A Digital ID gives you an easier, smarter and safer way to prove your age or identity using your phone. Here’s seven facts about our Digital ID apps (Yoti ID, Post Office EasyID and Lloyds Bank Smart ID) to help you get the most out of your Digital ID.
1. Our Digital IDs are approved for proof of age
We’ve all been there: you’re heading on a night out with friends or would like to watch a 15+ film at the cinema. But you’ve forgotten your ID. Frustrating right?
With our Digital ID apps, you can prove your age using your phone. This is more convenient and less hassle than having to remember your ID before heading out the door.
Our Digital IDs are approved for proof of age. They have been accredited by the UK’s national Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS), which is endorsed by the Home Office, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the Security Industry Authority (SIA). So you can be confident your Digital ID will be accepted when you need to prove your age.
This means that you can use your Digital ID for:
- Buying age-restricted items such as energy drinks, vapes, tobacco, lottery tickets, games, fireworks and medicine
- Accessing age-related travel discounts on trains and buses
- Watching age-restricted films at cinemas
- Entering 18+ gaming or gambling premises
- Visiting tattoo and beauty salons
The law does not currently allow digital IDs for the sale of alcohol in licensed premises, like bars, nightclubs and supermarkets. But the government is considering changing this law. If this happens, you’ll be able to use our Digital IDs to buy alcohol in these places. Interestingly, you can currently use our Digital IDs to purchase alcohol online.
2. You can also use our Digital IDs to prove your identity
The Yoti ID, Post Office EasyID and Lloyds Bank Smart ID apps are approved by the UK government as a valid proof of identity.
This means you can use your Digital ID for:
- Proving your right to work in the UK
- Proving your right to rent in the UK
- Completing criminal record checks
- Collecting parcels from Post Offices
3. Digital IDs can be used online too
You can also use your Digital ID online, for instance to prove your age to access an 18+ website or to purchase age-restricted goods. It’s simple, quick and secure. There’s no need to upload identity documents or share any other personal information. You can just share your age or age range, such as over 18.
Our Digital IDs are also a handy way to prove your identity online. This is particularly useful if you need to complete an online right to work check or access essential services. For instance, in Scotland people can use their Yoti ID to securely login and access government services online. You don’t need to scan in your identity documents or complete long forms; prove your identity quickly and securely with your Digital ID.
4. You can use your Digital ID to exchange information with other people
The Yoti ID and Post Office EasyID apps also have a unique feature; you can share verified information with other people. Why would you want to do this? Well, if you’re talking to someone on a dating app, buying or selling something to someone online, or looking for a tradesperson, it can be difficult to completely trust who you’re speaking to.
After all, it’s easy for someone to create a fake profile and pretend to be someone else online. Fraudsters have even started using AI and deepfakes to create fake online profiles, using these false identities to have conversations with real people.
Our Digital ID solves this problem. You can swap verified details with another person – creating more trust and giving you peace of mind about who you’re speaking to.
5. You have more control over your personal information
When you use a passport or driving licence to prove who you are, you have to show the whole document. It’s not possible to use either of these documents to prove your age without also sharing details like your full name, address or nationality.
Our Digital IDs let you select specific pieces of information to share. So if you only need to prove you’re over 18, you could just show your photo and ‘over 18’. The less data you share, the more protected you are from identity theft and fraud.
And if you lose your phone, your information is protected. Your Digital ID is protected by multi-factor authentication. It’s linked to your phone, protected by a PIN that only you should know, and linked to your personal biometrics for added security. This means only you can access and use your Digital ID.
Compare this to losing your passport – if someone stole this, they can read all of your personal information and use this to commit identity theft.
6. Our Digital IDs are free
In a world where the cost of everything is going up, it’s rare to find something that’s free. And usually if something says it’s free, there’s a catch or hidden costs along the way.
Our Digital IDs are, and always will be, free. We don’t want cost to be a barrier and we don’t believe that people should have to pay to prove who they are.
So how do we make money then? Well, we haven’t just created a Digital ID. We have a variety of age and identity solutions and businesses pay to use these services. This means we’re able to offer our Digital ID apps to you for free.
7. It only takes a few minutes to create your secure Digital ID
You can create your Digital ID in a few simple steps:
- Download your chosen Digital ID app (Yoti ID, Post Office EasyID or Lloyds Bank Smart ID). All three apps are free and work the same.
- Follow the steps to create an account.
- Add your physical identity document. In the UK, you can use any of the following documents to create your Digital ID – driving licence, passport, Citizencard, Post Office PASS card, Young Scot Card.
- That’s it – you’re set up and ready to prove your age or identity with one app.
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