Right to Work report

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This is an introductory guide and overview for the Right to Work report.

You'll find API documentation separately.

Introduction

The Right to Work report will verify a person has the right to work in the UK. Onfido facilitates 2 ways to verify an applicant's right to work:

using copies of right to work documents
using a GOV.UK right to work share code

Documents

Applicants can upload copies of documents that would be accepted by the UK Home Office, based on up to date UK Visa and Immigration guidelines.

Onfido’s Right to Work report then analyses the provided documents to verify that they are genuine. Using our machine-readable algorithm, we compare details such as the date of birth and expiry date to ensure its validity. Our technology analyses the document image to validate its authenticity, and checks whether the document has been compromised, or recorded as lost or stolen.

Some applicants can also use a GOV.UK right to work share code to verify their right to work. Applicants using the share code process do not need to submit any documents for the Right to Work report. Instead the applicant can visit GOV.UK and retrieve a 9-digit share code to submit during the check.

Onfido's Right to Work report receives the share code from the applicant and verifies its validity, retrieving the evidence of the applicant's right to work from GOV.UK and returning this to you.

Applicant options

UK citizens

UK citizens must submit documents from one the following options:

Document requirements
Passport
UK birth certificate AND proof of national insurance number
UK adoption certificate AND proof of national insurance number
UK Certificate of Naturalisation (or Registration) AND proof of national insurance number

Irish citizens

Citizens of the Republic of Ireland must submit documents from one the following options:

Document requirements
Passport
Passport Card

Non-UK/Irish citizens

Non-UK/Irish citizens can either submit documents from one of the following options or, if they have a current Biometric Residence Permit or Card or status under the points-based immigration system, can submit a share code. EU/EEA/Swiss citizens who have status under the EU Settlement Scheme, must submit a GOV.UK right to work share code.

Document requirements
Biometric Residence Permit (or Biometric Residence Card) - cannot be expired
Passport AND visa within current passport - cannot be expired
UK Immigration Status Document AND proof of national insurance number
Home Office letter - must have been issued within the last 6 months
Application Registration Card - cannot be expired
Positive Verification Notice - cannot be expired

Additional documents

Depending on documents already provided, additional documents may be required for proof of a name change, student status, Tier 2 or Tier 5 visa status, or National Insurance number. Additional documents that may be required are detailed in the next sections.

Proof of name change

One of the following:

Marriage certificate
Divorce decree (absolute)
Deed poll
Adoption certificate

Tier 4 (General) student

Proof of term (and vacation) dates

Tier 2 and Tier 5 Permit visas

Certificate of Sponsorship

Proof of National Insurance number