Right to Work Checks for UK Employers
How British employers must verify and record employees' legal right to work under Section 15 of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.
Checked against official Immigration Rules & GOV.UK guidance on 2026-10-30
Every employer in the United Kingdom has a statutory legal duty to verify that all employees—regardless of nationality—have the legal right to undertake the work in question. Conducting compliant checks establishes a continuous statutory excuse against civil liability.
3 Lawful Methods to Conduct Right to Work Checks
- Home Office Online Service (Share Code): Mandatory for all biometric residence permit (BRP) holders, eVisa holders, EUSS status holders, and frontier workers. The employer inputs the candidate's share code and date of birth on the official GOV.UK portal, verifies the live photograph matches the candidate, and saves the digital profile.
- Identity Document Validation Technology (IDVT): Digital verification via an accredited IDSP for British and Irish citizens holding valid passports.
- Manual Document Check: Permitted strictly for British and Irish citizens presenting original physical passports or birth certificates.
Key Requirements & Highlights
- Must be completed before employment commences (Day 1 check is too late).
- Physical BRP cards and vignette stickers are obsolete; digital share codes required.
- Follow-up checks must be diarised for employees with time-limited visa leave.
- Records must be retained securely for the duration of employment plus 2 years.
Step-by-Step Application Timeline
- Candidate Share CodeRequest candidate generate a 9-digit Right to Work share code on GOV.UK.
- Verify on GOV.UKInput share code at 'View a job applicant's right to work details' and verify photograph matches.
- Retain Audit CopySave unalterable PDF of the online verification result with the date check was performed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I accept a physical Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) card?
No. Employers can no longer accept physical BRP cards as proof of right to work. You must use the Home Office online share code service.
Need Guidance on Your Application?
Priyanshu Decodes provides clear route explanations, document planning, and consultation calls. For regulated legal advice or formal Home Office representation, always consult an IAA-registered adviser or an immigration solicitor.