Eligibility to work in the UK
The UK government wants to introduce an Immigration Bill. They are bringing in a firm and fair point-based system with the intention of attracting high-skilled workers. The UK government is looking for people to contribute to their economy, communities and public services. At the same time creating a high wage, high-skill and high productivity economy.
Even after the UK leaving the European Union, they continue to employ people of other nationalities. So, you need to ensure that you have eligibility to work in the United Kingdom.
- Firstly, your eligibility to work depends on your right to work in the UK.
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- UK’s citizens and Irish nationals can work in the UK without any restrictions.
- Anyone from outside the UK and Ireland must have their visa and work permit.
To prove your eligibility to work, you have to share details of your right to work in the UK first. This includes sharing information about these –
- The types of jobs you’re allowed to do.
- How long you can work in the UK for.
A potential employee will also have to confirm their date of birth and show the right to work share code to the employer. In case they don’t have their right to work share code, they can show original documents.
Employers must remember the following –
- An employer could face a civil penalty if they employ an illegal worker and have not carried out a correct right to work check.
- An employer must not discriminate against anyone because of where they’re from.
What is a work permit?
A work permit refers to permission to take a job within a foreign country. It is a legal document stating that you have the right to hold a job. This is also known as a work visa.
British citizens are eligible to work in the UK, and they don’t need a work permit. Similarly, Irish nationals do not need a work permit, but they can still apply for a UK Frontier work permit. However, there are certain rules and restrictions for others. For example, one can not be self-employed on a student visa and can not work on specific jobs.
Right to Work Documents
You will need to prove your right to work in uk to an employer or other authorities in some instances. Therefore, you should have these documents ready before you start working in the UK.
You will need one of the followings to prove your right to work in the UK:
- Biometric residence permit number
- Biometric residence card number
- Passport or national identity card
You can continue to use your passport or national identity card to prove you can work in the UK until 30 June 2021, if you are a –
- Citizen of European Union member states
- Citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA)
- Swiss citizen
Moreover, if you are a citizen of any of these countries, you might be asked to prove your right to get a job after 30 June 2021.
The UK government has provided a handy tool to check if a document allows someone to work in the UK. If you are an employer, you can check this employer’s guide to acceptable right to work documents. As an employer, you must know about a job applicant’s right to work details before employing them.
Right to work in the UK checklist
You can find the government provided checklist containing the right to work in the UK here in pdf format. You can also print out a copy of the Right to Work Checklist.
Closing Notes on Right to Work in the UK
After the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union, a lot of rules have changed. So before deciding to work or live in the United Kingdom, one must know about these rules. Moreover, getting the right documents and registering can prevent future misunderstandings or challenges. If you still have any confusions or questions, you can check out UK Employment Law. This will give you any additional info you might need, and expert instructors will guide you along. Also, you can take advice from experts in the field.