The UK government has published a pre-release of its Digital Verification Services (DVS) trust framework 1.0, setting out the statutory rules that digital verification service providers will need to meet to achieve certification once the framework is finalized.
The framework, published by the Office for Digital Identities and Attributes (OfDIA) within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), sets out requirements for providers offering digital identity and attribute verification services in regulated contexts. These include anti-money laundering (AML) compliance, right-to-work verification, right-to-rent checks, and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) background screening.
The 1.0 release follows the pre-release publication in March 2026, which was issued for business readiness purposes. The final version takes effect once Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) have been accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to certify providers against its requirements.
The DVS trust framework replaces the earlier Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework (DIATF), aligning the naming and legal basis with the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, which formally established the DVS legislative framework when it came into force in December 2025.
Certified providers will gain access to the UK CertifID trust mark, a government-endorsed signal that a service meets the framework’s requirements. The Kantara Initiative became the first Conformity Assessment Body to receive formal UKAS accreditation under the framework, giving it authority to certify private-sector organizations.
The UK Treasury and DSIT have published joint guidance formally recognizing DVS-certified services for AML compliance, giving regulated firms a clear path to using certified digital identity providers for customer due diligence.
The framework has been developed through multiple iterations since its earliest alpha version, progressing through beta and gamma releases before reaching 1.0. OfDIA has indicated that no substantive content changes are expected between the pre-release and the final publication, with only enforcement and expiry dates to be adjusted in the version notes.
Sources: GOV.UK
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
