If you were bracing yourself for another compulsory government system to bolt onto onboarding, you can stand down. For now.

The government has dropped its plan to require workers to sign up to a new mandatory digital ID scheme to prove their right to work in the UK. Instead, participation in the proposed digital ID programme will be optional.

Before anyone declares victory, this is not a retreat from digital right-to-work checks altogether. Digital checks are still expanding, and the government remains clear about the direction of travel. By 2029, digital verification is expected to become the default, particularly for those with biometric passports or online immigration status.

So where do we stand?

You do not need to force new starters onto a new government-run digital ID system. What has not changed is your legal duty to complete compliant right-to-work checks before employment begins. Miss that, and the civil penalty regime still bites.

Operationally, this gives employers breathing space. You can continue using existing digital checks where permitted, while keeping manual checks in play where necessary. No sudden system overhaul. No rushed training for line managers. Sensible, really.

What is the takeaway?

• Keep your onboarding processes flexible and up to date.
• Brief hiring managers that ‘optional’ does not mean ‘optional to check’.
• Expect more digitalisation and budget time and money accordingly.

Source: Government drops plans for mandatory digital ID to work in UK – BBC News