Since April 2022, digital Right to Work checks have been available through the Home Office online checking service. Identity Service Providers (IDSPs) can verify British and Irish citizens digitally.
This was a step forward. But for most agencies, the process around the check is still manual.
The difference between digitisation and automation
A digital check means you can verify a share code online instead of inspecting a physical document. That’s digitisation.
Automation means the entire workflow — from requesting the share code to validating the result to updating the compliance record — happens without manual intervention.
Most agencies have digitised the check. Almost none have automated the process.
Where the manual work remains
Requesting share codes. Candidates need to generate a share code from the Home Office service. Someone has to explain the process, send the link, and chase when it doesn’t arrive.
Validating results. The online check returns a result, but someone still needs to review it, confirm it matches the candidate’s details, and record the outcome.
Tracking time-limited permissions. Candidates with visas or limited leave have Right to Work that expires. Tracking these dates and re-checking before expiry is a continuous obligation.
Handling exceptions. Not every candidate fits the digital pathway. Manual document checks are still required for some nationalities and document types.
What full automation looks like
A fully automated process handles the standard path end to end: request, validate, record, monitor. The compliance team only gets involved when something falls outside the standard path.
That’s not replacing human oversight. It’s focusing it where it’s actually needed.