What is the UK National Identity Scheme?

What is the UK National Identity Scheme?

The National Identity Scheme is an easy-to-use and extremely secure system of personal identification for adults living in the UK. Its cornerstone is the introduction of national ID cards for all UK residents over the age of 16.

Each ID card will be unique and will combine the cardholder's biometric data with their checked and confirmed identity details, called a 'biographical footprint'. These identity details and the biometrics will be stored on the National Identity Register (NIR)

This technology brings many benefits, including increased protection against identity theft or fraud. The potential benefits of the National Identity Scheme are wide-ranging. The following list shows you some of the key benefits at a glance.

The National Identity Scheme will:

help protect cardholders against identity theft and fraud
provide a reliable way of checking the identity of people in positions of trust
make travelling in Europe easier
provide a secure way of applying for financial products and making financial transactions, including those made over the internet
offer a secure and convenient way of proving your age
help to confirm your eligibility for public services and benefits -- and reduce fraud relating to these services and benefits
help in the prevention of organised crime and terrorism
help combat illegal working and reduce illegal immigration to the UK
allow the police more quickly to identify suspects and people they arrest.

Through the scheme, which will be run by the Identity and Passport Service (IPS), accredited organisations will be able -- with your permission -- to use your ID card and the NIR to check your identity.

The National Identity Scheme will be managed by the Identity and Passport Service (IPS). The IPS incorporates the former UK Passport Service and will build on their experience and expertise in confirming nationality and identity. The IPS will also work closely with the Home Office Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) and UKvisas An independent commissioner will oversee the National Identity Scheme and report to Parliament. The key components of the scheme are:

Enrolment

National Identity Register (NIR)

ID cards

Identity verification service Enrolment

The enrolment process involves registering your identity when you apply for an ID card. This includes building up a 'biographical footprint' of basic facts about your life and recording your biometric data. Registering your biometric information is a vitally important part of safeguarding your identity. There will be local enrolment centres around the UK and mobile centres for remote areas to make this service available to as many people as possible.

National Identity Register (NIR)

The NIR will be seperate data systems holding personal identity information and biometric data for everyone who has enrolled in the scheme. The NIR will contain only identity-related information. Medical records, tax and benefits information and other government records will not be in the NIR. However, the Identity Registration Number (IRN) will provide a quick way for the relevant organisation to make checks against individuals' records within their own systems, thus increasing efficiency and avoiding the wrong records being used.

ID cards

Once the scheme comes fully into operation ID cards can be issued as stand- alone documents or alongside such 'designated documents' as passports. If you are a foreign national living in the UK, your ID card will act as your residence permit, residence card or registration certificate and will be linked to the National Identity Register (NIR) in the same way as any other ID card. What makes the scheme secure is the fact that your identity is checked and confirmed, not by means of your ID card alone but by using the identity verification service to check your ID card against your record on the NIR. A forged ID card, for example, would be useless without a matching record.

Identity verification service

The identity verification service will provide a way for accredited organisations to check an individual's identity. This means that you will have a secure and convenient way of proving your identity in a variety of situations, such as opening a bank account or registering with a GP, for example. The identity verification service works at different levels according to what information is needed.

For example:

for a basic transaction such as proving your age it could confirm simply that your card is valid
if you are a foreign national applying for a job it could be used to confirm that the status of your visa allows you to work
if you are applying to work in a position of trust (as a nanny for example) it could be used to confirm that you do not have a criminal record.

To protect your privacy, all organisations that wish to use the identity verification service will need to be accredited, and they will need your consent before they use the service to check your identity.

How to get your ID card and how it will be produced

There will be four steps to getting an ID card:

Applying for an ID card
Your 'biographical footprint' check
Recording your biometric data
Issuing your ID card

Applying for an ID card

We expect most people to get their ID card when they apply for a new adult passport, either a first passport or a renewal. Your passport booklet and your new ID card will be issued together. As the scheme progresses it will be possible to apply for an ID card separately (called a stand-alone ID card) if you do not have or need a passport. Please note that you will not be able to apply for an ID card until 2009. Furthermore, until 1 January 2010, people will be given an option to choose not to be issued with an ID card when they receive their passport, although their details will be entered on the National Identity Register (NIR).

Your 'biographical footprint' check

Your 'biographical footprint' is simply the basic facts of your life, for example: name, date of birth and address.

When you apply for an ID card, we will check your 'biographical footprint' against information held in other databases such as National Insurance or driving licence records. We will not rely entirely on written documents for this information (as they could be forged). You will be asked to visit one of our local or mobile centres in person wherever possible. This will make it harder for someone to pretend to be another person when applying for an ID card.

Recording your biometric data

Biometrics are unique personal characteristics, such as your fingerprints and irises.

Examples of biometric technology already being used include facial recognition, which is used on the new biometric passports. Once we have checked your identity, we will record your biometric data. Recording facial and iris biometrics is just like having a high-quality digital photo taken. Recording fingerprints is very simple too and no ink is involved. You just press your fingers against a reader. These biometrics will be 'sealed to' or permanently paired with your biographical information to create completely unique and secure identity data.

Issuing your ID card

The final stage is to issue your ID card. All cards will be produced to a common standard and format but, because of the information it holds, your card will be unique to you. The card will be sent to you by secure delivery.

About your ID card

Your ID card will be the size of a credit card and will show your name and an image of your face for quick and easy recognition. It will also contain a chip which will hold basis personal identity information along with your biometric data. This information will also be available on the NIR.

Each card will also have its own:

Identity Registration Number (IRN), which will be printed on the card.
Personal Identification Number (PIN), which the cardholder can set and use as you would for a credit or debit card.

The time is right to introduce the National Identity Scheme for a variety of reasons.

Recent advances in technology, and particularly biometric technology, mean that a truly effective and secure scheme is now possible. Biometric data is beginning to be used for passports and immigration control around the world.

For example:

US Immigration uses fingerprint checks at major ports (the US-VISIT system) even for countries that belong to the US visa waiver scheme.
New International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards state that passports should include a biometric facial image.
The European Union (EU) has begun the move towards
- incorporating both fingerprint and facial biometrics in passports, and
- the use of fingerprint and facial biometrics for residence permits and visas issued to visitors from outside the European Economic Area.

The government is responding to these changes and has introduced biometrics into UK passports (more about recent changes to UK passports) as part of a comprehensive programme to improve border controls and security, make travel safer and improve the delivery of free public services and benefits for those who are entitled to them.

This means we are already committed to recording biometric information for the 80% of UK citizens who are passport holders. With relatively little extra investment we can enrol the other 20% and create a National Identity Scheme that will yield much wider benefits both for individuals and for UK society as a whole.

UK National Identity Scheme

February 20, 2007