If you are applying for a job in the UK, you will need to provide evidence to prove that you have the right to live and work in the UK. Having the right documentation is a crucial part of the application process, therefore, if you do not possess the right evidence then it is likely that your application will be refused by the employer.
When applying for a job, your prospective employer will ask for copies of your right to work documents which will then be dealt with in a secure and confidential manner.
Right to work in the UK
A person is eligible to work in the UK if they are:
- A British Citizen
- A citizen of a country in the European Economic Area (EEA), with the exception of Croatia
- A Swiss national
Countries in the EEA
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
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- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
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- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- UK
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Anyone currently living outside the EEA will need to apply for a UK entry clearance or general working visa for the right to work in the UK. The type of working visa you apply for will depend upon your skills and qualifications, the job you have been offered, whether you want to bring your family with you and what you’ll be doing i.e sporting, charitable or religious work. If you wish to set up a business in the UK then this must be done through an Entrepreneur visa or a Graduate Entrepreneur visa. When applying for a job, the employer should not discriminate against you based on whether you have the right to work or not. However, if you do not it can often be harder to find a job as the visa application process can be lengthy.
Acceptable documents for proving your right to work in the UK
In order to prove your eligibility to work in the UK, you must provide one of the following from list 1 or a combination from list 2 or 3.
List 1
- A passport showing the holder, or a person named in the passport as the child of the holder, is a British citizen or a citizen of the UK and Colonies having the right of abode in the UK.
- A passport or national identity card showing the holder, or a person named in the passport as the child of the holder, is a national of a European Economic Area country or Switzerland.
- A Registration Certificate or Document Certifying Permanent Residence issued by the Home Office, to a national of a European Economic Area country or Switzerland.
- A Permanent Residence Card issued by the Home Office, to the family member of a national of a European Economic Area country or Switzerland.
- A current Biometric Immigration Document (Biometric Residence Permit) issued by the Home Office to the holder indicating that the person named is allowed to stay indefinitely in the UK or has no time limit on their stay in the UK.
- A current passport endorsed to show that the holder is exempt from immigration control, is allowed to stay indefinitely in the UK, has the right of abode in the UK, or has no time limit on their stay in the UK.
- A current Immigration Status Document issued by the Home Office to the holder with an endorsement indicating that the named person is allowed to stay indefinitely in the UK or has no time limit on their stay in the UK, together with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance number and their name issued by a Government agency or a previous employer.
- A birth (short or long) or adoption certificate issued in the UK, together with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance number and their name issued by a Government agency or a previous employer.
- A birth (short or long) or adoption certificate issued in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or Ireland, together with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance number and their name issued by a Government agency or a previous employer.
- A certificate of registration or naturalisation as a British citizen, together with an official document giving the person’s per
List 2
- A current passport endorsed to show that the holder is allowed to stay in the UK and is currently allowed to do the type of work in question.
- A current Biometric Immigration Document (Biometric Residence Permit) issued by the Home Office to the holder which indicates that the named person can currently stay in the UK and is allowed to do the work in question.
- A current Residence Card (including an Accession Residence Card or a Derivative Residence Card) issued by the Home Office to a non-European Economic Area national who is a family member of a national of a European Economic Area country or Switzerland or who has a derivative right of residence.
- A current Immigration Status Document containing a photograph issued by the Home Office to the holder with a valid endorsement indicating that the named person may stay in the UK, and is allowed to do the type of work in question, together with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance number and their name issued by a Government agency or a previous employer.
List 3
- A Certificate of Application issued by the Home Office under regulation 17(3) or 18A (2) of the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006, to a family member of a national of a European Economic Area country or Switzerland stating that the holder is permitted to take employment which is less than 6 months old together with a Positive Verification Notice from the Home Office Employer Checking Service.
- An Application Registration Card issued by the Home Office stating that the holder is permitted to take the employment in question, together with a Positive Verification Notice from the Home Office Employer Checking Service.
- A Positive Verification Notice issued by the Home Office Employer Checking Service to the employer or prospective employer, which indicates that the named person may stay in the UK and is permitted to do the work in question.
Work Permit
Once you have secured a job in the UK and proved your right to work, your employer must apply for your work permit. Employers need a sponsor licence to bring workers into the country from outside the EEA. They will be checked out by the UK Border Agency and will have to sign up to certain duties. They shouldn't apply more than six months or less than four weeks before the permit is needed.
The documentation you'll need includes:
- A passport issued in your country of origin
- Your birth certificate
- Proof of your qualifications and references
- Copies of any previous work permits
- Your entry visa
For more information on moving to the UK and the type of visas available, feel free to contact us today and speak to one of our advisors. ...
