Passkeys are being rolled out across GOV.UK One Login, giving more than 23 million users a faster, simpler and more secure way to access essential government services.
The move marks a significant step forward in the government's digital transformation programme, enabling citizens to sign in to services such as childcare support, tax management and driving licence renewals using a fingerprint, facial recognition or device PIN instead of a traditional password.
The rollout follows a successful pilot that saw more than 300,000 users switch to passkeys. Government figures show that almost one in ten daily GOV.UK One Login sign-ins are now completed using the technology, helping to reduce SMS verification costs and delivering savings of nearly £600 per day for taxpayers.
Passkeys eliminate the need for users to remember passwords or wait for two-step verification codes. Instead, they allow people to access services using the same security features already built into their smartphones, tablets and computers.
According to government data, signing in with a passkey can be up to eight times faster than using a username, password and SMS verification code.
GOV.UK One Login provides access to a growing range of public services, including checking State Pension details, managing tax services and accessing childcare support.
As cyber criminals increasingly target passwords through phishing attacks and fraudulent websites, passkeys offer a more resilient form of authentication.
Unlike passwords, passkeys are linked directly to a specific device and website, making them substantially harder to steal, guess or reuse. There is no password for cyber criminals to intercept through phishing emails or fake login pages.
Importantly, the biometric information or PIN used to unlock a passkey remains on the user's device and is never seen or stored by GOV.UK One Login.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has also recommended passkeys as a more secure alternative to traditional passwords because they cannot be intercepted, reused or stolen in the same way.
Digital Government Minister Stephanie Peacock said:
“Nobody enjoys hunting for a forgotten password or waiting for a text message code just to check their tax return or renew a document. Passkeys mean people can access the services they rely on in seconds, using the same fingerprint or face scan they already use to unlock their phone.
“This is about making government services simpler and safer for everyone, while giving people stronger protection against the fraudsters who target passwords.”
While passkeys are being made available to millions of users, they remain optional. Those who prefer to continue signing in with a password can do so, while users choosing passkeys can benefit from faster and more secure access using their existing device security settings.
The rollout is expected to improve the user experience across a growing number of government services while supporting wider efforts to strengthen the UK's cyber resilience and reduce costs associated with traditional authentication methods.
Image credit: iStock
