Property and construction businesses will need to adopt new digital right to work checks for British and Irish nationals or revert back to manual in-person checks from 1 October.
Global mobility and immigration advisers Vialto Partners says it will no longer be possible for the sector to rely on the virtual checks introduced by the Home Office under its ‘Covid-19 adjusted right to work checks’ concession, which will now be replaced by Identity Document Validation Technology (IDVT).
The Home Office wishes businesses to conduct right to work checks for British and Irish nationals via an authorised Identification Service Provider with accredited IDVT, although it will not be essential.
Lily Malekyazdi, a senior manager at Vialto Partners, said making the checks digital will speed them up, making them less cumbersome for employers and less disruptive for employees, particularly for businesses with large and multi-sited workforces.
She said: “Right to work checks exist to reduce the risk of employers employing staff that do not have the right to work in the UK. Traditionally, they would be conducted in person with an employer or HR adviser checking a passport or identity card.
“The Home Office had intended to move to online right to work checks in April this year but pushed back following delays in certifying technology providers. From 1 October, right to checks for British and Irish nationals must be done using Identification Validation Technology or they must revert back to the cumbersome process of manually checking and certifying original documents in person.
“The government would like employers to use a certified Identification Service Provider, saying it takes reassurance from the certification process and that employers should too. It will not, however, be essential.”
