GOV.UK Right to Work Checking Service

GOV.UK Right to Work Checking Service lets UK employers check applicants who can provide a right to work share code. It is best for employers who want a free online status check and can manage other cases and follow-up duties through separate routes. Its clear strength is cost-free access to work permissions and time limits; its scope ends where a share code cannot be used.

Overview

Employers start a check through the GOV.UK page with the applicant’s date of birth and share code. The result shows which types of work the applicant may do and, where permission is time-limited, when it ends. That makes the service useful for confirming both eligibility and the need for a later check, without paying for the check itself.

It cannot serve as the only route for every applicant. British and Irish citizens cannot get share codes, so employers must check physical documents or use an online identity service provider. Employers hiring across these different cases need a process that covers both the online check and those alternatives.

Key features

Share-code status check

The check uses a share code and date of birth, and returns permitted work types and the duration of time-limited permission. It does not capture documents. Employers needing a document-based process must use an alternative checking method.

Manual checks and follow-up

The employer’s guide explains acceptable documents for manual checks and covers initial and follow-up checks. When an employee’s time-limited right to work is due to expire, the employer must check documents again. This makes the service more useful as one part of a continuing compliance process than as a one-time hiring task.

Records and escalation

For manual checks, employers must record the check date and keep copies during employment and for two years after the person stops working. They must follow data protection law when copying and retaining those documents. In specified circumstances where an applicant cannot show documents or online immigration status, the employer must ask the Home Office to check. The Home Office can confirm the right to work with a Positive Verification Notice, which the employer must keep.

The page gives employers an enquiry helpline, open Monday to Thursday from 9am to 4:45pm and Friday from 9am to 4:30pm.

Pricing

The Right to work checking service plan costs nothing. It includes the online share-code check, with no stated usage limits. For employers handling eligible applicants, that makes it a straightforward no-cost option. The plan does not provide document capture, and a free check does not remove the need to handle manual checks, records or follow-ups where applicable.

Platforms

The service runs on the web. Employers access it from the GOV.UK page and enter the applicant’s details there.

Who it's for

This is a strong fit for UK employers who regularly check applicants with share codes and are prepared to manage manual and follow-up checks for other cases. Employers whose applicants are British or Irish citizens need a document check or an identity service provider instead. It is also a poor fit for teams seeking a single service that captures documents, since this check does not.

Pros and cons

Pros

• No check fee: the online service is free, with no stated usage cap.
• Useful result detail: employers see permitted work types and the end date for time-limited permission.
• Guidance for other duties: the employer’s guide covers manual documents, follow-up checks and record keeping.

Cons

• Share-code dependent: British and Irish citizens cannot use this route, so employers need another check method for them.
• No document capture: employers must use a separate process for manual document checks.
• Ongoing employer duties: time-limited permission requires follow-up checks, while manual checks bring record-keeping and data protection responsibilities.

Alternatives

Right To Work Checker is a web and API option for employers who want a published monthly quota and a Pro plan: its free plan allows 10 live checks a month with a hard stop, while Pro costs £14 a month for 100 live checks a month. E-Verify is a free web and API system for U.S. employers verifying newly hired employees, so it is the relevant alternative for U.S. hiring. Rightcheck has custom pricing and supports Android, iOS and web. Yoti Right to Work has unpublished pricing and supports Android, iOS, web and API. WorkRight has unpublished pricing; its Lite plan includes 50 monthly verifications, guided I-9 completion, document upload and storage, E-Verify management, audit trail records and remote completion workflows. Clear I-9 is a web service with unpublished pricing and a demo option. EmploymentCheck Right to Work Check offers a cloud service at £2.25, paid once and a Right to Work Check at £2.50, paid once. Experian Data Quality Solutions offers tailored pricing and a free trial for employers seeking a solution shaped to their budget and requirements. Browse Right to Work Verification Software for more options.

Verdict

Choose GOV.UK Right to Work Checking Service if you need a free, direct way to check applicants who can provide a share code, with results that clarify permitted work and time limits. Look elsewhere or add another checking route if you need document capture or must cover British and Irish applicants through the same process.