Right-to-work checkWhat it means, in plain English

A right-to-work check is the verification a UK employer must complete before someone starts work to confirm they are legally allowed to work in the UK. Depending on the person's status it is done via the Home Office online service with a share code, a manual check of original documents, or certified Identity Document Validation Technology for British and Irish passport holders. A correctly performed and recorded check gives the employer a statutory excuse against a civil penalty for illegal working, which can run to tens of thousands of pounds per worker.