Introduction
UK Right to Work Scheme Changes 2026: Significant changes to the UK’s Right to Work Scheme will come into effect from 1 October 2026, bringing new legal responsibilities for employers, recruitment businesses, contractors, and digital labour platforms. These reforms expand the scope of right to work checks beyond traditional employment relationships and introduce stricter compliance requirements across contractual supply chains.
The changes are designed to strengthen immigration compliance, increase employer accountability, and reduce illegal working. To help businesses prepare, the Home Office is offering a series of free online information sessions explaining the upcoming reforms and how employers can remain compliant.
Important Update for UK Employers and Employees: Right to Work Scheme from Oct 1 – Book Your Sessions
Significant changes to the UK’s Right to Work Scheme will be introduced from 1 October 2026, which will impact how companies must conduct right-to-work checks and meet their legal requirements.
New immigration law amendments will come into force from 1 October, the government revealed, broadening employers’ duty to verify personnel have a right to work from traditional employment positions to workers’ contracts, individual subcontractors and internet job-matching services.
The changes mean companies employing zero-hour, gig and agency staff and firms operating platforms to match freelancers to clients will have to carry out right to work checks – with a requirement for digital checks to be carried out through a certified and registered digital verification service provider.
The new regime includes the extending of civil penalty liability up contractual chains. This means that enterprises will be accountable even if the job is subcontracted to a third party which then subcontracts to another party. That would mean firms would be liable even if they had no direct interaction with an individual or knew that person was working.
Hiring someone who does not have the right to work in the UK can lead to civil penalties of up to £60,000 per worker.
Home Office Free Information Sessions
To help employers prepare, the Home Office is holding a series of free information sessions on the imminent reforms, including:
- ✅ Amendments to the Right to Work Regime
- ✅ eVisas and Immigration digital status
- ✅ How to do right to work checks in a compliant way
- ✅ Repeat checks: when to do them
- ✅ Employer compliance, record keeping and avoidance of civil fines
Sessions will also include the growing usage of digital immigration status and online checking services and how companies may carry out compliant right to work checks to ensure they are meeting their legal obligations.
Who Should Attend?
The courses will be for UK companies of any size and any sector, HR professionals, recruitment teams, staff carrying out right to work checks, and anybody involved in workforce compliance and onboarding processes.
What is this Session About?
The event will offer clear and pragmatic insight on:
Right to Work Scheme Adjustments
Right to Work Scheme adjustments — current and impending revisions following the public consultation which closed in December 2025 and what these changes mean for employers in practice.
Digital Immigration Status and eVisas
Digital immigration status and eVisas – the transition from expiring Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs), greater usage of online right to work checks and which documents remain acceptable evidence of a right to work.
Compliance Right to Work Checks
How to execute a compliance right to work check appropriately to establish and maintain a statutory excuse, including when employers should use the Employer Checking Service.
Repeat Right to Work Checks
Repeat checks: when to do a repeat check for those having time-limited permit to work in the UK.
Compliance and Enforcement
Compliance and enforcement – how to prevent illegal working and avoid unlawful discrimination, keep adequate documents and reduce the danger of a civil penalty.
Sign Up for an Event
All sessions will be online and will cover the same subject, so you only need to attend one session.
Key Takeaways
- New Right to Work Scheme rules begin on 1 October 2026.
- Employers will have wider legal responsibilities covering contractors, subcontractors, gig workers and online labour platforms.
- Digital right to work checks will become increasingly important.
- Businesses can face civil penalties of up to £60,000 per illegal worker.
- Free Home Office information sessions are available to help employers understand and prepare for the changes.
Conclusion
The upcoming changes to the UK Right to Work Scheme represent one of the most significant employer compliance updates in recent years. Organisations should review their recruitment processes, right to work checking procedures, contractor arrangements, and record-keeping systems ahead of 1 October 2026. Attending one of the Home Office’s free online sessions can help employers understand the new requirements and ensure continued compliance with UK immigration law.