First published on Friday, October 3, 2025
Last updated on Friday, October 3, 2025
A digital Right to Work check
The government wants to make digital ID mandatory for Right to Work checks. Under the proposal every new employee would need to present this digital ID during hiring.
This would replace checking paper passports, visas, or other physical documents. Instead, staff would show an app on their phone with verified details such as name, date of birth, residency status, and photo. The process should be faster and more reliable, using the same secure authentication you already trust in banking apps.
What you need to know
So, here’ s what this new proposal would mean for your business day-to-day:
Process update: As part of the scheme, you would need to update your recruitment processes and HR systems to handle digital IDs. If you’re using software like BrightHR, you should expect updates to help you instantly support the new digital checks, so everything flows smoothly with your existing hiring steps.
Free for employers: Digital IDs are expected to be free for all UK citizens and residents. And even if there is an additional cost for the individual, employers won’t face any expenses, as people will manage this directly for themselves. The scheme is expected to include alternatives for people who can’t use smartphones, who’ll get face-to-face support during the scheme’s rollout. For most staff, showing their phone will be enough.
Training your team: You will need to make sure hiring managers and admins know how to use the new system. This might mean quick training sessions or updating your identity-check policies, which is especially important if you’re in retail, hospitality, or construction where fast onboarding matters.
Better compliance: Once digital IDs launch, fake documents become much harder to use. The system includes encrypted security and biometric checks, so only valid credentials work. This reduces your risk of accidentally hiring someone without legal right to work, making compliance easier and protecting you from fines.
Software updates: Companies using HR platforms can expect updates from providers to help them integrate digital ID with onboarding. Staff details, right to work evidence, payroll, and compliance can all be managed together, cutting admin time and reducing errors.
Less paperwork: Since employees would use digital ID for other government services like driving licences and tax records, many will already know how it works. That means less times spent chasing forms, leaving your HR team free focus on supporting your people.
What all this means
Digital ID should make hiring simpler and more secure. Equally they should help remove admin hurdles and reduce the compliance burden many companies face trying to manage the Right to Work rules.
Read our article to find out how a good onboarding process can work wonders for your new employees, including a new employee checklist and process template.
