Website of the UK government

The main features of the National Identity Service

Passports and identity cards

Most people know that the Identity and Passport Service issues UK passports, but from later this year (2009), it will be able to issue you with an identity card too. Both will use your biometrics or unique physical features (your face and your fingerprints) to lock you to your unique biographical identity (name, address, date of birth). You will be able to use your passport or identity card to prove your identity.

The National Identity Register

The National Identity Register will hold your details securely. Your biometric details will be held separately from your biographical details. The National Identity Register only holds basic personal information like your name, address and date of birth. It does not hold sensitive information like religion, ethnicity or tax, health or criminal records.

Identity assurance

By locking one individual to one identity using their biometrics, the National Identity Service will make it much harder to create false identities. This will reduce the gains to be had from stolen identities. Once a person has their biometrics stored on the Register, they will be unable to claim an additional identity. This aims to make life easier and society safer.

Greater convenience for citizens

The identity card can replace the range of documents currently used for verifying identities, making life simpler and saving time. Over the next few years, new identity verification services will also make proving your identity over the telephone or over the web more secure as well. It will provide similar advantages for public service providers, users and claimants.

Protecting the delivery of public services and benefits

Identity fraud takes resources away from those most in need and is unfair to the millions of honest citizens who fund services and benefits through tax and National Insurance payments. By providing better identity assurance, the National Identity Service helps ensure public services are used by those entitled to do so and not those who are abusing the system.

Strengthening immigration control and combating illegal working

The National Identity Service will help employers find out about the immigration status of job applicants and about any visa restrictions that may mean they cannot work legally in the UK.

Tackling terrorism and organised crime

Criminals and terrorists are known to use stolen and false identities, so anything that can be done to prevent these being created will discourage their activities. The National Identity Service will stop people registering their identities more than once. So, while the National Identity Service alone cannot prevent crime and terrorism, it can make it more difficult for criminals and terrorists to plan and carry out their activities.

The National Identity Service and your interests

Checking your entry on the National Identity Register

If your details change, for example if you change your surname after marriage or your address when moving home, you will want to make an amendment to your record. Once it is confirmed that you are the rightful owner of the identity record, making changes should be straightforward.

When you give your permission for a check to be made against your entry, a record will be kept when that check is made for your benefit. You will be able to see a log of the record-checking activity - like checking a bank statement. No details of the reason for the check will be recorded - only the fact that a check was made and by whom.

You can find out what information the Identity and Passport Service holds about you by submitting a 'subject access request' form (linked below).

• Subject access request form (from the Identity and Passport Service) Opens new window

Looking after your identity interests

An independent identity commissioner looks after the public's interests. The commissioner reviews the way in which the National Identity Service works, and how identity cards are used by both the public and private sectors, and files an annual report on his findings.

In addition, a public panel and an experts group have been created to make sure that the National Identity Service receives independent scrutiny. The panel will listen to the public's views, and then decide if the service is meeting their needs. The experts group will provide independent expertise and advice.

• Public panel information Opens new window

• Experts group at the National Identity Service Opens new window

• Identity Commissioner Opens new window

Keep your details up to date

It is important that you keep your information on the National Identity Register up to date. Under the Identity Cards Act 2006, if you do not let the Identity Service known that you've moved, or that other details stored about you have changed, you may have to pay a fine of up to £1,000.

Find out more about ID card rules and penalties by reading the code of practice approved by Parliament (linked below).

• Identity code of practice Opens new window