Right to work in the UK policy

Right to work checks

Our prospective employees must prove that they:

  • have permanent entitlement to work in the UK
  • or, have a temporary entitlement to work in the UK

We must check that a job applicant is allowed to work in the UK before we employ them. We do this by:

  • checking the applicant’s original documents manually
  • checking a British and Irish citizen applicant’s right to work through a digital check
  • checking a  non-British and Irish citizen applicant’s right to work online, if they’ve provided their share code

If undertaking a manual right to work check, the hiring manager must:

  • ask to see the applicant’s original documents
  • check that the documents are valid with the applicant present
  • ensure each one is checked, copied and verified (print name, sign and date)

A hiring manager can delegate this task to a suitable individual.

List of acceptable documents for manual right to work checks

  1. a passport showing the holder, or a person named in the passport as the child of the holder, is a British citizen or a citizen of the UK and Colonies having the right of abode in the UK
  2. a passport or passport card showing the holder is an Irish citizen.
  3. a current passport endorsed to show that the holder is exempt from immigration control, is allowed to stay indefinitely in the UK, has the right of abode in the UK, or has no time limit on their stay in the UK
  4. a document issued by the Bailiwick of Jersey, the Bailiwick of Guernsey or the Isle of Man, which has been verified as valid by the Home Office Employer Checking Service, showing that the holder has been granted unlimited leave to enter or remain under Appendix EU(J) to the Jersey Immigration Rules
  5. a current Immigration Status Document issued by the Home Office to the holder with an endorsement indicating that: 
    • the named person is allowed to stay indefinitely in the UK,
    • or, has no time limit on their stay in the UK 
    • This must be supplied with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance number and their name issued by a Government agency or a previous employer
  6. a birth or adoption certificate issued in the UK, together with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance number and their name issued by a government agency or a previous employer
  7. a birth or adoption certificate issued in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or Ireland, together with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance number and their name issued by a Government agency or a previous employer
  8. a certificate of registration or naturalisation as a British citizen, together with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance number and their name issued 

Documents to prove temporary entitlement to work in the UK

Group 1 – documents where a time-limited statutory excuse lasts until the expiry date of leave:

  1. a current passport endorsed to show that the holder is allowed to stay in the UK and is currently allowed to do the type of work in question.  
  2. a document issued by the Bailiwick of Jersey, the Bailiwick of Guernsey or the Isle of Man, which has been verified as valid by the Home Office Employer Checking Service, showing that the holder has been granted limited leave to enter or remain under Appendix EU(J) to the Jersey Immigration Rules
  3. a current Immigration Status Document containing a photograph issued by the Home Office to the holder. This should include a valid endorsement indicating that the named person may stay in the UK, and is allowed to do the type of work in question, together with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance number and their name issued by a Government agency or a previous employer. 

Group 2 – documents where a time-limited statutory excuse lasts for six months:

  1. a document issued by the Home Office showing that the holder has made an application for leave to enter or remain under Appendix EU to the immigration rules (known as the EU Settlement Scheme) on or before 30 June 2021 together with a Positive Verification Notice from the Home Office Employer Checking Service
  2. a Certificate of Application (non-digital) issued by the Home Office showing that the holder has made an application for leave to enter or remain under Appendix EU to the immigration rules (known as the EU Settlement Scheme), on or after 1 July 2021, together with a Positive Verification Notice from the Home Office Employer Checking Service
  3. a document issued by the Bailiwick of Jersey, the Bailiwick of Guernsey or the Isle of Man showing that the holder has made an application for leave to enter or remain under Appendix EU(J) to the Jersey Immigration Rules or Appendix EU to the Immigration Rules (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Rules 2008, or Appendix EU to the Isle of Man Immigration Rules together with a Positive Verification Notice from the Home Office Employer Checking Service
  4. an Application Registration Card issued by the Home Office stating that the holder is permitted to take the employment in question, together with a Positive Verification Notice from the Home Office Employer Checking Service
  5. a Positive Verification Notice issued by the Home Office Employer Checking Service to the employer or prospective employer, which indicates that the named person may stay in the UK and is permitted to do the work in question
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