Do Employers Need to Meet Applicants Face to Face for UK Right to Work Checks?

If the candidate provides a valid (in-date) British or Irish passport that has been checked via Zinc, **you do not need to hold the original document to complete the check.** However, as the employer, you must ensure that: - The photograph and biographic details (e.g., date of birth) on the Zinc report match the individual presenting themselves for work. - The information provided by the check corresponds to the individual and that they are not an imposter. ## What if the candidate provides something else, like an expired UK passport or a birth certificate? **Note:** The guidance below applies to Right to Work checks only. If you are asking about a DBS identity check, different rules apply — an expired passport cannot be accepted under any circumstances for a DBS identity check. See [What Documents Do I Need for an Identity Check?](https://help.zincwork.com/hc/hm54ky7yrc/article/2c3242ed-what-documents-do-i-need-for-a-dbs-identity-check) for DBS-specific guidance. Yes, to obtain **full statutory excuse** you must meet applicants face-to-face to inspect their documents if they use **any of the following** to prove their right to work: - An expired British or Irish passport. - A birth or adoption certificate issued in the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands, or Isle of Man, along with proof of their National Insurance number. - A Certificate of Registration or Naturalisation as a British citizen, along with proof of their National Insurance number. - If the candidate doesn’t have an immigration status that can be verified online through a Share Code. You must be in physical possession of the original documents to verify their validity. This verification must be conducted in the presence of the document holder. The meeting can take place either in person or via a live video link. However, simply viewing the documents over a live video link, fax, or scanned copy is **not** sufficient. You must have the original documents with you during the verification process. You can find out more on this process [here](https://help.zincwork.com/hc/hm54ky7yrc/article/dd0e3f80-interpret-your-candidates-uk-right-to-work-results-on-zinc). For additional details, see the Employer’s Guide to Right to Work Checks by the UK Home Office: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/right-to-work-checks-employers-guide/employers-guide-to-right-to-work-checks-23-september-2024-accessible-version#annex-c-digital-identity-verification---guidance-for-employers-and-identify-service-providers-idsps