Right to work - Important changes

​Right to work - Important changes to the EU Settlement Scheme

From September 2023 people with pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme will automatically have their status extended by 2 years before it expires if they have not obtained settled status.
The process will be automated by the Home Office and reflected in the person’s digital status. They will be notified of the extension directly. This will ensure that nobody loses their immigration status if they do not apply to switch from pre-settled to settled status.
The Home Office also intends to take steps to automatically convert as many eligible pre-settled status holders as possible to settled status once they are eligible for it, without them needing to make an application. During 2024, automated checks of pre-settled status will establish their ongoing continuous residence in the UK. Safeguards will be in place to ensure that settled status is not wrongly granted. 

​Right to work – Tripling of fines for employing illegal migrants

The Home Office has confirmed that fines will be tripled for employers who employ workers who do not have the right to work in the UK.
The civil penalty for employers, which was last increased in 2014, will be increased from £15,000 to £45,000 per illegal worker for a first breach and up to £60,000 from £20,000 for repeated breaches.

Employers should already be checking the eligibility of anyone they employ (known as right to work). There are a number of ways to do this, which are not changing, including via a manual check of original documentation and a Home Office online checking system.

​Guidance is available on GOV.UK