Right to Work Checks

Trusted Compliance Checks

Protect your business from significant civil penalties and criminal sanctions. Our expert compliance team provides comprehensive guidance and support on conducting legally compliant Right to Work checks, ensuring every hire you make is lawful and your business remains protected.

What are Right to Work Checks?
Right to Work checks are a mandatory legal process that all UK employers must carry out for every individual they intend to hire, regardless of nationality.
Establishing a Statutory Excuse & Verification Methods

The purpose of these checks is to confirm that a potential employee is not disqualified from carrying out the work in question due to their immigration status. Conducting a correct Right to Work check before employment begins provides an employer with a "statutory excuse" against liability for a civil penalty if it is later discovered that they have employed an illegal worker.

The process traditionally involves obtaining, checking, and retaining copies of specific original documents from the employee. With the strategic shift to digital immigration statuses, the compliance workflow now directly includes online verification methods.

Failure to perform these checks correctly can result in severe civil penalties of up to £45,000 per illegal worker for a first breach, or up to £60,000 per worker for repeat breaches within three years.

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Need Guidance on Right to Work Checks? Why Work With Us

Our Right to Work Check services help businesses maintain compliance and avoid costly Home Office penalties. We provide expert guidance on both digital and physical right-to-work checks, ensuring your recruitment processes meet legal requirements. We also assist with complex cases involving visa applications, expired documents, and work restrictions. Through detailed audits and practical staff training, we help identify compliance gaps, strengthen procedures, and establish a reliable culture of compliance across your organisation.
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Who do I need to conduct a Right to Work check on?

Every single person you intend to employ, without exception. It is illegal to make assumptions based on accent, name, or ethnicity. Failing to check everyone can lead to claims of discrimination.

What is the fine for employing an illegal worker?

The civil penalty can be up to £45,000 for a first breach and up to £60,000 per worker for repeat breaches. In serious cases, there is also the risk of a criminal conviction and imprisonment.

What is a "statutory excuse"?

It is your legal defense against a civil penalty. If you have correctly performed and recorded a Right to Work check before employment starts, you will have a statutory excuse even if the worker is later found to be working illegally (e.g., due to a high-quality forged document).

When should the check be done?

The check must be completed before the employee's first day of work. A check performed after employment has started is not valid for establishing a statutory excuse.

What is the difference between List A and List B documents?

List A documents (e.g., a British passport) prove a continuous right to work. A check on a List A document only needs to be done once. List B documents (e.g., a time-limited work visa) prove a temporary right to work. You must conduct a follow-up check before the visa expires.

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Key Requirements for Right to Work Checks

To establish a statutory excuse, employers must follow a strict three-step process for every single employee before their employment officially commences.

01

Step 1: Obtain

You must securely source the necessary verification proof directly from the candidate prior to onboarding.

  • Must obtain the individual's original, acceptable documents.
  • Documents must be from List A or List B of the official Home Office guidance.
  • Alternatively, generate an online check using their date of birth and a valid share code.
02

Step 2: Check

You must carefully examine and confirm the validity of the documents and verify the holder's true identity.

  • Check that the documents are genuine and belong to the prospective employee.
  • Ensure the credentials grant the definitive right to perform the work in question.
  • Physical checks must be in the holder's presence (in-person or via live video call). For online checks, verify the photo matches the individual.
03

Step 3: Retain

Maintaining a legal paper trail and audit proof is compulsory for continued organizational compliance.

  • Make a clear, unalterable copy of the relevant documents or a record of the online check.
  • Securely store this copy for the entire duration of the employment.
  • Keep the records on file for two years after the employment ends, and ensure the check date is clearly recorded.
Final Note: Completing all three of these processing steps flawlessly before work begins guarantees your company establishes a valid statutory excuse against illegal working civil penalties.
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Expert Guidance For Your Right To Work Check Visa
Journey, Simplified.

Our experienced professionals provide end-to-end Right To Work Check Visa guidance, ensuring a smooth, stress-free and successful application journey.

01 — assessment
eligibility check

Eligibility Check

We carefully assess your eligibility and verify all required conditions with precision.

02 — verification
document review

Document Review

Our experts review documents to meet Home Office standards & avoid delays.

03 — filing
application submission

Application Submission

We handle submissions and communicate with immigration authorities on your behalf.

04 — success path
approval assistance

Approval Assistance

We guide you post-approval towards ILR and future steps with confidence.