ID cards for foreign nationals

On 25 September 2008 the Home Secretary announced the launch of the Identity Card Scheme which will see the first cards issued at the end of November 2008. It is part of a wider range of activity by the Home Office to strengthen the processes in the system for tracking migrant activity with the aim of preventing illegal working in the UK.

Why is identity management important for employers?

Over 1.3 million people are employed in the NHS. As part of recruitment practice in the NHS, verification of identity checks are used to determine that the identity of an individual is genuine, relates to a real person and to establish that the individual owns and is rightfully using that identity. The NHS currently uses two methods for verifying identity: requesting original documents and checking an individual's personal details against external databases.

• ID cards may support NHS organisations with employment checks.
• ID cards for existing NHS staff may support the work of NHS Registration Authorities which manage the identity checks, registration and related control processes for all staff in the NHS who access patients' electronic medical records.

Who will be issued with cards?

The first cards to be issued will be those foreign nationals who are applying for new or extensions to their student visas or and marriage visas.

The longer-term plan is for all foreign nationals to be issued with a card along with those people who work in sensitive roles, this currently includes those who work at airports.

What will the cards look like?

You can view a specimen card on the UK Border Agency website.