On 1 December 2025, the UK Government confirmed that the Digital Verification Service (DVS) measures in the Data Act have officially come into force.
This marks a pivotal shift in how identity is verified across the economy and it has direct implications for employers, HR teams, and compliance leaders.
As organisations increasingly rely on digital hiring and remote onboarding, these new measures are designed to strengthen trust, reduce fraud, and create a consistent framework for high-assurance identity verification. Here’s what you need to know and how to stay compliant as we move into 2026.
What are the new DVS measures?
The Data Act introduces a framework to ensure that individuals can securely and confidently share verified identity attributes online. Under the new DVS measures:
- Digital identity checks must be performed using providers who meet strict DSIT-approved standards.
- Verification must be accurate, privacy-preserving, and auditable.
- Individuals gain greater confidence and control over how their identity attributes are used across services.
This is part of a wider effort by the government to modernise trust frameworks, improve interoperability, and encourage adoption of robust digital verification services across both public and private sectors.
Why this matters for employers and HR leaders
While the Data Act is broad in scope, the implications for employment checks are significant:
- Higher expectations around identity assurance
Employers must ensure that digital Right to Work, DBS, and broader pre-employment checks meet the DVS standards, particularly where third-party technology or screening partners are involved. - Increased scrutiny of digital identity vendors
Using non-certified or non-compliant solutions will quickly become a risk exposure. With enforcement rising, including the DBS’s own identity documentation retention changes coming into effect on 1st November 2025, organisations must review partners now rather than later. - A shift toward end-to-end digital onboarding
The measures accelerate the UK’s move toward fully digital identity ecosystems. For HR and compliance teams still relying on manual or fragmented systems, the cost, friction, and risk associated with outdated processes will increase.
How Rightcheck is already aligned with the new DVS framework
At Rightcheck, we welcome the new DVS measures. They raise the bar for trust, security, and compliance – principles our platform was designed around from the outset.
Rightcheck already delivers:
- DSIT-certified digital identity verification
- Liveness checks for confidence that the individual is present
- Advanced document capture and validation, meeting Industry Standard Tier 3 expectations
- Home Office-approved digital Right to Work
- Integrated DBS and background checks
- Modern slavery checks, helping organisations strengthen ethical hiring practices
- Smarter automated references and rechecks, including the ability to pause checks and reuse data
- A seamless candidate app, reducing friction and improving completion rates
- API compatibility for integration into existing HRIS and ATS ecosystems
With Rightcheck, employers can demonstrate compliance immediately without scrambling to adjust internal processes.
What employers should do now
To prepare for the new DVS environment, we recommend organisations take the following immediate steps:
- Review current identity and vetting workflows
Identify any gaps between your processes and the new DVS expectations. - Validate your technology partners
Ensure your identity verification provider meets DSIT standards and is aligned with the Data Act requirements. - Centralise your screening processes
Fragmented tools increase risk. A single, compliant platform reduces cost, admin, and onboarding time. - Prepare for increased regulatory scrutiny in 2026
With multiple identity reforms converging (DVS, the DBS retention rule changes, and the growing emphasis on worker exploitation prevention) organisations must ensure their hiring processes are resilient.
The bottom line
The introduction of the DVS measures is a defining moment for digital identity in the UK. For employers, it represents an opportunity to modernise, strengthen compliance, and deliver safer, faster onboarding experiences.
Rightcheck is already fully aligned with the new framework, giving you one platform, one partner, and complete confidence in your pre-employment screening.
Book a demo or talk to our compliance team
If you’d like to understand what today’s changes mean for your organisation, or how to modernise your identity and vetting processes, our team is here to help.
→ Book a demo to see how your current checks map against the new DVS standards.
→ Request a DVS readiness review and get a clear action plan for 2026.
