Right-to-Work Verification

What documents count for a right-to-work check?

That depends entirely on the country and the worker's status. It can range from a passport or national ID for citizens, to a visa or residence permit for non-citizens, to a government-issued online share code that the employer verifies digitally. Each jurisdiction sets its own accepted-document list and record-keeping rules, so a check valid in one country will not automatically satisfy another.

What happens if an employer skips the check?

The employer loses its legal defence and becomes exposed to enforcement. In the UK, for example, an employer without a valid check faces a civil penalty for each worker found to be working illegally, and can face criminal charges where it knew or had reasonable cause to believe the person lacked permission. The worker's employment may also be void.

Who runs the check when you hire through an Employer of Record?

The Employer of Record does, because it is the registered legal employer in the country of hire. As part of onboarding, it collects and verifies the worker's documents, records the check to the local standard, and only then activates the person in payroll. You still choose and manage the worker; the compliance step sits with the legal employer.

Frequently asked questions

• Is right-to-work verification the same in every country?+

  No. Every country sets its own rules on which documents are acceptable, how the check must be recorded, and how often it has to be repeated for time-limited permissions. The underlying duty, confirming legal permission to work before employment starts, is common, but the mechanics and penalties differ from one jurisdiction to the next.
• When does the check need to be completed?+

  Before the worker's first day and before they are added to payroll. Verifying legal status after someone has already started leaves a gap during which the employment may be unlawful. For workers with time-limited permission, the employer usually also has to schedule a follow-up check before that permission expires.
• Does hiring a contractor remove the need for a check?+

  Not reliably. If a contractor is later found to be a de facto employee, the engaging business can inherit the same obligations it tried to avoid, including work-authorisation duties. Treating classification as a shortcut around right-to-work rules is risky, and many jurisdictions still expect status checks for certain contractor arrangements.
• Can an Employer of Record sponsor a visa as part of this?+

  In some countries, yes. Where the Employer of Record is the registered legal employer, it may hold or sponsor the worker's permit or residence visa under its own local registration. This is separate from the verification check itself, and availability depends on the country and the specific route.

Related terms

• Work Authorization & Visa Sponsorship
• Work permit
• Employee onboarding
• Worker misclassification