Preventing illegal working

This section explains why we take action to prevent illegal migrant working in the UK. It describes how employers can ensure that they only employ people who are allowed to work, and explains the penalties employers face for employing migrants illegally.

Employing someone who is not allowed to work in the UK is illegal. As an employer, you have a duty to prevent illegal working by checking potential employees' documents, before employing them, to ensure they have the right to work in the UK. You should:

• ask for and take copies of original, acceptable documents showing that the holder is allowed to work, before you employ them;
• be satisfied that the documents presented are genuine and that the person presenting them is both the rightful holder and allowed to do the type of work on offer; and
• carry out repeat checks at least once every 12 months, if the person has a time limit on their stay and you go on to employ them.

For details of these checks, see the Checking right to work in the UK page. If you do not carry out these checks and are found employing an illegal worker, we will take tough action against you. You would be fined up to £10,000 for each illegal worker, or face up to 2 years in prison.

The overwhelming majority of employers and migrants to the UK are law-abiding and want to comply with their legal obligations. We are keen to support them and make this as simple as possible.