Home Office U-turn on coronavirus right to work checks

The Home Office have published a further update on right to work checks on 12 May 2021 making a complete U-turn in expecting employers to obtain physical documents such as a passport and/or BRP card to be sent for right to work checks for new hires.

Updated advice for employers carrying out right to work checks during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

The following temporary changes were made on 30 March 2020 and will now remain in place until 20 June 2021 (inclusive):

• Right to work checks can be carried out over video calls;
• Job applicants and existing workers can send scanned documents or a photo of documents for checks using email or a mobile app, rather than sending originals;
• Employers should use the Employer Checking Service if a prospective or existing employee cannot provide any of the accepted documents.

Checking an individual’s right to work using the temporary COVID-19 adjusted check measures

Up to and including 20 June 2021, if you are carrying out a temporary adjusted check, you must:

• Ask the worker to submit a scanned copy or a photo of their original documents via email or using a mobile app;
• Arrange a video call with the worker – ask them to hold up the original documents to the camera and check them against the digital copy of the documents, record the date you made the check and mark it as “adjusted check undertaken on [insert date] due to COVID-19”;
• If the worker has a current Biometric Residence Permit or Biometric Residence Card, or has been granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme or the points-based immigration system, you can use the online right to work checking service while doing a video call – the applicant must give you permission to view their details.

Opposition to the introduction of physical right to work checks has paid off with the Home Office delaying this requirement to at least after 20 June 2021. For many employers who will have made arrangements to get their HR teams and others safely into the office to conduct in-person (if socially distanced) right to work checks, this will no longer be required.

This article has been produced for general information purposes and further advice should be sought from a professional advisor. Please contact our Business and Private Immigration team at Cleaver Fulton Rankin for further advice or information.

---