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ARTICLE · 15 APRIL 2026

Expanded Right To Work Checks May Go Live From 1 October 2026

Lewis Silkin
Lewis Silkin
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Lewis Silkin

Lewis Silkin

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The UK Home Office has published a draft code of practice signaling that expanded right to work check processes will take effect from October 1, 2026, requiring businesses to prepare...

United KingdomImmigration
Supinder Singh Sian
Supinder Singh Sian
Naomi Hanrahan-Soar
Naomi Hanrahan-Soar
Kathryn Denyer (Lewis Silkin LLP)
Kathryn Denyer (Lewis Silkin LLP)
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A new consultation document published by the Home Office indicates an intention to roll out expanded right to work check processes from 1 October 2026. If you are responsible for right to work compliance at your business, you may need to put resources in place over the summer to be able to operationalise expanded checking processes from this date. You should also ensure you understand the proposed revised obligations to avoid unlawful discrimination while preventing illegal working.

On 15 April 2026 the Home Office opened a consultation asking for stakeholder views on the wording of a draft code of practice for employers on avoiding unlawful discrimination while preventing illegal working.

The draft is stated to apply to all employment commencing on or after 1 October 2026, as well as to repeat checks on an existing worker, where this must be carried out on or after 1 October 2026 to retain a statutory excuse.

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