Understanding Right to Work requirements

The way in which Biometric Residence Card (BRC), Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

and Frontier Worker Permit (FWP) holders evidence their right to work has changed.

Since 6 April 2022, BRC, BRP and FWP holders are required to evidence their right

to work using the Home Office online service only.

Employers cannot accept physical cards for the purposes of a right to work check

even if it shows a later expiry date. BRCs, BRPs and FWPs have been removed from

the lists of acceptable documents used to conduct a manual right to work check.

Recent immigrants in the United Kingdom will need to acquire a Biometric

Residence Permit (BRP) as one of their post-arrival requirements.

The following categories of immigrants will typically be granted a BRP in the UK:

Anyone who is pursuing long-term stay in the UK (i.e. attempting to stay over half a year).
Anyone who currently holds a visa allowing them to stay in the country for under six months who is attempting to extend that visa in order to stay over six months.
Those who are moving their visa from an expired travel document to a current passport.
Those who are looking to apply to settle in the UK.
Applicants for specific travel documents from the Home Office.

BRPs are different from biometric residence cards (BRCs). BRCs are also called ‘UK

residence cards’. You might have one if you’re in the UK as a family member of

someone from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein. BRCs have

‘residence card’ printed on them.

BRP holders must still collect their card, but they prove their right to work using the

Home Office online service rather than showing the physical document.

Candidates with an BRP can obtain a share code here: Prove your right to work to an

If you are unsure as to what documents you can accept for right to work, you can