Earlier this month, the UK Government announced that it plans to introduce a digital Veteran Card in 2025. This is a major step towards improving access to services for former Service personnel. Following the launch of Veteran Cards, in early 2024, this additional development seeks to ensure former members of the UK Armed Forces will be able to prove their veteran status more easily, by downloading a digital version while their physical card is still being processed. Peter Kyle, the Science and Technology Secretary, noted that the digital Veteran Card “will cut the wait currently faced for physical copies, by offering a quick, convenient and straightforward route to get the support they deserve.”
There are around 250,000 former Service personnel already registered as cardholders, and a digital version will improve accessibility, and is likely to encourage a greater number of eligible former personnel to apply for a card. In turn, this could help strengthen a shared sense of identity and community among veterans, and assist the UK Government's efforts to track the size and composition of this group. From a policy standpoint, making it easier to obtain a Veteran Card reinforces the Office for Veterans' Affairs' commitment to making the United Kingdom “the best place to be a veteran anywhere in the world.”
The most impactful result of this initiative may be its potential to improve access to veteran-specific support services. Research suggests that former Service personnel face extra barriers when interacting with statutory and nonstatutory services, such as unfamiliarity with civilian procedures and feelings of shame or stigma associated with military service. For veterans, having an accessible way to prove their status is essential to obtaining services tailored to their unique needs. The digital Veteran Card brings us closer to this goal.
For veterans, having an accessible way to prove their status is essential to obtaining services tailored to their unique needs.
The new digital Veteran Card could be especially beneficial for certain groups and settings, including female veterans. A recent study of women veterans' experiences in UK mental health services found that some medical professionals either delayed or omitted asking about military service, due to an assumption that veterans are almost exclusively male. By enabling female veterans to verify their status instantly, the digital Veteran Card can help correct these misconceptions and ensure timely and appropriate support.
The United Kingdom justice system may also benefit from the digital Veteran Card. As reported in the justice system policy summary by the FiMT Research Centre (led by RAND Europe, in collaboration with the King's Centre for Military Health Research), identifying former Service personnel remains a key priority for police, prison, and probation services to direct veterans to relevant support pathways, such as Op NOVA. While progress has been made in enabling veterans to declare their status in these settings, verifying these claims can still be challenging without proper documentation. The digital Veteran Card could streamline this process, helping veterans access support more quickly within the justice system.
Employment is another area where the digital Veteran Card could prove valuable. Numerous statutory bodies offer resettlement and employment support to help veterans transition into the civilian workforce. For example, the 'Great Place to Work' scheme promotes veteran recruitment into the Civil Service by advancing candidates who meet the minimum criteria to the next stage of the application process. Verifying eligibility is crucial for these programmes' success, and with many veterans seeking support soon after leaving the Armed Forces, immediate access to proof of service will facilitate a smooth transition to civilian employment.
The digital Veterans Card can also support the Ministry of Defence's Employer Recognition Scheme, which encourages companies to commit to the Armed Forces Covenant by making specific promises or policies to help veterans and reservists find employment. In these cases, the digital ID card offers a simple way for veterans to validate their status.
The release of digital Veteran Cards next year is both timely and significant. By enabling a clearer picture of the UK's veteran community, and improving access to essential services, this initiative demonstrates the UK Government's ongoing commitment to helping members of the Armed Forces Community thrive.
