Three check methods
**Online check** — you provide a share code from your UKVI account. The employer enters this on gov.uk and sees your right-to-work status, conditions, and visa expiry. Most common for BRP holders and digital visa holders.
**Manual document check** — employer views and copies your passport, BRP, or other physical document. Still permitted for British/Irish citizens and those with physical BRP cards.
**Identity Document Validation Technology (IDVT) check** — employer uses a certified IDVT provider to verify a scanned document remotely. Useful for remote workers.
What the employer sees
An online right-to-work check shows: your name and photo, visa category, start and end date, work restrictions, sponsor employer if applicable. It does NOT show: salary, date of birth, immigration history, personal contact details.
The share code expires after 90 days and is single-use. You generate a fresh one for each employer from gov.uk/prove-right-to-work.
When the check happens
Before your first day. An employer cannot lawfully let you start work without a valid check on file. If your visa is approved but your BRP hasn't arrived, you can use a "30-day vignette" stamp in your passport as interim proof.
Ongoing checks: if your visa expires during employment, the employer must re-check before expiry.