Right to Work and Right to Rent Schemes – update about the date for the resumption of physical document checks

The adjustments for online processing of right to work and right to rent checks, which were made due to COVID-19, will now continue until 30 September 2022 (inclusive). 

This follows the government's announcement enabling employers to use Identification Document Validation Technology (IDVT) to carry out digital checks on behalf of British and Irish citizens who hold a valid passport (or Irish passport card) from 6 April 2022. 

It has been decided to defer the date for the resumption of physical document checks to 1 October 2022. This will ensure employers and landlords have sufficient time to develop commercial relationships with identity service providers, make the necessary changes to the pre-employment and renting checking process and carry out responsible on-boarding of their chosen provider. 

From 1 October 2022, employers and landlords must check the prescribed documents in a normal way, as it was before introduction of COVID-19 restrictions.

Employers and landlords will maintain a defence against a civil penalty if the checks, undertaken between 30 March and 30 September 2022 (inclusive), were done online in the prescribed manner as per the Home Office guidance. However, any individual identified with no lawful immigration status in the UK may be liable to enforcement action.