Face-to-face right to work checks to resume from 1 September 2021
21 June 2021
The Home Office has confirmed that face-to-face right to work checks and the checking of physical documents will now resume from 1 September 2021.
The physical checks were due to begin again from 21 June 2021, in line with previous lockdown restriction easement dates, but this has been delayed due to the Government’s announcement on 14 June 2021 confirming the extension of easement dates. It is hoped that by resuming face-to-face checks from a later date, organisations will have sufficient time to prepare for the changes and to put appropriate measures in place to allow for safe face-to-face document checks.
This will be welcome news for businesses who were calling for face-to-face checks to recommence from a later date. There are, however, many businesses who maintain that a permanent digital right-to-work check service should be set up, and that there should be no requirement for physical right to work document checks in the future.
What the latest news means is that, until 1 September 2021, right to work checks can still be carried out via video call. Similarly, both job applicants and current workers will be able to provide scanned documents or photos of documents through email or by mobile apps until the same date. Where individuals cannot provide any of those documents, employers should make use of the Employer Checking Service.
CIPP comment
What has your experience of right to work checks been throughout the pandemic? Has the change to process made things easier, or has it caused complications? Do you think a permanent digital right to work check service should be implemented? The Policy team wants to hear from you – get in touch, at [email protected].
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