1 minute ago, connda said:

 

 

So Brits only get digital passports in the near future?  Then Brits can't leave the country because no other countries accept digital passports?  Interesting that Western countries are now fully embracing authoritarian governance to equal or surpass the types of authoritarianism they claim exists in Russia and China. I can see a day coming on the horizon when Brits and Europeans freedom of movement is limited by social credit scores.  Digital passport?  That's a start.  Easy to turn on, easy to turn off.

UK Government  "But it's convenient!"
Sure it is. 
 

 

No. This is just an app for secure digital storage of key documents and is optional. The documents will continue to exist and be required at airports for example.

Just now, Will B Good said:

The documents will continue to exist and be required at airports for example.

So why have it on the phone?

4 minutes ago, Negita43 said:

So why have it on the phone?

BENEFITS OF GOING DIGITAL

 

1. 

Faster Border Crossings

Facial recognition e-gates can eliminate the need to show your passport manually.

Expected to cut wait times at airports, especially during peak travel.

Similar systems already work well in places like Singapore, Dubai, and Australia.

 

🟡 Caveat: Not available at all entry points and still requires valid identity.

2. 

Convenience & Mobility

The GOV.UK Wallet app allows you to:

Store your passport, driving licence, residency permit, etc.

Prove your ID instantly at banks, rental services, or online platforms.

No need to carry paper documents everywhere.

 

🟡 Caveat: You’ll still need the physical version for most international travel until other countries accept digital versions.

3. 

Reduced Risk of Lost Documents

You’re less likely to lose your ID if it’s stored securely on your phone.

Remote revocation: If your phone is stolen, the ID can be disabled, unlike a lost passport or licence.

4. 

Improved Security & Fraud Prevention

Digital credentials include biometric verification (like Face ID or fingerprint).

Harder to forge than paper documents.

Helps tackle ID theft, immigration fraud, and benefit fraud.

5. 

Cheaper & More Efficient Government Services

Cuts down on postage, printing, and bureaucratic processing.

Helps modernize public infrastructure.

Could streamline services like the NHS, benefits system, and voter verification.

Just now, Will B Good said:

BENEFITS OF GOING DIGITAL

I don't see many benefits for me only the government

1 minute ago, Negita43 said:

I don't see many benefits for me only the government

 

Quite possibly......and as it is optional.....don't do it.

20 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Photo on phone. 

For when you do not have your phone.

42 minutes ago, Negita43 said:

So if you don't have a smartphone you don't exist?

It's in the interests of Government that everybody has a smartphone.

Smartphones  use cell masts geographically fixed so it is possible for governments to know where you are and have been (sorry more accurately where your phone is or has been - but for many it's an extension of their hand) if your phone is switched on.

 

No, you can still have your passport.

 

Smartphone geolocation is how they catch the bad guys. Are you a bad guy?

 

37 minutes ago, Negita43 said:

So what happens if you lose your phone or it gets hacked - more personal info out on the dark web?

 

You go and buy a new one.

 

How are they going to hack your phone when it's probably switched off all the time?

 

37 minutes ago, samtam said:

 

"....while physical passports will STILL EXIST..."

 

Yes, that's why I highlighted that part of the text I copy/pasted.

 

However, it doesn't appear to be good enough for the stress monkeys and panic merchants here, but that's not unexpected.

 

29 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

so passport templates  will be able to be  preloaded in the i phones that are handed out free to the boat migrants, all they need to do is take a selfie 

 

I will need to see a citation for that claim.

 

On second thoughts, never mind.

 

19 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Print the data page and your stamp. Fold it up and put it in your wallet.

 

OMG! But what happens when you lose both your smartphone AND your wallet???!!! Does that mean you cease to exist?

 

Some here will lose their minds worrying about this.

28 minutes ago, connda said:

 

 

So Brits only get digital passports in the near future?  Then Brits can't leave the country because no other countries accept digital passports?  Interesting that Western countries are now fully embracing authoritarian governance to equal or surpass the types of authoritarianism they claim exists in Russia and China. I can see a day coming on the horizon when Brits and Europeans freedom of movement is limited by social credit scores.  Digital passport?  That's a start.  Easy to turn on, easy to turn off.

UK Government  "But it's convenient!"
Sure it is. 
 

 

48 minutes ago, samtam said:

 

"....while physical passports will STILL EXIST..."

 

15 minutes ago, Negita43 said:

20 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

BENEFITS OF GOING DIGITAL

I don't see many benefits for me only the government

 

Correct. The government will be able to nail hundreds, if not thousands for their fraudulent winter fuel allowance claim and unfrozen state pension.

 

The Chancellor needs all the help she can get.

