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Identity Cards – Who Needs Them?
Issue 33 - December 2009
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It has been a year since the introduction of the Identity Card for foreign nationals. Now the Identity and Passport Service is introducing two more...
It has been a year since the introduction of the Identity Card for Foreign Nationals. Now the Identity and Passport Service is set to introduce two more – the National Identity Card and the Identification Card.
These are part of the government-backed National Identity Service, initially available to British citizens in Greater Manchester and due to be rolled out to other regions in 2010.
The face of the card includes a person’s name, date of birth, signature and photograph along with their fingerprints, making them a more secure form of identity than what is currently available. The Identity and Passport Service will conduct checks similar to those when applying for a passport. The card will cost £30 and will be valid for 10 years.
What do the identity cards look like?
The National Identity Card – for British citizens.
Proves the person is a British citizen and has the right to work in the UK. In addition, it can be used in the same way as a passport to travel in the European Economic Area and Switzerland.
The Identification Card – for EEA and Swiss Nationals who live in the UK.
For identification purposes only and cannot be used for travel. It does not show whether the holder has the right to work in the UK. Verification will be needed by checking a person’s nationality and by visiting the UK Border Agency website.
The Identity Card for Foreign Nationals - An immigration document for those from outside the EEA and Switzerland.
Details the holder’s right to stay in the UK. Issued by the UK Border Agency, it gives information on immigration status, entitlements and restrictions on working and claiming public funds. In addition, it clearly states whether the holder has a right to work in the UK. This is not a travel document.
Security Features
A number of security features can be found on each card. These include raised areas, colour-changing symbols and holograms.
Benefits of Identity Cards
- A convenient, portable and secure way to help protect an individual’s identity against fraud;
- Helps with employment checks by confirming the right to work in the UK;
- Helps verify a person’s age;
- The National Identity Card (British Citizens) can be used like a passport in the EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Card Validation Service
Where an organisation has registered to use the Passport Validation Service (PVS) they can also apply to use the Identity and Passport Service’s Card Validation Service (CVS) to check the validation of the National Identity Cards and the Identification Cards. Approved organisations will be able to check the validity of the card directly against the National Identity Register. However, the card holder must agree to this check.
Access to the service will be restricted to authorised users within an organisation who will have to confirm their identity by telephone.
Further information
More information on the benefits of the identity cards and how to apply can be found at www.direct.gov.uk/identity
Information on the security features of the Identity Card for Foreign Nationals can be found at www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk
For information for Businesses go to www.businesslink.gov.uk/idsmart
For information on the Card Verification Service (CVS) and identity cards, there is an advice line available on 0203 356 8118.
For information on the Card Verification Service (CVS) for Identity Cards for Foreign Nationals, call the UK Border Agency’s CVS number on 0300 123 4699.
Further information can also be obtained from your HR Department in respect of this matter. For NorthgateArinso clients, please contact the NorthgateArinso HR Advice Line on 0845 299 0243 who will be happy to help with any queries.
What do the identity cards look like?
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The National Identity Card – for British citizens.
|
|
The Identification Card – for EEA and Swiss Nationals who live in the UK.
For identification purposes only and cannot be used for travel. It does not show whether the holder has the right to work in the UK. Verification will be needed by checking a person’s nationality and by visiting the UK Border Agency website.
|
|
The Identity Card for Foreign Nationals - An immigration document for those from outside the EEA and Switzerland.
Details the holder’s right to stay in the UK. Issued by the UK Border Agency, it gives information on immigration status, entitlements and restrictions on working and claiming public funds. In addition, it clearly states whether the holder has a right to work in the UK. This is not a travel document.
|
Security Features
A number of security features can be found on each card. These include raised areas, colour-changing symbols and holograms.
Benefits of Identity Cards
- A convenient, portable and secure way to help protect an individual’s identity against fraud;
- Helps with employment checks by confirming the right to work in the UK;
- Helps verify a person’s age;
- The National Identity Card (British Citizens) can be used like a passport in the EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Card Validation Service
Where an organisation has registered to use the Passport Validation Service (PVS) they can also apply to use the Identity and Passport Service’s Card Validation Service (CVS) to check the validation of the National Identity Cards and the Identification Cards. Approved organisations will be able to check the validity of the card directly against the National Identity Register. However, the card holder must agree to this check.
Access to the service will be restricted to authorised users within an organisation who will have to confirm their identity by telephone.
Further information
More information on the benefits of the identity cards and how to apply can be found at www.direct.gov.uk/identity
Information on the security features of the Identity Card for Foreign Nationals can be found at www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk
For information for Businesses go to www.businesslink.gov.uk/idsmart
For information on the Card Verification Service (CVS) and identity cards, there is an advice line available on 0203 356 8118.
For information on the Card Verification Service (CVS) for Identity Cards for Foreign Nationals, call the UK Border Agency’s CVS number on 0300 123 4699.
Further information can also be obtained from your HR Department in respect of this matter. For NorthgateArinso clients, please contact the NorthgateArinso HR Advice Line on 0845 299 0243 who will be happy to help with any queries.