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Right to work checks

Get to grips with how to carry out these required pre-employment checks to verify a person's right to work in the UK.

Last reviewed on 19 February 2025See updates
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 11413
Contents
  1. You must carry out these checks
  2. Checks for British and Irish citizens
  3. Checks for overseas (including EU) nationals
  4. Storing copies of evidence

You must carry out these checks

As part of pre-employment checks for all staff employed by your school, you must verify a person's right to work in the UK. This includes British and Irish nationals, as well as overseas and EU nationals.

This is set out on GOV.UK's page on proving your right to work to an employer.

Checks for British and Irish citizens

You can check their:

  • British passport
  • Irish passport or passport card

These can be expired, but can't be 'clipped'.

If they don't have a passport or passport card, they can give you:

  • A UK birth or adoption certificate
  • An Irish birth or adoption certificate
  • A certificate of registration or naturalisation as a British citizen

You may also use an identity service