Do I need to meet applicants face to face for right to work checks?

Yes, to obtain full statutory excuse you must meet applicants face-to-face to inspect their documents if they use any of the following to prove their right to work:

• An expired British or Irish passport.
• A birth or adoption certificate issued in the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands, or Isle of Man, along with proof of their National Insurance number.
• A Certificate of Registration or Naturalisation as a British citizen, along with proof of their National Insurance number.
• If the candidate doesn’t have an immigration status that can be verified online through a Share Code. 
  
  

You must be in physical possession of the original documents to verify their validity. This verification must be conducted in the presence of the document holder. The meeting can take place either in person or via a live video link.

However, simply viewing the documents over a live video link, fax, or scanned copy is not sufficient. You must have the original documents with you during the verification process.

For additional details, see the Employer’s Guide to Right to Work Checks by the UK Home Office.

What if the candidate provided a valid British or Irish passport?

If the candidate provides a valid (in-date) British or Irish passport that has been checked via an Identity Document Validation Technology (IDVT) provider, such as Zinc, you do not need to hold the original document.

However, as the employer, you must ensure that:

• The photograph and biographic details (e.g., date of birth) on the Zinc report match the individual presenting themselves for work.
• The information provided by the check corresponds to the individual and that they are not an imposter.