Collection

Employers: illegal working penalties

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Part of: Immigration and borders
• Published: 22 January 2014
• Last updated: 5 September 2016, see all updates

Information to help employers prevent illegal working and understand the fines (civil penalties) they face when they employ illegal workers.

This collection includes documents about preventing illegal working and illegal working penalties for employers. It includes:

• guidance on preventing illegal working
• codes of practice for civil penalties and avoiding discrimination
• lists of employers that have been fined
• policy for publishing employers’ details

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If you’re reasonably satisfied that the worker has an outstanding application with the Home Office that was made before their previous leave expired or has an outstanding administrative review or appeal against a Home Office decision, you can get a Positive Verification Notice which confirms their right to work from the Employer Checking Service.

Guidance and codes of practice

1. Carry out a right to work check: a 3 step guide

   • 30 June 2016
   • Guidance

2. Right to work checklist

   • 26 November 2014
   • Guidance

3. Right to work checks: an employer's guide

   • 12 July 2016
   • Guidance

4. Acceptable right to work documents: an employer's guide

   • 1 June 2015
   • Guidance

5. Preventing illegal working: frequently asked questions

   • 12 May 2015
   • Guidance

6. Civil penalty scheme for illegal working: code of practice

   • 24 November 2014
   • Guidance

7. Avoiding discrimination while preventing illegal working: code of practice

   • 24 November 2014
   • Guidance

8. Illegal working civil penalties: an employer's guide

   • 29 July 2014
   • Guidance

9. Illegal working guidance for employers: Croatian nationals

   • 1 July 2013
   • Guidance

10. Employer civil penalties code of practice: Croatian nationals

    • 1 July 2013
    • Guidance

11. Preventing illegal working: guidance for employers, October 2013

    • 31 January 2014
    • Guidance

12. Preventing illegal working: code of practice, 2008

    • 16 February 2008
    • Guidance

13. Avoiding discrimination while preventing illegal working: code of practice, 2008

    • 16 May 2014
    • Guidance

14. Avoiding civil penalties: statutory excuse checksheet

    • 23 May 2014
    • Guidance

Penalties

1. Illegal working penalties: quarterly totals

   • 14 June 2017
   • Guidance

2. Illegal working penalties: Wales and the south-west

   • 14 June 2017
   • Guidance

3. Illegal working penalties: London and the south-east

   • 14 June 2017
   • Guidance

4. Illegal working penalties: the Midlands and east

   • 14 June 2017
   • Guidance

5. Illegal working penalties: north-east, Yorkshire and Humberside

   • 14 June 2017
   • Guidance

6. Illegal working penalties: Scotland and Northern Ireland

   • 14 June 2017
   • Guidance

7. Illegal working penalties: north-west

   • 14 June 2017
   • Guidance

Document information

Published: 22 January 2014

Updated: 5 September 2016

+ full page history

1. 5 September 2016 Updated illegal working penalties guidance.
2. 28 September 2015 Updated guidance
3. 24 November 2014 added link to new online employer checking service form
4. 23 May 2014 New guidance added to collection
5. 23 May 2014 Added Statutory Excuse Checksheet
6. 22 January 2014 First published.

From: UK Visas and Immigration

Part of: Immigration and borders