Right to Work Construction · run by Sovereign Plus

Which documents do I need? Right to work checker for construction

For employees, CIS subbies and labour from other firms. Tells you if a check is needed by law, how to do it, and what to keep.

The free official route. You can do every right to work check yourself, free, on GOV.UK. Start at Checking a job applicant's right to work. For a share code, use Check a job applicant's right to work: use their share code. If the person cannot show their status, use Use the Employer Checking Service.

1. Who will be doing the work? An employee on your PAYE payroll A self-employed subbie paid through CISA sole trader, on their own A subbie who trades through their own limited company A worker supplied by an agency, a labour supplier or another firm

This tool needs JavaScript. You can read the same steps in our guide, or go straight to Checking a job applicant's right to work on GOV.UK.

Your answers stay in your browser. We do not see or store them.

How this tool decides

Employees: a check is needed before they start (Checking a job applicant's right to work).
Self-employed subbies: since 1 October 2026 an "individual sub-contractor" is in scope. That means a person you take on to do work you have agreed to do for someone else (Employer's guide, 1 October 2026).
Limited company subbies and labour suppliers: the firm that takes on the worker does the check. If you are in a contract chain, you need contract steps to protect yourself ("extended liability", Code of practice, section 3).
Contracts made before 1 October 2026: not brought in just because work carries on (Employer's guide, Annex C).

Want us to handle it?

Sovereign Plus runs CIS payroll for construction firms. Let us check your gang's right to work as part of payroll, keep the records, and remind you before follow-up checks are due.

One thing to know: Home Office guidance says a check only protects you if you do it, someone working under your control does it, or it is done through a registered digital checking provider (an RtW DVSP). Ask us how we set this up for your firm.

Ask about right to work checks or call 023 9280 0686

Sources

Right to work checks: an employer's guide (1 October 2026) (GOV.UK)
Code of practice on preventing illegal working: Right to Work Scheme for employers (1 October 2026) (GOV.UK)
Checking a job applicant's right to work (GOV.UK)
Check a job applicant's right to work: use their share code (GOV.UK)
Use the Employer Checking Service (GOV.UK)
Prove your right to work to an employer (GOV.UK)
Check if a document allows someone to work in the UK (GOV.UK)

Last checked against GOV.UK: 1 November 2026.