Right to work information for job applicants

The University must ensure that all their employees have a valid ‘right to work’ (RTW) in the UK before they start work. As part of that process, the University requests that before you start work, normally at interview stage, you provide details of your RTW.

If you do not currently have the ‘right to work’ (RTW) in the UK, please let your HR contact know this and either your plans in obtaining a work visa before the role you have applied for starts, or (if the role you are applying for is sponsorable) that you require the University to assist you in applying for a Skilled Worker visa (or in certain circumstances, a Global Talent visa).

For more information see the Staff Immigration Team's guidance on Skilled Worker or Global Talent visas.

Providing details of your right to work

The method used to show you have a valid RTW depends on the type of document you are relying on.

Option 1: A physical document showing RTW

If you have a British or Irish Passport or other form of printed document (please see expanded lists below for all documents which are acceptable), please bring this original documentation with you when attending the interview.

Should you not be the preferred candidate after interview, all copies taken of your RTW will be deleted/ confidentially destroyed.

  • A passport (current or expired) showing the holder, or a person named in the passport as the child of the holder, is a British citizen or a citizen of the UK and Colonies having the right of abode in the UK. A passport or passport card (current or expired) showing that the holder is a national of the republic of Ireland.
  • A current document issued by the Home Office to a family member of an EEA or Swiss citizen, and which indicates that the holder is permitted to stay in the UK indefinitely.
  • A document issued by the Bailiwick of Jersey, the Bailiwick of Guernsey or the Isle of Man showing that the holder has been granted unlimited leave to enter or remain (this will then require the University to use by the Home Office Employer Checking Service)
  • A current Biometric Immigration Document (Biometric Residence Permit) issued by the Home Office to the holder indicating that the person named is allowed to stay indefinitely in the UK, or has no time limit on their stay in the UK.
  • A current passport endorsed to show that the holder is exempt from immigration control, is allowed to stay indefinitely in the UK, has the right of abode in the UK, or has no time limit on their stay in the UK.
  • A current Immigration Status Document issued by the Home Office to the holder with an endorsement indicating that the named person is allowed to stay indefinitely in the UK or has no time limit on their stay in the UK, together with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance number and their name issued by a government agency or a previous employer.
  • A birth (short or long) or adoption certificate issued in the UK, together with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance number and their name issued by a Government agency or a previous employer.
  • A birth (short or long) or adoption certificate issued in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or Ireland, together with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance number and their name issued by a Government agency or a previous employer.
  • A certificate of Registration or Naturalisation as a British citizen, together with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance number and their name issued by a Government agency or a previous employer.

  • A current passport endorsed to show that the holder is allowed to stay in the UK and is currently allowed to do the type of work in question.
  • A current Biometric Immigration Document (Biometric Residence Permit) issued by the Home Office to the holder which indicates that the named person can currently stay in the UK and is allowed to do the work in question.
  • A current document issued by the Home Office to a family member of an EEA or Swiss citizen, and which indicates that the holder is permitted to stay in the UK for a time limited period and to do the type of work in question.
  • A document issued by the Bailiwick of Jersey, the Bailiwick of Guernsey or the Isle of Man showing that the holder has been granted limited leave to enter or remain or has made an application for leave to enter or remain (this will then require the University to use by the Home Office Employer Checking Service)
  • A current immigration status document containing a photograph issued by the Home Office to the holder with a valid endorsement indicating that the named person may stay in the UK, and is allowed to do the type of work in question, together with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance number and their name issued by a Government agency or a previous employer.
  • An Application Registration Card issued by the Home Office stating that the holder is permitted to take the employment in question (this will then require the University to use by the Home Office Employer Checking Service)

Option 2: Showing RTW online by providing a 'share code' and your date of birth

If you have EU/EEA Pre-Settled or Settled Status, a Biometric Residence Permit or certain other electronic visas your 'right to work' RTW will instead be viewed online (please see list below of who can use the Home Office's online RTW portals). Please use the relevant link following to obtain a ‘share code’ no more than ten days before interview which can then be provided with your date of birth to your HR contact.

Once used and should you not be the preferred candidate after interview, the share code and your date of birth will be deleted.

  • Those with Pre-Settled or Settled status and EU/EEA and Swiss nationals (who do not have a Biometric Residence Permit BRP) use the Home Office’s ‘prove your immigration status’ page to obtain a share code.
  • Those who have a BRP instead use Home Office’s ‘prove your right to work’ page to obtain a share code.

These Home Office online RTW portals can only be used by individuals with:

  • Status issued under the EU Settlement Scheme (i.e. Pre-Settled or Settled status)
  • A Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) card
  • EU/EEA and Swiss nationals who have been granted a UK visa (who will have been issued an electronic immigration status instead of a vignette or BRP)
  • EU/EEA and Swiss nationals who have a Frontier Worker Permit
  • A Graduate visa holder who may have been issued with an electronic immigration status instead of a BRP