What does the check involve?
Local authorities can verify an individual’s right to work in one of the following ways:
- Manual check - Reviewing original documents such as a UK passport or birth certificate.
- Online check - Using the Home Office’s online service with a share code provided by the worker.
- Digital check - For British and Irish citizens, using an Identity Service Provider (IDSP) to verify documents digitally.
What documents are accepted?
Examples include:
- A valid UK or Irish passport
- A biometric residence permit
- A share code from the Home Office’s online service
- Other documents listed in official government guidance
Conducting a right to work check:
- Ensures compliance with UK immigration law
- Protects employers from civil penalties
- Helps maintain fair and lawful recruitment practices
Employers must keep a copy of the check and retain it for at least two years after the employee leaves.
Folkestone & Hythe District Council taxi licensing policy information
The council has a duty to carry out immigration checks to ensure applicants have a right to work in the UK. A licence will not be granted unless sufficient proof of right to work in the UK has been provided. Licences will not be granted for a longer period than the applicant’s right to work. Drivers – 2.10.1.
The Immigration Act does not permit the issue of licences to self-employed persons who are in the country on a student visa. Drivers – 2.10.2.