Evidence of your right to work in the UK

When you submit your licence application, you need to prove that you have the right to live and work in the UK and are not subject to a condition preventing you from doing work relating to the carrying on of a licensable activity.

Acceptable documents

You'll need to provide copies or scanned copies of the following documents (which do not need to be certified):

• an expired or current passport showing the holder, or a person named in the passport as the child of the holder, is a British citizen or a citizen of the UK and Colonies having the right of abode in the UK (see which sections of the passport to copy)
• an expired or current passport or national identity card showing the holder, or a person named in the passport as the child of the holder, is a national of a European Economic Area country or Switzerland
• Registration Certificate or document certifying permanent residence issued by the Home Office to a national of a European Economic Area country or Switzerland
• Permanent Residence Card issued by the Home Office to the family member of a national of a European Economic Area country or Switzerland
• current Biometric Immigration Document (Biometric Residence Permit) issued by the Home Office to the holder indicating that the person named is allowed to stay indefinitely in the UK, or has no time limit on their stay in the UK
• current passport endorsed to show that the holder is exempt from immigration control, is allowed to stay indefinitely in the UK, has the right of abode in the UK, or has no time limit on their stay in the UK
• current Immigration Status Document issued by the Home Office to the holder with an endorsement indicating that the named person is allowed to stay indefinitely in the UK or has no time limit on their stay in the UK, when produced in combination with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance number and their name issued by a Government agency or a previous employer
• full birth or adoption certificate issued in the UK which includes the name(s) of at least one of the holder’s parents or adoptive parents, when produced in combination with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance number and their name issued by a Government agency or a previous employer
• a birth or adoption certificate issued in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or Ireland when produced in combination with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance number and their name issued by a Government agency or a previous employer
• certificate of registration or naturalisation as a British citizen, when produced in combination with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance number and their name issued by a Government agency or a previous employer
• current passport endorsed to show that the holder is allowed to stay in the UK and is currently allowed to work and is not subject to a condition preventing the holder from doing work relating to the carrying on of a licensable activity
• current Biometric Immigration Document (Biometric Residence Permit) issued by the Home Office to the holder which indicates that the named person can currently stay in the UK and is allowed to work relation to the carrying on of a licensable activity
• current Residence Card issued by the Home Office to a person who is not a national of a European Economic Area state or Switzerland but who is a family member of such a national or who has derivative rights or residence
• current Immigration Status Document containing a photograph issued by the Home Office to the holder with an endorsement indicating that the named person may stay in the UK, and is allowed to work and is not subject to a condition preventing the holder from doing work relating to the carrying on of a licensable activity when produced in combination with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance number and their name issued by a Government agency or a previous employer
• Certificate of Application, less than 6 months old, issued by the Home Office under regulation 17(3) or 18A (2) of the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006, to a person who is not a national of a European Economic Area state or Switzerland but who is a family member of such a national or who has derivative rights of residence
• reasonable evidence that the person has an outstanding application to vary their permission to be in the UK with the Home Office such as the Home Office acknowledgement letter or proof of postage evidence, or reasonable evidence that the person has an appeal or administrative review pending on an immigration decision, such as an appeal or administrative review reference number
• reasonable evidence that a person who is not a national of a European Economic Area state or Switzerland but who is a family member of such a national or who has derivative rights of residence in exercising treaty rights in the UK including:
  • evidence of the applicant’s own identity – such as a passport,
  • evidence of their relationship with the European Economic Area family member – e.g. a marriage certificate, civil partnership certificate or birth certificate, and
  • evidence that the European Economic Area national has a right of permanent residence in the UK or is one of the following if they have been in the UK for more than 3 months:

(i) working e.g. employment contract, wage slips, letter from the employer,

(ii) self-employed e.g. contracts, invoices, or audited accounts with a bank,

(iii) studying e.g. letter from the school, college or university and evidence of sufficient funds; or

(iv) self-sufficient e.g. bank statements

Family members of European Economic Area nationals who are studying or financially independent must also provide evidence that the European Economic Area national and any family members hold comprehensive sickness insurance in the UK. This can include a private medical insurance policy, an EHIC card or an S1, S2 or S3 form.

Original documents must not be sent to licensing authorities. If the document copied is a passport, you should provide a copy of any page containing:

• the holder’s personal details including nationality
• the holder’s photograph
• the holder’s signature
• the date of expiry
• information indicating the holder has permission to enter or remain in the UK and is permitted to work

If the document is not a passport, a copy of the whole document should be provided. 

Your right to work will be checked as part of your licensing application and this could involve us checking your immigration status with the Home Office. We may otherwise share information with the Home Office. Your licence application will not be determined until you have complied with this guidance.