From 6th April 2022, the Home Office is due to introduce a permanent digital Scheme enabling employers and recruiters to use certified Identity Service Providers (IDSPs) to conduct remote identity checks for Right to Work (RtW). Feedback on the temporary Covid-adjusted guidance which allows remote RtW checks was overwhelmingly positive, and representatives of businesses in many sectors called on the government to make the temporary measures a longer-term feature. So, this will be welcome news to many.
What does the new digital RtW scheme mean for you?
In April, temporary remote RtW checks using video calls are due to come to an end and be replaced instead by:
- A digital check Scheme for UK & Irish citizens with in-date biometric passports and all holders of eVisas
- A return to in-person checks on original documents for anyone else
- The removal of BRPs and BRCs from the list of acceptable RtW documents
A certified IDSP will be able to carry out digital identity verification on your behalf by obtaining eligible evidence of a prospective employee’s identity, checking that it is valid and belongs to the person who is claiming it.
If your business has decided to adopt remote or hybrid working on an ongoing basis, the use of IDSPs and Identification Document Validation Technology (IDVT) to conduct remote RtW checks will bring many benefits. Firstly, using IDVT reduces potential fraud and helps to identify fake documents. What’s more, the new digital Scheme removes the geographical barriers that a ‘traditional’ process presents to recruiters and employers. Digital checks will help you to quickly and safely recruit and onboard UK and Irish applicants who hold biometric passports without the need to see original documents, in the same way as you can currently check non-UK applicants via the Home Office online checking service
Whilst the announcement has been met with a broadly positive response, according to APSCO (the Association of Professional Staffing Companies) some businesses, particularly smaller organisations, may be concerned about the cost of digital RtW checks, and the potential difficulty of finding an affordable and trusted supplier before the new guidance comes into play.
Finding an accredited supplier
As the new digital Right to Work Scheme is due to be in place in just a few weeks, one of the first things you’ll need to do to prepare your business is to find an IDSP to work with. And the first question you’ll need to ask any provider is “how soon will you be accredited?” – because only an accredited IDSP can help you comply with the digital Scheme.
As it is a new process, no IDSPs have completed the certification yet but at TrustID, we’re working to achieve accreditation for our dedicated RtW solution in March, so that we can help you to conduct RtW checks with no disruption to your business. In the future, a full list of accredited IDSPs is expected to be published on the government’s site.
Only pay for what you need
If you wish to perform digital RtW checks under the new Scheme, you will have to pay an IDSP to perform the remote ID verification. However, if you offset the small per-check charge against the convenience that remote identity verification services offer, and the increased confidence you’ll gain from performing checks that align to the new requirements, we’re sure you’ll feel it’s a good investment. Consider an IDSP who offers RtW checks on pay-per-check basis – so you don’t need to worry about paying for more than you need. At TrustID, our user accounts also have no set-up fees or user license costs. What’s more, TrustID’s team of experts can get your account set up within hours and provide you with straightforward services that require very little training.
Find a partner you can trust
You will, of course, also want to know that conducting RtW checks under the new Scheme will be secure and robust. But you needn’t worry.
By analysing customer data over the past 18 months, we have proven that, with the right processes, remote checks are at least as secure as face-to-face checks. Our statistics showed no reduction in the detection of fraudulent identity documents during the Covid period of remote recruitment – proving that employees can share their documents remotely without increased risk of fraud.
By using an accredited IDSP, you can be confident that your RtW checks are thorough and compliant. At TrustID, we use a unique combination of technology and our industry-leading expert analyst team to confirm the validity of your candidate’s identity documents and establish their eligibility to work. Our expert team assesses thousands of identity documents and identifies fake documents every day. What’s more, we’re available between 08.00 and midnight seven days a week – so we can support you whenever you need us.
How can you find out more?
If you’d like to find out more about what the new Schemes mean, how you can make Right to Work checks after 6th April and how to prepare your business, why not join our free of charge webinar on 9th March? Register here: https://hubs.ly/Q014gCzq0.
