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UK Recruitment Glossary

Right to Work

Alex By Alex · 12-year UK recruiter · Updated April 2026

In recruiter context

Every UK employer must verify your right to work before your first day, by law. UK and Irish citizens prove it with a passport. Other nationals usually have a share code (from the gov.uk view-and-prove service) tied to their visa or settled status. Employers face fines up to £45,000 per worker for not checking, so they don't skip this — even a one-day delay in producing your share code can delay your start date. Generate your code well before your interview, not on day one. If your visa is sponsorship-dependent, confirm the new employer holds a valid sponsor licence before resigning your current role.

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