Employment
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This page provides information on your right to work after getting leave to remain (permission to stay in the UK) and explains how you can prove your right to work to an employer. The page also gives you information on how income from work can decrease or stop your benefits and social security.
Page last updated: February 2025
Do I have the right to work?
Your right to work depends on your immigration status in the UK. You may know this as a ‘visa’ or ‘Leave to remain’ or ‘Leave to enter’.
Leave to remain or leave to enter means that the holder has permission to remain in the UK or enter if travelling from another country. The ‘leave’ granted by the Home Office could be time limited or indefinite.
Before you start working make sure you know:
- If you have the right to work
- Any restrictions on the type of work you can do
- If the income from work will reduce or stop any other financial support you get, such as housing and money from the government
How do I prove my right to work?
All employers by law must check you have the right to work before employing you. This is a requirement for everyone in the UK including British citizens. Find out how to prove your right to work in the UK – GOV.UK.
If you have leave to remain, to prove you have the right to work you will need to get a share code online.
A share code is a 9-character unique code made up of numbers and letters that verify your right to work in the UK. The share code should state its expiry date. It is valid for 90 days. After 90 days you will need to get a new one. You will need to give this share code to your employer who will check your right to work online.
There are two ways to get a share code online. You can use a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or your online eVisa account. All physical BRP cards expired on 31 December 2024 because eVisas (online record of your permission to stay in the UK) have replaced BRP cards. If you don’t have an eVisa set up and need more information on how to set this up, check GOV.UK website for up-to-date information on eVisas: Online immigration status (eVisa). Also check out Scottish Refugee Council’s information on eVisa.
Do I need a National Insurance Number?
If you want to work or claim benefits you will need a National Insurance (NI) number.
A National Insurance number is a number unique to you. This number remains the same for life. You will need an NI number to work, claim benefits, apply for student loans and pay national insurance contributions. You may already have a National Insurance number. For example:
- If you were working while you were in the asylum process
- If you have a BRP card, your NI number will usually be printed on the back of your BRP
- If you have access to your eVisa, your NI number will normally be visible when you sign
If you don’t have a NI number, you can apply online. You can start work without a National Insurance number if you can prove you have the right to work in the UK, but you should apply for one as soon as possible.
Will my benefits stop if I start working?
Income from work can affect any other financial support you receive.
Before you start working make sure you know if the income from work will reduce or stop any financial support you get. For example, if you receive Universal Credit (UC), your UC payment will decrease as your earnings increase. If you are living in temporary accommodation, working might impact on your housing benefit entitlement.
It is important to report any changes in your income to the relevant authorities to ensure your benefits are correctly adjusted. Report any changes in your income to the job centre, council tax office and housing provider.
To find out how your income from work will impact your different areas of benefits, please contact: Shelter or Citizens Advice Scotland.
What do I do if my employer asks for an overseas criminal record check?
Some employers will ask you to provide an overseas criminal record certificate, where available, from an appropriate government or police agency from your country of origin.
You can apply to Disclosure Scotland for a criminal record check covering your time in the UK. This includes the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme. This does not hold criminal record information held outside the UK. If you can apply for an overseas criminal record certificate visit the GOV.UK website: Criminal Records Checks for Overseas Applicants.
You might not be able to apply for an overseas criminal record check because of the reasons for fleeing your home country and potential risks to your family living there. If this is the case, explain the situation to the recruiting manager or email the Scottish Refugee Council for advice: employability@scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk.
Useful information and links
Your rights at work
- The Right to Remain Toolkit has a useful guide on Work Exploitation and Migrant Workers’ Rights
- Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) has Workers’ Rights Leaflets in 23 languages covering what rights you have and what you should expect from your employer
- Citizens Advice Scotland has information on the types of help you can get if you have a disability: Asking your employer for changes to help you if you’re disabled. You can ask your employer to make changes to help you do your job if you have a disability. This is called reasonable adjustments.
- Acas has useful information for employees and employers on workplace rights
Work and career
- My World of Work has useful online resources, advice and tools to develop skills and plan your career.
- PlanIT Plus has useful online resources and tools on career planning.
Examples of job search websites
Self-employment support
- Business Gateway runs online sessions and one-to-one support across Scotland
- Firstport offers support and advice on how to set up a social enterprise
Need more help?
Call our free, confidential, helpline to speak to one of our experienced advisers. You can ask for an interpreter.
0808 1967 274
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