The Home Office confirmed in October 2026 that it will expand the list of certified Identity Service Providers (IDSPs) eligible to conduct digital right to work checks from January 2027. Employers who use a certified IDSP to verify a British or Irish citizen's right to work will have a statutory excuse against a civil penalty in the same way as a manual document check.
The change builds on the temporary COVID-era digital check scheme, which was made permanent in October 2022 under the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006. The digital route is currently restricted to British and Irish nationals with valid passports. From January 2027, it will also cover nationals of certain other nationalities whose biometric residence permits and e-visas can be verified through the Home Office online checking service.
Employers must check the Home Office online right to work checking service for employees whose leave is held digitally — they will no longer have physical documents to inspect. Failure to conduct the correct check before employment starts, or to carry out follow-up checks where leave is time-limited, can result in a civil penalty of up to £60,000 per illegal worker under the Immigration Act 2014. The ACAS employer guidance on pre-employment checks explains how right to work checks fit alongside other lawful pre-employment vetting requirements.