Explainers and additional guidance for service providers and conformity assessment bodies

When we receive questions from service providers or conformity assessment bodies relating to interpretation of rules in the trust framework, supplementary codes or the certification scheme, we might publish a blog post to provide extra information and guidance.

This page lists all the explainers and additional guidance we have published to date.

We will:

• add new links when we publish new explainers
• remove links to guidance that are no longer relevant – though the original blog posts will stay published, in case you need to refer to them later

Trust framework and certification

Refer to GOV.UK for the latest versions of the:

• UK digital identity and attributes trust framework
• Supplementary codes
• Certification scheme

You can check which conformity assessments are approved and accredited to certify against the trust framework on the list of approved Conformity Assessment Bodies.

Gamma (0.4) to 1.0 trust framework transition

It is not yet possible to certify against the 1.0 version of the UK digital verification services trust framework. All services shall continue certify against the gamma (0.4) publication until the 1.0 version comes into effect, which expected in September 2026.

• Announcing the 1.0 trust framework
• Final release of the 1.0 trust framework: what does it mean for you?
• Uplift to trust framework 1.0: pathways and timelines

Component services

• Do I have to use a certified component in my service? 

Getting certified

• You should plan to renew your certification sooner than you think
• What are valid certificates under the UK digital identity and attributes trust framework?

Communications and marketing

• What can I say about my certification?
• How digital verification service providers should describe certification for specific use cases

Good Practice Guides 44 and 45

• Using data brokers as authoritative sources under GPG 45

White labelling

• A new approach to white label certification in the 0.4 trust framework

Interpreting the rules

• Confirming user understanding: what to do and what not to do
• “Must” and “could” in the trust framework and whether the rules apply to your service
• Notifying users of changes to their holder service accounts

Applying to join the digital verification services register

Refer to GOV.UK for the latest guidance on how to become certified and apply to join the register.

• You should plan to renew your certification sooner than you think
• What happens when you apply to join the register of digital identity and attribute services
• What are valid certificates under the UK digital identity and attributes trust framework?

UK CertifID trust mark

• UK CertifID: a mark of trust in digital verification services