Why Right to Work Checks Get Delayed - 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid

Right to work checks are routine, but they still trip up a lot of foreign applicants. In many cases, the delay is not caused by the employer refusing to hire. It happens because something simple is missing, outdated or misunderstood.

If you want your application to move faster, it helps to know where the friction usually starts. These are five of the most common mistakes that slow things down.

1) Sending the wrong share code or forgetting your date of birth

This is one of the easiest mistakes to make and one of the most common. Many applicants send a share code and assume that is enough. It is not.

For an online right to work check, the employer normally needs:

• your share code
• your date of birth

Another common problem is using an old share code. If the code has expired, the employer cannot complete the check and will come back to you for a new one.

2) Not updating your UKVI account details

If you use an eVisa or digital immigration status, your UKVI account needs to match your current details. Problems often start when someone has renewed their passport, changed contact details, or lost access to the account they originally used.

That can create confusion during the check, especially if the employer is trying to verify a record that no longer matches the applicant’s current documents.

Before applying, make sure your account is accessible and your passport or travel document details are up to date.

3) Bringing the wrong proof of status

Not everyone proves their right to work in the same way. British and Irish citizens usually use a passport or passport card. Many other applicants now need to prove their status online.

A common mistake is assuming that any passport is enough on its own. In some cases it is not. Some applicants need to use online status, a share code, or a specific immigration document depending on their route and circumstances.

If you are unsure, check which method applies to your status before the employer asks. That alone can save days of back-and-forth messages.

4) Not checking whether your visa actually allows that job

Having permission to stay in the country is not always the same as having permission to do any job. Employers must check that you are allowed to carry out the work in question.

This matters especially if your permission is time-limited or has conditions attached to it. Students, for example, may face restrictions on hours. Some applicants are allowed to work, but only in certain circumstances or only up to a limit.

If you apply for a job that does not fit your conditions, the right to work check can stall even if your immigration status itself is valid.

5) Staying quiet when your case needs extra checking

Sometimes the delay is not your fault at all. You may have a pending application, an appeal, a technical problem with online status, or a document that requires extra Home Office confirmation.

In those situations, the employer may need to use the Employer Checking Service rather than the standard online route. If you know your case is not straightforward, say so early. That gives the employer a chance to take the correct path instead of assuming the process has failed.

Silence creates confusion. A quick explanation often saves a lot of time.

What applicants should do before they start applying

• check that you can access your UKVI account
• make sure your passport and personal details are current
• generate a fresh share code if needed
• know whether your immigration status has work restrictions
• flag any pending application or technical issue early

Summary

Right-to-work delays are often caused by small, avoidable mistakes rather than big legal problems. Missing details, expired share codes, outdated UKVI records and unclear work conditions are some of the biggest reasons checks slow down.

If you sort those things before you apply, you make life easier for the employer and improve your chances of moving through the process without unnecessary delays.