Using the GOV.UK ID Check app

The GOV.UK ID Check app is for proving your identity when you sign in to a government service with GOV.UK One Login. To use the app, you must start on the government service you are trying to access. You’ll be guided to the app when it is time to use it. 

The app will check that:

• your photo ID is real
• you are a real person
• you are the same person as in your photo ID

Downloading the app 

To use the app you’ll need a phone with a working camera. It must be an:

• iPhone 7 or newer running iOS 13 or higher
• Android phone (for example, Samsung or Google Pixel) running 10 or higher

You also need one 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 (also called a BRC)
• UK Frontier Worker permit (FWP)

Make sure you’re not using private browsing, also known as ‘incognito’, in your web browser when downloading the app. 

If you need help to download the app to your phone, there is advice on:

• downloading an app to an iPhone
• downloading an app to an Android phone

If you prefer not to use the app, you can prove your identity in another way. 

Scanning the QR codes

If you’re using a computer or tablet and you want to use the GOV.UK ID Check app to prove your identity, you’ll be shown how to switch to your smartphone. 

You’ll need to scan a QR code to download the app. If you downloaded the app to your smartphone before, you can scan the same QR code to open it.

Linking the GOV.UK ID Check app to GOV.UK 

You’ll need to link the GOV.UK ID Check app to GOV.UK when you open it. To do this:

1. Tap ‘Continue’ when you open the app.
2. Tap ‘Continue’ when you see an alert saying ‘“GOV.UK ID Check” wants to use “GOV.UK” to sign in’.
3. Tap the ‘Link app to continue’ button on the ‘Link this app to GOV.UK’ screen.

If you’re using a computer or tablet

If you signed in to GOV.UK One Login on a computer or tablet before opening the app, you may be asked to go back to your computer or tablet and scan a second QR code. It will be on the same page as the first QR code but further down. 

If you’re using a smartphone

If you signed in to GOV.UK One Login on your phone, you may be asked to go back to the browser window where you saw instructions to download and open GOV.UK ID Check. There will be a second button further down the page which says ‘Link GOV.UK ID Check’. Tap this button to link the app manually. 

If you’re struggling to link the app to GOV.UK

If the app is still not linking to GOV.UK, try checking:

• adblock is turned off on your phone
• you’re using an iPhone 7 or newer running iOS 13 or higher, or an Android phone (for example, Samsung or Google Pixel) running 10 or higher
• you’re not using private browsing, also known as ‘incognito’, in your web browser

If you’re still unable to link the app, you can return to the website of the service you want to use and look for other ways to prove your identity. 

How to scan your photo ID

If you’re using a UK driving licence

You’ll be asked to take a photo of your driving licence. The photo will be taken automatically, so do not touch your screen while this is happening.

Make sure you:

• hold your driving licence in the palm of one hand and your phone with the other hand - if you’re having trouble taking a photo of the licence while it’s in your hand, place it on a dark matte background 
• move the licence away from bright sources of light to reduce glare
• get your entire licence inside the white frame

If you’re using a passport

Make sure the passport you’re using has a biometric chip. To check if your passport has a biometric chip, look for the rectangular biometric chip symbol on the front cover. 

You’ll be asked to:

1. Take a photo of your passport.
2. Scan the biometric chip in your passport using your phone.
3. Scan your face using your phone.

If you’re using a BRP

If your photo ID is a BRP, you’ll be asked to:

1. Take a photo of your BRP.
2. Scan the biometric chip in your BRP using your phone.
3. Scan your face using your phone.

Scanning the biometric chip in your passport or BRP

The scan can fail because:

• your phone is not touching your photo ID
• your phone has a case or accessory on it - try removing these and scanning your photo ID again
• internet connection has been lost briefly
• the phone was moved while the scan was happening
• another document, other than your passport or residence permit, is being scanned

You could try again and you should see a help animation. Follow the on-screen instructions and, when you’re ready, select ‘Start scan’ or place your phone on top of your passport to start the scan automatically.

Scanning your face

You’ll use your front-facing (selfie) camera to do this. To scan your face with the GOV.UK Check ID app, check that:

• your face is completely aligned with the oval on your screen
• you are looking straight ahead
• you keep as still as you can while the scan happens

What to do if the identity check on the app does not work

If you were not able to prove your identity with the first photo ID you’ve chosen, you can try again using another photo ID. 

Go back to the service you were trying to access to start proving your identity again. 

You can also try to prove your identity another way with GOV.UK One Login.