Employee right to work checks: done right, every time

Stay compliant and avoid costly penalties. Our certified digital checks with
audit trails deliver fast, accurate results for a stress-free hiring process.
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What Does Right to Work Entail in the UK?

The UK government mandates that employers verify every potential employee’s eligibility to work in the country. This critical process, known as a right to work check, safeguards businesses from unknowingly hiring unauthorised individuals and incurring hefty fines. It also minimises the risk of fraudulent identities infiltrating your workforce.
Employees’ right to work checks are a legal imperative with significant consequences for non-compliance. These checks entail ensuring potential candidates possess any necessary work permits or visas. This legal compliance offers employers a ‘statutory excuse’ in case of illegal employment discovered post-hire. Failure to perform these checks may lead to the UK imposing severe sanctions on businesses, including criminal prosecution, fines up to £20,000 per breach, disqualification of company directors, and even suspension or removal of a Sponsor License.
The right to work in the UK hinges on your nationality and immigration status. British and Irish citizens can readily prove eligibility using passports or birth certificates. Others can utilise a share code obtained online or present valid immigration and right-to-work documents.
Right to work checks

Secure Hiring with UK Right-to-Work Verification

Our secure and online right to work checks help you simplify onboarding for new hires. Our digital Identity Document Validation Technology (IDVT) rigorously examines necessary documents and biometric data to mitigate the risk of forged documents. Our certified Identity Service Provider (IDSP) status guarantees adherence to UK Home Office regulations.
cFIRST portal is quick to set up and also supports seamless API integration. Our intuitive platform caters to the demands of today’s remote hiring landscape. Experience unmatched efficiency with our automated online system, which allows both employers and candidates to complete the verification steps conveniently from anywhere.

cFIRST's Right to Work Checks: Tailored Solutions for Every Need

Manual Right to Work Checks

Perfect for face-to-face meetings, our manual checks involve verifying original documents from the government’s right-to-work lists (List A or List B). We’ll confirm the candidate’s identity, check for signs of tampering, and ensure documents haven’t expired.

Online Right to Work Checks

For candidates with Biometric Residence Permits (BRP), Biometric Residence Card (BRC), or pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, our online check system is the secure choice. We obtain share codes and access right-to-work documents through a secure portal, ensuring the safety of your data. Confirmation of photographic identification and check completion records are a breeze with cFIRST.

IDVT Right to Work Checks

For maximum efficiency, our IDVT checks are the way to go. By leveraging advanced technology for remote verification, these checks confirm the candidate’s identity and immigration status through secure document verification. We make it easy to comply with legal requirements and minimise the risk of unauthorised workers. Confirm that details on the IDVT documents match the candidate and retain check records for the duration of employment and two years after.

Employer Checking Service

You can utilise our employer checking service if a candidate cannot provide documents or online verification is unavailable. This service allows us to get an employee’s immigration status verified directly by the Home Office. Typically, it is used when candidates have outstanding applications or have arrived in the UK before 1989 without documented status.

Create a Positive Candidate Experience with Easy Right to Work Verification

Empower a positive first impression with our streamlined employee right to work checks. Our mobile-first, streamlined process takes just a few minutes to complete on any device:

Step 1

We integrate seamlessly with your existing hiring process. Candidates receive an e-invite to initiate the quick verification journey.

Step 2

Using any smartphone or camera-equipped device, candidates can easily capture photos of their right-to-work documents and a selfie following our simple, guided steps.

Step 3

Advanced technology compares facial images with documentation to confirm authenticity. You will promptly and securely receive the results via our client portal.

Your Trusted Partner for Guaranteed
Legal Compliance

The UK government enforces strict regulations regarding employee eligibility to work. cFIRST takes the guesswork out of compliance. We’ve meticulously designed
our Right to Work solutions to adhere to all relevant legal frameworks, ensuring you stay on the right side of the law while streamlining your onboarding process.
Documents verification process

Immigration Act

Immigration Act 2016 mandates all employers to conduct right to work checks on all prospective and existing employees. It outlines the legal requirement to verify a candidate's eligibility to work in the UK and retain copies of the documents used for verification purposes.

Faster response

The List System

Defined by the Home Office, the List System categorises individuals into List A (those with permanent right to work) and List B (those with time-limited permission). We verify documents from the appropriate list based on the candidate's immigration status.

General Data Protection Regulation

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

Personal data gathered during employee right to work checks, such as scanned documents, must be processed and stored according to GDPR. cFIRST ensures secure data storage and adheres to strict data privacy protocols.

Equality checks

Equality Act

Under the Equality Act 2010, employers are legally obliged to refrain from discriminating against job applicants based on their nationality or immigration status. cFIRST's right to work solutions are designed to be objective and focus solely on verifying a candidate's legal eligibility to work in the UK. It ensures the process is carried out fairly and consistently without discriminatory bias.