GOV.UK ID Check

Government Digital Service

About this app

Use GOV.UK ID Check to prove your identity when you:
• access some HMRC services with Government Gateway
• need to change how you get security codes to sign in to your GOV.UK One Login

It works by matching your face to your photo ID.

Before you start
You can use any of the following types of photo ID:
• UK photocard driving licence
• UK passport
• non-UK passport with a biometric chip
• UK biometric residence permit (BRP)
• UK biometric residence card (BRC)
• UK Frontier Worker permit (FWP)

You can use an expired driving licence if it expired in the last 90 days and it was issued by DVLA.

You can use an expired BRP, BRC or FWP up to 24 months after its expiry date.

You will also need:
• a well-lit area where you can take a good quality photograph
• an Android phone running Android version 10 or higher

How it works
If your photo ID is a driving licence you will:
• take a photo of your driving licence
• scan your face using your phone

If your photo ID is a passport, BRP, BRC or FWP you will:
• take a photo of your photo ID
• scan the biometric chip in your photo ID using your phone
• scan your face using your phone

What happens next
The app only helps confirm your identity. You will return to the website of the government service you were accessing to view the results of your identity check.

Privacy and security
Your personal information will not be stored in the app, or on the phone when you finish using it. We collect your data securely and delete it when it is no longer needed.

Ratings and reviews

Absolute ball ache, it shouldn't have to be so difficult. The app required an update which duly installed, upon opening the app it was then not possible to get past the opening screen. Tapping "Continue" did not take me to the next page. Uninstalled app and re installed but still no good. re booted phone and finally got the app to work. If I were older and not quite as good with tech then I'd have given up to be honest as I would probably not have been able to self diagnose the issue.

Needed to identify myself on the hmrc government gateway for a tax refund. The use of the qr code to link the app to the gateway was simple, but all the challenges came after that. The scan of the passport photo page was very sensitive and its challenging to get it just right so it scans, the read of the passport chip is easy once you remember to move the phone up and down to read chip, the selfie again a little sensitive before it scans. The app does work but it takes time.

The app just redirects me to the website and then does nothing. Trying to link it to the UK Government app is a nightmare; the connection fails every time. I can't even register for the UK ID app because the system is so buggy. It feels like this was rolled out way too quickly. Honestly, I don't trust my personal details with an app that doesn't even function properly. I can't even sign up because the linking system is completely broken."

What’s new

We’ve made technical improvements and fixed bugs.