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Military veterans can now download digital versions of their identity cards to smartphones, marking the historic launch of Britain's first government digital credential available through an official app. The new service launched Friday with about 1.8 million former military personnel eligible for the digital ID cards.
The digital veteran cards can be accessed through the GOV.UK One Login app with security features including Face ID and Touch ID authentication. Physical veteran cards will continue to be issued alongside the digital versions, with the new system being optional rather than mandatory.
Veteran benefits and access
Veterans can use the digital cards to access GP services, mental health support, housing assistance, career advice, and receive discounts at museums and shops. Manchester Evening News reports the cards will initially work for in-person verification only, with online functionality expanding over the coming months.
The digital cards allow former service personnel to prove their status more easily when accessing public services, helping to remove barriers and reduce red tape according to government officials.
Demonstration for broader scheme
The veteran digital ID serves as a demonstration for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's broader digital ID scheme, which will become mandatory for all workers by 2029 as part of efforts to tackle illegal employment. Digital Government Minister Ian Murray described the veterans' ID as "probably a demonstration to the public by default" for the first government digital credential on smartphones.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: "We are modernising our public services so they work around people's lives and keep pace with the digital world we live in. The digital veterans' card will help remove barriers, reduce red-tape and make it easier for people to access the public services they need."
Privacy concerns and next steps
Murray said the veterans' system could help address "legitimate concerns around privacy and security" surrounding the wider digital ID plans. Daily Star reports nearly three million people signed a petition against the mass digital ID rollout, highlighting public opposition to the broader scheme.
The veteran digital ID represents the first document to be stored in the government's One Login smartphone app. Manchester Evening News reports digital driving licences are expected to follow before the end of 2025, establishing the framework for future digital credentials as the UK moves towards comprehensive digital identification systems.
Sources used: "BBC", "Manchester Evening News", "WalesOnline", "Daily Star" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
