Digital Right to Work Checks are a method of verifying an applicant’s right to work status by using Identity Document Validation Technology (IDVT) to match the identity of the applicant without the need for the employer to be physically present.
On 6 April 2022, the UK Government updated the guidance around Right to Work checks and launched the Digital Right to Work Scheme enabling employers to conduct digital right to work checks through a certified Identity Service Provider (IDSP).
This means that employers no longer need a hiring manager to verify the identity of their new starters in person, but can instead rely on purpose-built technology to handle right to work checks as a way of establishing a statutory excuse.
What are the benefits of Digital Right to Work Checks?
With remote working on the rise and candidate scarcity proving a challenge for employers across the UK, digital right to work checks offer a way to speed up time-to-hire and reduce the stress associated with background checking. If you are interested in adopting digital right to work checks as part of your end-to-end recruitment process, here are the key benefits:
Employers don’t need to be physically present when conducting Right to Work checks. This significantly speeds up the process and reduces stress for both parties.
Digital right to work checks reduce the risk of non-compliance by providing a consistent and secure method of verifying right to work status.
They are automated meaning human error is eliminated.
The costs of recruitment are lower as the time spent conducting checks is reduced.
They enable employers to hire remote staff more seamlessly.
How do Digital Right to Work Checks work?
For applicants with UK & Irish biometric passports, digital right to work checks simply require the applicant to take digital photos of their face and identity document (normally their passport). The technology then uses artificial intelligence to match the individual with their document and verify their right to work status. All of this can be done fully remotely and the entire process typically takes between 5 minutes and 1 hour to complete.
The process for applicants with a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account is somewhat different. In this case, applicants can prove their right to work by generating a share code through the ‘View and Prove’ service in their UKVI account. Employers will then need to access the Home Office’s online checking service and input the share code to verify the applicant’s Right to Work status.
If you would like to learn more about how VettingGateway can help you get started with digital right to work checks, click the button below to get in touch.