Since 6 April 2022, UK employers can use certified Identity Document Validation Technology (IDVT) providers — also called Identity Service Providers (IDSPs) — to conduct digital right-to-work checks for British and Irish citizens remotely. This means you no longer need to see a physical document in person for this group of workers.
What is a digital right-to-work check?
A digital right-to-work check uses technology to verify a worker's identity and right to work without the employer physically examining the original document.
Before April 2022, employers had to see the original document in person (or via live video call during the temporary COVID-19 provisions). The IDSP route, introduced by the Home Office as a permanent option, allows certified technology providers to verify British and Irish passport holders digitally — including entirely remotely.
The technology typically involves the worker:
- Taking a photograph of their passport
- Taking a real-time selfie or video
- The IDVT software verifying that the document is genuine and that the photograph matches the person
The IDSP then provides you with a report confirming the check and its result.
Who can use digital checks (IDSP route)?
The IDSP digital route is only available for:
- British citizens — verified using a valid UK passport
- Irish citizens — verified using a valid Irish passport or Irish passport card
For all other workers — EU nationals with settled/pre-settled status, workers with visas, BRP holders — you must use the Home Office online share code service at gov.uk/view-right-to-work. The IDSP route does not apply to overseas nationals.
| Worker nationality / status | Right-to-work check method | |---|---| | British citizen with valid UK passport | IDSP digital check or manual document check | | Irish citizen with valid passport | IDSP digital check or manual document check | | British citizen without current passport | Manual document check (birth certificate + NI evidence) | | EU/EEA national with settled/pre-settled status | Online share code service only | | Non-UK national with visa/BRP | Online share code service only |
What is an IDSP (Identity Service Provider)?
An IDSP is a company certified by the UK government to provide Identity Document Validation Technology (IDVT) services for right-to-work checks.
The Home Office maintains a register of certified IDSPs. As an employer, you are not required to use any specific provider — but you must use one that is certified. Using an uncertified provider does not give you a statutory excuse.
Certified IDSPs include:
- Yoti
- TrustID
- Veridas
- Onfido
- Credas Technologies
Check the current certified provider list at gov.uk before engaging any IDSP — the list is updated regularly.
Does using an IDSP give you a statutory excuse?
Using a certified IDSP to conduct a digital check for a British or Irish citizen gives you a statutory excuse — the same protection as a manual document check.
However, there is one important condition: even after receiving the IDSP report, you must still satisfy yourself that the photograph on the document is a reasonable likeness of the worker. The IDSP verifies the document; you verify the person.
This means you should see the worker — either in person or on a live video call — and confirm that they match the photograph on the document verified by the IDSP.
IDSP vs manual document check — which is better?
| | IDSP digital check | Manual document check | |---|---|---| | Who it covers | British/Irish citizens with valid passport only | Anyone on the right-to-work document lists | | Remote checks | ✅ Fully remote | Requires in-person or live video call | | Speed | Typically minutes | Dependent on document availability | | Cost | IDSP fee (varies by provider) | Free | | Statutory excuse | ✅ Yes (if certified IDSP used) | ✅ Yes | | Best for | Large-scale remote hiring, multi-site businesses | All other workers |
For businesses hiring British and Irish workers remotely — delivery drivers, remote customer service, home care workers — the IDSP route removes the logistical burden of organising an in-person document check before day one.
How to conduct a digital right-to-work check via IDSP
Step 1 — Choose a certified IDSP
Select a provider from the Home Office certified list. Consider: cost per check, integration with your HR system, volume discounts, and the worker experience (mobile app, ease of use).
Step 2 — Initiate the check for the worker
Most IDSPs let you send the worker a link or email invitation. The worker completes the identity verification on their smartphone — photographing their passport and taking a selfie.
Step 3 — Receive the IDSP report
The IDSP returns a report confirming:
- The document was verified as genuine
- The photograph matches the person (biometric comparison)
- The worker's name, date of birth and nationality
- The result: pass or fail
Step 4 — Confirm the likeness yourself
Review the photograph from the IDSP report and satisfy yourself that it reasonably resembles the worker. If you have not yet met the worker in person, a live video call is the appropriate way to do this.
Step 5 — Keep the report
Store the IDSP report against the employee's record. This is your right-to-work evidence. Keep it for the duration of employment plus two years.
Adjusted checks — remote checks without an IDSP
If you choose not to use an IDSP, you can still conduct a right-to-work check for British/Irish citizens remotely — but you must follow the Home Office's adjusted check process:
- Worker sends a scan/photo of their document via email or secure upload
- You conduct a video call with the worker and ask them to hold the document to the camera
- You check the document appears genuine and matches the person on the call
- You keep a dated copy of the document and a note of the video call
Adjusted checks give you a statutory excuse, but they are slightly weaker than either IDSP checks or in-person manual checks — the Home Office notes that the defence "may be in question" if the employer had reason to suspect the document was not genuine.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to use an IDSP for digital checks? No — using an IDSP is optional. You can still conduct manual in-person document checks for British and Irish citizens. The IDSP route is an additional option, not a replacement.
Can I use IDSP for workers who are not British or Irish? No. The IDSP digital check route is only for British and Irish citizens with a valid passport. For all other workers, use the Home Office online share code service.
Do digital IDSP checks need to be renewed? For British and Irish citizens with an unrestricted right to work, no follow-up check is required — regardless of whether the check was manual or via IDSP. The statutory excuse does not expire.
Can I use any digital identity verification provider? No — you must use a provider on the Home Office certified IDSP list. An uncertified provider does not give you a statutory excuse.
How long does a digital check take? Most certified IDSPs return results within minutes. Some offer real-time verification. The process for the worker typically takes 3–5 minutes on a smartphone.