Bit surprised by all the negative reaction thusfar. What's there not to like about a digital passport in principle if it means that we'll then, in effect, have a passport for life, subject, presumably to uploading a fresh mug shot every 10 years? No more awkward trips to a VFS office in Bangkok or Chiang Mai a couple of times every 10 years. No more subsequent trips to our banks to update passport details and then to our SIM provider to update our SIM registration with the last 4 digits of our new passport number.

 

IMHO a passport app would be much more worthwhile having on my smartphone than any of the banking apps which Thai banks seem intent on ramming down our throats, whether we like them or not!

 

All sounds like a good idea. , 

1 hour ago, NanLaew said:

 

Correct. The government will be able to nail hundreds, if not thousands for their fraudulent winter fuel allowance claim and unfrozen state pension.

 

The Chancellor needs all the help she can get.

 

Yes, there are all those illegal criminal non immigrants to shell out for, 8 million a day just for their accommodation 😝

3 hours ago, Will B Good said:

Digital Passports Are Coming — But Physical Ones Aren’t Going Anywhere

The UK government is rolling out a GOV.UK Wallet app by 2025–2027. This will allow people to carry digital versions of passports, driving licences, veteran IDs, and more on their smartphone

Why waste time ? Just go ahead and chip em !

3 hours ago, samtam said:

 

"....while physical passports will STILL EXIST..."

 

And those of us living in Thailand could well find ourselves stuck with only physical passports (and related Stone Age renewal procedures) for the foreseeable future in any event.☹️

 

I find it hard to believe that the UK is acting alone on the passport digitalisation front, and would not be surprised if other countries will soon be following suit. There is probably much international co-ordination activity going on behind the scenes at the moment - which we humble mortals will never be party to, of course.

 

 

25 minutes ago, OJAS said:

I find it hard to believe that the UK is acting alone on the passport digitalisation front, and would not be surprised if other countries will soon be following suit.

 

They aren't.  EU one is planned for 2030 and the USA and several others are also in the pipeline.

Sorry, that video is completely incorrect, as is the title of this thread. 

From 15th July 2025 they are moving to a digital VISA system for certain types of visa (not all types) and are not issuing physical stickers anymore. However any previously issued physical visas still remain valid. 

From 2027 a digital passport will be coming but it is optional and only valid for internal UK travel, not international travel. And knowing how the Uk government handles tech I would expect that to be pushed back.

There are no changes to the PASSPORT system. Physical passports are still the norm.

Pretty much everything in that video is wrong.

14 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

Sorry, that video is completely incorrect, as is the title of this thread. 

From 15th July 2025 they are moving to a digital VISA system for certain types of visa (not all types) and are not issuing physical stickers anymore. However any previously issued physical visas still remain valid. 

From 2027 a digital passport will be coming but it is optional and only valid for internal UK travel, not international travel. And knowing how the Uk government handles tech I would expect that to be pushed back.

There are no changes to the PASSPORT system. Physical passports are still the norm.

Pretty much everything in that video is wrong.

A Digital Passport for Internal travel?   555

13 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

A Digital Passport for Internal travel?   555

Ok, call it a digital identity usable for for domestic flights. Is that better? That is exactly what it is.

4 hours ago, Negita43 said:

So if you don't have a smartphone you don't exist?

It's in the interests of Government that everybody has a smartphone.

Smartphones  use cell masts geographically fixed so it is possible for governments to know where you are and have been (sorry more accurately where your phone is or has been - but for many it's an extension of their hand) if your phone is switched on.

The UK & China have the highest proportion of cell masts and both countries monitor their citizens proportionally higher than anywhere else.

26 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

From 15th July 2025 they are moving to a digital VISA system for certain types of visa (not all types) and are not issuing physical stickers anymore. However any previously issued physical visas s

Let's hope they don't have the same problems as with the scanning gates - they fail to read my passport 20% of the time and if you lose your phone you lose your visa. I believe a phone is at greater risk of theft/loss than a physical passport.

10 minutes ago, Negita43 said:

Let's hope they don't have the same problems as with the scanning gates - they fail to read my passport 20% of the time and if you lose your phone you lose your visa. I believe a phone is at greater risk of theft/loss than a physical passport.

If you lose your phone you don't lose your visa. It is on their database.

Agree a physical passport is better, and they are not going away at all.

@CharlieH was this to highlight the inaccuracies and potential fake sites on Tiktok?

 

Otherwise I am a bit bemused by the posting.................

39 minutes ago, topt said:

@CharlieH was this to highlight the inaccuracies and potential fake sites on Tiktok?

 

Otherwise I am a bit bemused by the posting.................

Yeah, I would expect better. I hope it was as you say. If it was it was genius and proves the point perfectly as numerous people got agitated by it and will probably tell others and that is how false information spreads. No one comes back to it to look for corrections, the seed is sown.

Not one other person thought to do an independent check, not one, they just believed the Tik Tok video. Quite depressing really.