Under the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, employers have to check your right to work in the UK. Employers can be fined up to ÂŁ20,000 per illegally employed employee or imprisoned for up to 5 years.
So whether youâre British or not, employers will ask you for proof of your right to work in the UK as part of the hiring process.
Are you an employer wondering how to check an employeeâs right to work in the UK? GOV.UK outlines the eligibility checking process for you.
There are several ways to prove your eligibility to work in the UK depending on your citizenship and immigration status
1. If youâre a British citizen
You can prove your right to work with one of the following:
- a valid or expired British passport
- your birth certificate AND an official letter from a government agency showing your National Insurance Number (for example, from His Majestyâs Revenue & Customs)
- your certificate of naturalisation as a British citizen AND an official letter from a government agency showing your National Insurance Number
Here’s what the nationality field of your passport should look like to prove your right to work in the UK:

2. If youâre an Irish citizen
You can prove your eligibility to work in the UK with one of the following:
- a valid or expired Irish passport OR a valid or expired Irish passport card
- your Irish birth certificate AND an official letter from a UK government agency showing your National Insurance Number
- a current Frontier Worker permit
3. If youâre an EEA/Swiss citizen whoâs been in the UK since before Brexit (31 December 2020 at 23:00)
As an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen whoâs successfully applied for Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you should get an online share code from UK Visas & Immigration and share it with your employer.
If youâve applied for Settled Status but havenât heard back yet, you can use your digital or physical Certificate of Application to prove your right to work in the United Kingdom.
4. If youâre anyone else
The documents you need to prove your eligibility to work will depend on your personal circumstances, nationality, and visa type.
You can find out which particular documents you need to use to prove your right to work by using the governmentâs right to work check tool.
The documents youâll need to supply may include your:
- passport with a valid visa or stamp inside
- Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) issued by the UK government
Are you a Ukrainian citizen without a passport or BRP? You can prove your right to work in the UK with a Form for Affixing a Visa (FAV) that has an entry clearance vignette sticker.
6 types of visas for working in the UK
If you donât currently have the right to work in the UK, here are some of the most common types of visas people use to come to the UK for work:
1. Graduate visa
The UKâs graduate visa allows you to work for up to 2 years (or 3 years if you have a PhD) if you graduated from a British university. Youâll be able to work in any role (including self-employed work) and you wonât need to make a particular salary to be eligible for this kind of visa.
However, you wonât have access to any public funds, such as Jobseekerâs Allowance, Housing Benefit, or Universal Credit.
2. Global talent visa
The global talent visa is for highly skilled workers in a particular field, such as engineering, the arts, and science. Youâll need to provide proof of your talents when you apply for this visa. For example, you can highlight exhibitions youâve held if youâre an artist.
Once you have this visa, youâll be able to work in any role (or be self-employed) for 5 years, and you wonât need to inform the government when you change work.
3. High potential individual visa
You can apply for a high potential individual visa if you graduated from an eligible globally ranked university in the past 5 years.
If youâre approved for this visa, the length of your stay in the UK depends on your degree level:
- Below PhD: 2 years
- PhD or equivalent: 3 years
4. Skilled worker visa
The skilled worker visa is another way of obtaining the right to work in the UK. You can get a skilled worker visa if you meet all the following requirements:
- are sponsored by an employer thatâs licenced to sponsor work visas
- do a job thatâs on the job shortage list
- make a specified minimum salary
- provide proof that you speak English to a level set by the government
Your skilled worker visa can last for up to 5 years. You canât switch jobs without getting sponsored for a new skilled worker visa by your new employer. You also wonât be eligible to access public funds.
5. Working holiday visa
A youth mobility scheme visa is better known as a working holiday visa. You can apply for a visa valid for up to 2 years if youâre between 18 and 30 years old (or a New Zealander between 18 and 35 years old).
Once you have your visa, you can:
- study in the UK
- work
- be self-employed
You canât extend your stay or use public funds. The working holiday visa is only available if you have one of the following passports:
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Monaco
- Canada
- Iceland
- San Marino
- Hong Kong
- Japan
- Taiwan
- South Korea
- Uruguay
- Andorra
- British Overseas Citizen
- British Overseas Territories Citizen
- British National (Overseas)
Although you should leave your nationality off when you make a CV and build a cover letter, it can be handy to note ‘Right to work in the UK’ near your contact details.
* If you’re from New Zealand, Australia, or Canada, you may be eligible to extend your visa for a third year.
6. India young professionals scheme visa
Are you an Indian citizen between 18 and 30 years old? You may be eligible for an India young professionals scheme visa â but first youâll need to enter an India young professionals ballot.
If your visa ballot and application are approved, youâll be able to work in the UK for up to 2 years.