Early access: Your guide to digital ID in the UK
Chloe Coleman
2026 is the year it all changes
Across the world, pilots are becoming infrastructure. Every EU country must launch a national digital ID and wallet by the end of the year. In the US, more than twenty states already issue mobile driving licences or digital IDs.
The UK is now firmly part of this shift. Mobile driving licences are coming in a matter of months, and will join the tens of millions who already have reusable digital IDs.
For UK firms, this means most customers will soon arrive already holding a digital ID they recognise and trust.
Accepting that ID, rather than re-verifying identity from scratch with document scans, selfies and bureau checks, is the fastest and safest way to onboard. It can wipe out an entire class of identity fraud by cutting the risk accepting both synthetic identities and impersonation.
If you adopt the right technology, your customers can onboard by approving a single permission prompt, while keeping inclusive fallbacks for those without digital IDs.
This matters right now now. Adoption is accelerating, while AI-driven fraud is rapidly eroding the value of visual document checks and many biometric controls. This is the year digital ID acceptance moves from pilot to default.
This guide explains how: the UK landscape, the schemes taking shape, and the practical steps to adopt digital ID at scale.
We’re hosting a launch event for compliance, fraud and fincrime leaders to discuss these issues on 5 Feb in London. You can still join the waitlist.
