Digital Identity Checks

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What are Digital Identity Checks?

Digital Identity Checks are the new government-approved method to digitally verify the identity of individuals applying for a job or renting a property in the UK.
When you verify your applicants’ identities digitally, you no longer need to meet them in person or check and copy their original identification documents. 

 

What can Digital Identity Checks be used for?

Digital Identity Checks can be used for:
  • Right to Work
  • Right to Rent
  • DBS
  • Disclosure Scotland*


What are the benefits of using Digital Identity Checks?

Digital Identity Checks:

  • Save your organisation time and money by reducing time-to-hire and significantly decreasing the use of internal resources. 
  • Make it easier for employers to meet their legal obligations. Employers have a legal duty to check their employees’ identities in order to ensure they have the right to work in the UK and as part of the process of applying for criminal record disclosure certificates.  
  • Reduce the risk of fraud. It’s much more difficult to use a fake identity in a digital identity check than it is in person.
  • More convenient for the candidates especially those working remotely from home. 


Why all the buzz about Digital Identity Checks now? 

During the pandemic, the government introduced temporary measures to allow employers to check their candidates’ identities remotely by video using copies of documents rather than originals. The temporary measures will ended on 30th September 2022. 

From 1st October 2022, if employers carry out checks by video call, they need to be in possession of the candidate’s original documents. Inspection of faxed or scanned copy documents via a video call is not allowed from 1st October.

Alternatively, you can opt to use a service such as Verifile’s Digital Identity Check Platform, that manages the whole process on your behalf. 


Trust Verifile to manage your Digital Identity Checks

  • Release HR to focus on core tasks rather than checking identity documents face-to-face or by video call.
  • Get peace of mind you’re meeting your legal obligations and reducing the risk of identity fraud.
  • Certified solution powered by Yoti and Post Office EasyID.
 

How does the Verifile service work?

Step 1. The candidate uses the camera, and where possible the chip reader, on the candidate’s digital device such as a smartphone to carry out security checks on their identity documents.

Step 2. The applicant then takes a selfie and this likeness is digitally compared to the photo on the identity document.

Step 3. The checks take a couple of minutes and the result is available immediately. We notify the employer automatically once the process is complete. 


What else do I need to know about Digital Identity Checks?

Is Verifile’s Digital Identity Check Service available?

Verifile’s Digital Identity Check Platform is live already servicing hundreds of customers and delivering the expected results.

Is it mandatory to use the Digital Identity Checks for DBS or RTW?

No. Employers cannot force candidates to use Digital Identity Checks and some candidates won't meet the requirements. It is therefore important to have an alternative non-digital solution available. Verifile offers a Conditional RTW check service to fulfil that requirement. However, if the service isn’t available, employers will either have to revert to in-person / face-to-face ID checks for Right to Work purposes or continue to check remotely by video link. In this case, the employer will need to ensure they are in possession of the candidate’s original documents. For DBS checks, there is currently no need for employers to revert to in-person identity checks.

Can we continue to do remote checks on copies of documents?

Not since the 1st of October 2022. Temporary measures were introduced during the pandemic to enable remote ID checks via video link. This process allowed employers to use copies of documents rather than originals. The temporary measures ended on 30th of September 2022. Since then, employers will need to be in possession of the candidate’s original identity documents. Temporary measures were introduced during the pandemic to enable remote ID checks via video link. This process allowed employers to use copies of documents rather than originals. The temporary measures will end on 30th September 2022. After that, employers will need to be in possession of the candidate’s original identity documents.

Are Digital Identity Checks free?

No. A small transaction fee is applied wherever the digital identity service is used. This fee is separate from both the DBS fee, and from the admin fee.

If a candidate completes the Digital Identity Check for Right to Work, does this give the employer the ‘statutory excuse’ against civil penalty?

Yes. Successful completion of a Digital Right to Work check is government approved.

Does the Digital Right to Work check apply for all areas of the UK including Northern Ireland and Scotland?

Yes. The Digital Right to Work check is compliant with Home Office guidelines for employers throughout the UK.

Will Digital Identity Checks cover all candidates?

No. In some cases in-person checking will still be necessary, so employers need to be prepared for this. According to government guidance, Digital Identity Checks can only be used where individuals are able to use UK and Irish passport (in date). Non-UK/Irish passport holders will need to have their Right to Work status verified using the Home Office Right to Work checker by providing a share code – the employer will still be required to have the candidate’s original documentation in their hands while in the presence of the individual for the Right to Work check to be compliant. Verifile does have a conditional Right to Work check to assist employers with this process. For DBS checks, the digital pathway will be possible for anyone holding an in-date passport from any country (as long as their address can also be verified by a UK driving licence and/or a digital verification with a credit referencing agency for example). Verifile’s platform enables candidates and customers to revert to non-digital solutions to support individuals who are not willing or able to utilise digital identity checking for both DBS and UK Right to Work checks. In phase 2 of this project in early 2023 (or sooner if possible), Verifile will also add the option for individuals to visit a Post Office branch. This will aid some individuals who may not have a smartphone or generally nervous about using the technology.

Can candidates use an expired passport for Digital Identity Checks?

No. Only valid in-date (not expired) passports can now be used for both digital Right to Work and DBS checks. This is a new Home Office requirement that has been introduced as part of the move to enabling digital checks.

Can candidates who don’t have a British passport use a passport from any other country for digital Right to Work and DBS checks?

Only UK and Irish passports can currently be used for Digital Right to Work checks. For DBS checks international passports are accepted.

Will candidates have to complete two checks if they need both Right to Work and DBS checks?

No. User experience is very important for Verifile so a special “combo” check was created to allows eligible candidates to meet the requirements for both Right to Work and DBS identities in one go.

Will we be able to use Digital Identity checks for Disclosure Scotland applications?

Yes. This functionality will be added in phase 2 of this project in early 2023 (or sooner if possible).