How Zinc's Digital Identity Verification Journeys Work for DBS and UK Right to Work Checks

**Digital identity verification** is how Zinc confirms a candidate is who they say they are, without anyone needing to meet in person. This article explains how it works for a screening package that includes a DBS check, a UK Right to Work check, or both. > **These changes take effect in the platform the week of 12 October 2026.** Until then, current verification requirements still apply. ## How It Works The verification requirement depends on what's included in your candidate's screening package. These requirements are set by the DBS and the Home Office, not by Zinc. | If the package includes… | Verification level required | |---|---| | DBS Standard | High | | DBS Enhanced | High | | DBS Basic | Medium | | UK Right to Work only | Medium | You don't need to select a **verification level** yourself — Zinc reads the package and routes your candidate through the matching journey automatically. Every route below also runs one or both of two automated background checks: an **identity fraud check** confirms the identity hasn't been linked to fraud or impersonation, and an **activity history check** confirms it has a genuine track record over time. ### The High Journey (DBS Standard or Enhanced) If your candidate's package includes a Standard or Enhanced DBS check, they're routed through the **High journey**. What happens next depends on the documents they have: #### **Biometric passport from an accepted country, plus an NFC-capable phone** They complete an app-based passport chip scan: 1. Live photo of the physical passport 2. Scan of its NFC chip 3. Selfie with a facial motion check 4. Background identity fraud check #### **Biometric passport from an accepted country, but no NFC-capable phone (or a passport not on the accepted list)** They're asked for one more accepted document (for example a driving licence or a national ID card) instead of the chip scan: 1. Live photo of the physical passport 2. Live photo of the physical second document 3. Facial motion capture 4. Background identity fraud check #### **No biometric passport, but two other accepted documents** (for example a driving licence and a national ID card) They complete two-document photo verification: 1. Live photo of each physical document 2. Selfie 3. Background identity fraud and activity history check #### **None of the above** They're routed to manual verification instead. #### **Accepted passport countries** **This list only affects the NFC chip scan** — it doesn't determine whether a passport is accepted overall. A biometric passport from a country not on this list is still accepted for one of our digital verification routes. The candidate is simply asked for a second document instead of completing the chip scan. Zinc can complete an NFC chip scan on a biometric passport from any of the following countries: - Albania - Algeria - Andorra - Anguilla - Antigua and Barbuda - Argentina - Australia - Austria - Azerbaijan - Bahrain - Barbados - Belarus - Belgium - Belize - Benin - Bermuda - Bosnia and Herzegovina - Botswana - Brazil - Bulgaria - Burkina Faso - Cabo Verde - Cameroon - Canada - Cayman Islands - Chile - China - Colombia - Congo (Democratic Republic of the) - Costa Rica - Croatia - Cyprus - Czech Republic - Denmark - Dominica - Ecuador - Estonia - Faroe Islands - Finland - France - Georgia - Germany - Gibraltar - Greece - Grenada - Guernsey - Holy See - Hungary - Iceland - Iraq - Ireland - Isle of Man - Israel - Italy - Jamaica - Japan - Jersey - Kazakhstan - Korea (Republic of) - Kuwait - Kyrgyzstan - Latvia - Liechtenstein - Lithuania - Luxembourg - Malaysia - Malta - Mexico - Moldova (Republic of) - Monaco - Montenegro - Morocco - Nepal - Netherlands - New Zealand - North Macedonia - Norway - Oman - Panama - Philippines - Poland - Portugal - Qatar - Romania - Russian Federation - San Marino - Saudi Arabia - Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha - Saint Lucia - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - Serbia - Singapore - Slovakia - Slovenia - Spain - Sweden - Switzerland - Taiwan - Thailand - Timor-Leste - Turkey - Turkmenistan - Uganda - Ukraine - United Arab Emirates - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - Uruguay - Virgin Islands (British) **Being on this list doesn't guarantee the NFC chip scan will complete — the passport also needs a working NFC chip, which some older passports don't have**. ### The Medium Journey (DBS Basic, or UK Right to Work Only) If the package includes a DBS Basic check, or a UK Right to Work check with no DBS check attached, your candidate is routed through the **Medium journey**: #### **Valid UK or Irish passport** 1. Live photo of the physical passport 2. Facial motion scan 3. Background identity fraud check #### **No UK or Irish passport, but another accepted document** (foreign passport, driving licence, or national ID card) 1. Live photo of the physical document 2. Facial motion scan 3. Background activity history and identity fraud check #### **Neither** They're routed to manual verification instead. ## What Happens After the Check Every candidate journey ends in one of two outcomes: **clear**, or **manual review**. If a check isn't clear, what happens next depends on why. Something correctable — the wrong document was uploaded, or a photo wasn't clear enough — usually means the candidate is asked to resubmit. An issue with the candidate's identity itself is routed straight to manual review. ## If Digital Verification Isn't Possible Any candidate who can't provide the documents their journey needs, or cannot complete the digital process, is routed to manual verification instead, so a check is never left stuck for lack of the right documents. ## Why It Matters The verification level isn't a setting you choose — it's fixed by DBS and Home Office rules, based on the check type. Zinc applies it automatically so you don't have to track which packages need which level of identity checking, or configure anything extra when you set up a candidate's checks. ## What You Need to Do Nothing — this runs automatically once you've set up the candidate's screening package. **The only time you will need to be involved is if the check is routed to be verified manually**. If you have questions about how this affects a specific candidate's check, contact our Support Team.