Digital Right to Work Checks and E-Visas

With the changing landscape, both the Home Office and UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) are embracing a digital approach to immigration status.

Gone are the days of traditional paper-based systems. In these extraordinary times, employers can now rely on a user-friendly checklist to ensure accurate Right To Work (RTW) checks.

Neglecting or mishandling these checks could have severe consequences for businesses, with fines for hiring illegal workers soaring to a staggering ￡60,000 per individual.

RTW Checks

Employers must ensure compliance by:

? Obtaining proof of an employee’s right to work

? Checking the evidence to ensure the documents are genuine and that the person presenting them is the (prospective) employee, the rightful holder and permitted to do the type of work the employer is offering. The checklist sets out a list of things to review and consider when undertaking this check

? Copying of each document in a format that cannot be manually altered and retain this for the duration of the employee’s employment and at least two years thereafter. Employers must also retain a secure record of the date upon which the RTW check is completed

? Digital Identity Document Validity Technology (IDVT) checks remain permissible for British and Irish passport holders and Irish passport cardholders only

Online Checks

Starting from January 1st, 2025, UKVI will exclusively provide E-Visas, which serve as digital evidence of an individual's immigration status. Consequently, employers will no longer be able to accept physical Biometric Residence Cards, Biometric Residence Permits, or Frontier Worker Permits as valid proof of an employee's eligibility to work in the UK. Instead, employers must carry out online right-to-work checks for employees who present these documents as verification of their right to work in the UK.

To do this, employers should:

? Get the employee's Share Code and date of birth, then input this data into UKVI's online right-to-work verification system

? Ensure that the online record verifies the employee's eligibility to work in the UK and perform the specific job

? Validate that the photo on the online right-to-work check matches the individual presenting themselves for work, whether in person or via video call

? If the employee is a student with limited work hours during term time in the UK, make sure to collect and keep track of the course's term and vacation dates

Our immigration and visa application experts will take the time to understand your requirements before recommending the most appropriate service to meet your needs, all at a competitive price. To see how we can help, contact us today on 01403 801801?? or [email protected] ??