# GOV.UK ID Check

> Government identity verification app using facial recognition and photo ID. (iPhone/iPad app by Government Digital Service.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/govuk-id-check/id1629050566 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Government Digital Service](https://appshunter.io/developer/1629043539)
- Category: Utilities
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.80/5 from 5,075 App Store ratings · 716 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 16.7 · 28 MB
- Languages: American English, Welsh
- Released: 2022-08-01
- Data updated: 2026-08-26
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/govuk-id-check/id1629050566/reviews.md

## What is GOV.UK ID Check?

Use GOV.UK ID Check to prove your identity when you:
• access some HMRC services with Government Gateway 
• need to change how you get security codes to sign in to your GOV.UK One Login

It works by matching your face to your photo ID.

Before you start

You can use any 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 (BRC)
 • UK Frontier Worker permit (FWP)

You can use an expired driving licence if it expired in the last 90 days and it was issued by DVLA.

You can use an expired BRP, BRC or FWP up to 24 months after its expiry date.

You will also need:
 • a well-lit area where you can take a good quality photograph 
 • an iPhone 8 or newer
 • iOS 16.7 or higher

How it works

If your photo ID is a driving licence you will:
 • take a photo of your driving licence
 • scan your face using your phone

If your photo ID is a passport, BRP, BRC or FWP you will:
 • take a photo of your photo ID
 • scan the biometric chip in your photo ID using your phone
 • scan your face using your phone

What happens next
The app only helps confirm your identity. You will return to the website of the government service you were accessing to view the results of your identity check.

Privacy and security
Your personal information will not be stored in the app, or on the phone when you finish using it. We collect your data securely and delete it when it is no longer needed.

## Key features

- Facial recognition matching
- Photo ID scanning
- Biometric chip scanning (for passports/permits)
- Secure data handling
- Supports multiple UK photo IDs
- Identity confirmation for government services

## What do users think of GOV.UK ID Check?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🔒 Secure ID verification
- 👍 Clear instructions
- 🚀 Convenient
- 👍 Impressive technology
- 🚀 Seamless process

**Cons**

- 🐛 Scanning issues with passport chip
- 🐛 Compatibility issues with certain devices/phones
- 🐛 Crashes and errors
- 👓 Difficult for users with vision impairments
- ⏱️ Time-consuming process

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Inconsistent passport chip scanning
- Facial recognition failures
- App crashes and freezes
- Incorrect name/information parsing

**Most requested features**

- Improved instructions for passport chip scanning
- Support for more ID types (e.g. driver's licenses)
- Accessibility features for users with disabilities
- Streamlined process for frequent users

## Recent user reviews (10 of 716)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/govuk-id-check/id1629050566/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Pain

*2026-08-14, version 1.57.0*

Super difficult to scan the chip. Kept failing despite following instructions

### 5/5 — Ken Gordon

*2026-08-13, version 1.57.0*

This process for Government ID is far simpler than it used to be

### 3/5 — Okay

*2026-08-12, version 1.57.0*

To many hooo

### 1/5 — Terrible

*2026-08-11, version 1.57.0*

Struggling to understand how to use this and I am an IT professional.  Not sure if it’s the worst UX imaginable or something has gone wrong.

### 1/5 — Passport

*2026-08-10, version 1.57.0*

Useless procedure using passport the app changes birth date from 19xx to 20xx so i am not yet born !! wasted time after 3 attempts had to use driving license another botched job for what purpose

### 1/5 — Awful app

*2026-08-10, version 1.57.0*

Government gateway now require me to use this app to verify my identity with my passport biometric chip, it will not pick up the chip. USELESS

### 5/5 — Sir

*2026-08-09, version 1.57.0*

Very easy to use service 👍🏽

### 5/5 — Gov check

*2026-08-07, version 1.57.0*

So easy to use

### 1/5 — Ridiculously poor service

*2026-08-07, version 1.57.0*

The worst I have ever encountered and the support is even worse

### 1/5 — G Clutterbuck

*2026-08-06, version 1.57.0*

Does not work

## Frequently asked questions about GOV.UK ID Check

### What does the GOV.UK ID Check app do?

The GOV.UK ID Check app is used to verify your identity. It works by matching your face to the photo on your official identification document. This is necessary for accessing certain UK government services and for managing how you receive security codes for your GOV.UK One Login.

### What types of photo ID can I use with this app?

You can use a UK photocard driving licence, a UK passport, a non-UK passport with a biometric chip, a UK biometric residence permit (BRP), a UK biometric residence card (BRC), or a UK Frontier Worker permit (FWP). Expired BRP, BRC, or FWP documents are accepted up to 18 months after their expiry date.

### Is the GOV.UK ID Check app free to use?

Yes, the GOV.UK ID Check app is free to download and use. There are no in-app purchases or subscription fees associated with verifying your identity through the app.

### What are the technical requirements to use the app?

To use the app, you will need an iPhone 8 or newer running iOS 16.7 or higher. You will also need a well-lit area to take a good quality photograph of yourself and your ID.

### How does the app ensure my privacy and security?

Your personal information is not stored within the app or on your phone after you finish using it. Data is collected securely and deleted when it is no longer needed, ensuring your privacy and the security of your identity information.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.57.0 — 2026-08-03

We’ve made design improvements to make it easier to use the app.

### 1.56.0 — 2026-07-15

We’ve made design improvements to make it easier to use the app and technical updates to the document sharing part of the journey.

### 1.55.0 — 2026-06-25

We’ve made design improvements to make it easier to use the app and fixed bugs.

### 1.54.0 — 2026-06-08

We’ve made design improvements to make it easier to use the app. We also made technical updates to the document sharing part of the journey.

### 1.53.1 — 2026-05-20

We updated the app store description.

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## More apps by Government Digital Service

- [GOV.UK](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/govuk/id6572293285)
- [GOV.UK One Login](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/govuk-one-login/id6737119425)

All apps by Government Digital Service: https://appshunter.io/developer/1629043539

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-26.*