “You will not be able to work in the United Kingdom if you do not have digital ID. It’s as simple as that,” Starmer stated, confirming the system will be operational before the next general election in 2029.
The Labour government argues the digital ID system will curb unauthorized immigration by restricting access to the underground economy, while also simplifying access to health care, welfare, child care, and other essential services. The cards will be issued free of charge, designed to work for individuals without smartphones, and the government has pledged a public consultation to refine implementation details.
This move revives a long-debated idea in Britain. Efforts by former Prime Minister Tony Blair to introduce biometric ID cards in the early 2000s were abandoned amid fierce public and parliamentary opposition. Critics have historically voiced concerns about privacy, personal freedom, and government overreach. However, supporters argue that, given the frequent need to prove identity for work, housing, and services, a secure digital ID could streamline processes and enhance security.
Starmer underscored that the ID would not be required to carry at all times or to produce on demand, but will be compulsory for employment. He framed the measure as critical to restoring public confidence in the immigration system, reducing incentives for illegal migration, and countering far-right political rhetoric.
The announcement comes as the U.K. faces record levels of irregular migration across the English Channel, with over 30,000 arrivals this year alone. The government says the ID system, alongside ongoing efforts to dismantle human smuggling networks, will address both the supply and demand driving unlawful migration.