Right to work
Entitlement to work or immigration status for individual applicants and individual partnerships that are not limited liability partnerships
A licence may not be issued to an individual or an individual in a partnership which is not a limited liability partnership who is resident in the UK who:
- does not have the right to live and work in the UK
- is subject to a condition preventing him or her from doing work relating to the carrying on of a licensable activity
Any licence issued in respect of an application made on or after 6 April 2017 will become invalid if the holder ceases to be entitled to work in the UK.
Applicants must demonstrate that they have the right to work in the UK and are not subject to a condition preventing them from doing work relating to the carrying on of a licensable activity. They do this in one of two ways:
- by providing with their application copies or scanned copies of the documents which an applicant may provide to demonstrate their entitlement to work in the UK (which do not need to be certified). Guidance on right to work is available under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003
- by providing their ‘share code’ to enable the authority to carry out a check using the Home Office online right to work checking service
Home Office online right to work checking service
Applicants may demonstrate their right to work without giving a copy of their original documents by allowing the licensing to conduct a check using the Home Office online right to work checking service.
Applicants should include their 9-digit share code (given when accessing the checking service online) in their application to demonstrate their right to work, which, together with the applicant's date of birth, this will allow the authority to carry out the check.
In order to establish the applicant’s right to work, the check will need to indicate that the applicant is allowed to work in the United Kingdom and is not subject to a condition preventing them from doing work relating to the carrying on of a licensable activity.
An online check will not be possible in all circumstances because not all applicants will have an immigration status that can be checked online. The Home Office online right to work checking service sets out what information and/or documentation applicants will need in order to access the service. Applicants who are unable to obtain a share code from the service should submit copy documents as set out above.
As part of your licence application, we will verify your right to work, which may include checking your immigration status with the Home Office. Otherwise, we may also share information with the Home Office. Your licence application will not be considered until you have followed this guidance.
