What Is a Right to Work Check and When Does It Happen in UK Hiring?

Key facts

The specifics, before the explanation.

• Employers must complete the check before your first day of work, not after; employing someone without one risks a civil penalty of up to £60,000 per worker
• Visa holders and those with an eVisa prove status with a share code from the GOV.UK View and Prove service, valid for 90 days
• British and Irish citizens can use a physical passport or an Identity Document Validation Technology (IDVT) check via a certified provider
• Physical biometric residence permits stopped being valid as proof from 31 December 2024; the eVisa replaced them
• Students on a Student visa must usually show term dates so the employer can verify the 20-hour weekly limit in term time

What this actually means

The check is a compliance step, not an assessment of you, so the main thing to get right is timing and documents. Most employers ask for it after offer, when HR sends the onboarding pack. Some sectors with high volumes, such as retail, hospitality and care, ask you to bring documents or a share code to the interview itself so a successful candidate can start within days.

If you hold any kind of visa or settled status, generate your share code on GOV.UK before the interview and keep a screenshot. The code starts with W for work checks and lasts 90 days, so generate a fresh one if your process has dragged. Employers cannot accept a different type of share code, and a surprising number of delays come from candidates sending the wrong one.

British and Irish citizens need a valid passport (an expired one is accepted in some cases) or a birth certificate plus an official document showing their National Insurance number. If you only have a driving licence, you will be asked for more.

If you are asked about your status in the interview, answer in one sentence and move on. A rehearsed, calm answer to "do you have the right to work in the UK" signals you understand the process. If your status has conditions, such as a Graduate visa end date, say so plainly; employers find out anyway at the check and prefer to hear it from you first.

What to actually do

Rules and figures move. Confirm anything time-sensitive with the official regulator before you rely on it.

• Generate your right to work share code on GOV.UK before any interview and keep the code and expiry date handy
• Check your passport expiry now; an expired document can slow the check even where it is technically accepted
• If you are on a Student visa, print or save your term dates so the employer can confirm your working hours
• Practise answering "do you have the right to work in the UK" out loud in one calm sentence
• Ask HR whether they want the check done before or at your start date so you do not lose a week to admin

Frequently asked questions

Can an employer refuse to interview me because I need a visa?

They can set sponsorship as a requirement of the role if they do not hold a licence, but they must not discriminate on nationality or ask only some candidates for documents. All candidates must be treated the same at the check stage.

What if my share code has expired by the time I start?

Generate a new one; it takes a minute on GOV.UK. The employer must run the check on a valid code before your first day.

Do I need a right to work check for a temporary or agency job?

Yes. The agency or the end employer must complete it before you work, and it applies to contracts of any length including one-day shifts.

Sources

Referenced for this guide:

• GOV.UK: Prove your right to work to an employer
• GOV.UK: Checking a job applicant's right to work