The debate over digital ID systems has recently intensified in the UK, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer framing digital IDs as a mechanism to curb ‘illegal working’. What these debates often overlook is that the UK has already introduced a ‘digital immigration status’ – first via the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) and then the eVisa – which requires migrants to prove their legal status through digital means only.
From 1 June 2025, nearly all migrants entering or legally residing in the UK must obtain an eVisa to prove their rights. This makes migrants the first group to experience a mandatory digital-only identification system, effectively positioning them as a testing ground for broader national digital ID ambitions.
About Digital immigration status
The UK’s transition to a digital immigration status began with the EUSS in 2018. The rollout of digital-only status faced criticism due to issues such as digital exclusion, accessibility barriers, and frequent technical failures that hindered migrants’ ability to work, rent, travel, and access public services.
— source openrightsgroup.org | 04 Dec, 2025