Certification scheme for the UK digital verification services trust framework

A certification scheme is a structured and standardised approach to providing third-party assurance that required regulations, standards and criteria are met.

The UK digital verification services trust framework certification scheme (the certification scheme) is a set of documents used by conformity assessment bodies (CABs) when they are certifying products, services, and processes against the UK digital verification services trust framework (the trust framework). The documents contain processes, procedures and requirements that CABs must fulfil to certify a service in a compliant way.

The documents in the certification scheme are for CABs. Digital verification services providers should refer to the UK digital verification services trust framework and supplementary codes for requirements that they must meet to build a service that can become certified.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS) is the certification scheme owner for the UK digital verification services trust framework. It publishes, maintains and interprets the trust framework and its associated certification scheme.

On a day-to-day basis, the trust framework and the associated certification scheme are managed by officials working in the Office for Digital Identities and Attributes (OfDIA), which is an office within DCMS.

Approved and accredited conformity assessment bodies

To certify services under the UK digital verification services trust framework certification scheme conformity assessment bodies (CABs) must:

CABs must apply for approval from OfDIA before they can apply to UKAS for accreditation. CABs will be unable to obtain accreditation without prior approval from OfDIA.

Any certificate that is issued by a non-approved CAB is not valid under the certification scheme. It cannot be relied upon as evidence of conformity to the UK digital verification services trust framework.