U-turn in Home Office policy

Temporary Covid-19 adjusted right to work checks remain in place until 20 June 2021

Following lobbying from immigration practitioners, employers and various employment groups, the Home Office has confirmed today (12 May 2021) that temporary Covid-19 adjusted right to work checks will now end on 20 June 2021 (inclusive).

What do you need to know?

Retrospective checks don’t need to be carried out on those who had a Covid-19 adjusted check between 30 March 2020 and 20 June 2021 (inclusive).

• Up to and including 20 June 2021, checks can continue to be carried out over video call, with scanned copies or photos of an individual’s right to work in the UK being submitted via email or a mobile app. The document checker doesn’t need to physically hold the original document(s). Employers should use the Employer Checking Service if a prospective or existing employee can’t provide acceptable document(s).

• Retrospective checks don’t need to be carried out on those who had a Covid-19 adjusted check between 30 March 2020 and 20 June 2021 (inclusive).

• From 21 June 2021, employers must either check original acceptable document(s) via a manual in-person right to work check (the document checker will need to physically hold the original document(s) and carry out the check either in the physical presence of the document holder or via a live video link) or check their right to work online using their share code, if applicable, via the Home Office’s online right to work checking service.

Are these changes welcome news?

With many employers still working remotely, this latest announcement will come as a big relief.

As employers have found the adjusted right to work check quicker and easier to manage from an administrative perspective, we’re hoping that digital checks remain in force for the future. Watch this space.