Right To Work Checker

Right To Work Checker

One API call to verify UK share codes against gov.uk. JSON in, JSON out — in under 15 seconds.

Direct gov.uk lookup
Live session against the official check.
No data stored
Every check is stateless. Nothing persists.
~15s response
Median end-to-end time from request to JSON.
Free to start
10 checks a month, no card required.

Try it

This runs a real check against gov.uk, no account needed, and takes about 15 seconds. A couple of free demo checks per visitor; sign up for 10 a month, no card required. To see the output shape without a code, use the sample link.

Or call the API

curl
curl -X POST https://your-host.example/api/check \
  -H 'content-type: application/json' \
  -H 'authorization: Bearer rtw_test_AbCdEfGhIjKlMnOp' \
  -d '{
    "share_code": "AB1CD2EF3",
    "date_of_birth": "1990-01-01",
    "company_name": "Acme Ltd"
  }'
JavaScript
const res = await fetch('https://your-host.example/api/check', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'content-type': 'application/json',
    authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.RTW_API_KEY}`,
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    share_code: 'AB1CD2EF3',
    date_of_birth: '1990-01-01',
    company_name: 'Acme Ltd',
  }),
});
const data = await res.json();
Sample response
{
  "outcome": "ACCEPTED",
  "title": "Right to work",
  "name": "JANE EXAMPLE DOE",
  "date_of_birth": "1990-01-01",
  "conditions": ["They can work in any job."],
  "reference": "WE-EXAMPLE-12",
  "photo_data_url": "data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQ…",
  "pdf_data_url":   "data:application/pdf;base64,JVBERi0xLjQ…",
  "checked_at": "2026-05-11T15:19:13.711Z"
}

Frequently asked questions

What is a UK right-to-work share code?

A 9-character code issued by the UK Home Office that an applicant generates at gov.uk/prove-right-to-work and shares with an employer or landlord. The code expires 90 days after creation and lets the recipient view the applicant’s current right-to-work status on gov.uk.

How long does a check take?

Around 10–15 seconds. The service drives a real browser session against gov.uk/view-right-to-work, fills the form, and returns the parsed result. There is no caching — every check is live.

What does the API response include?

The applicant’s name, outcome (ACCEPTED or REJECTED), title (“Right to work” or “Right to rent”), visa permission type and dates where shown, conditions, the gov.uk reference number, the applicant’s photo as a base64 JPEG, and the gov.uk-rendered PDF as base64.

Is this affiliated with the UK government?

No. This service is not endorsed by, run by, or affiliated with HM Government, the Home Office, or gov.uk. It automates the public right-to-work check that employers and platforms otherwise perform by hand on gov.uk, using the share code the applicant has provided.

What does it cost?

The free tier includes 10 checks a month after signup, no card required. Paid tiers add volume: Pro is £14/month for 100 checks, Scale is £49/month for 500, Enterprise is custom. Every request needs an API key; test-mode keys return sandbox fixtures and are never billed.

Is there an official gov.uk API for right-to-work checks?

No. gov.uk offers one route: a person filling in the three-page form at gov.uk/view-right-to-work, one applicant at a time. There is no REST endpoint, no webhook, and no bulk upload. Check Share Code drives that same official check server-side and returns the result as structured JSON, so an employer or platform can verify a share code inside its own software.

How do I verify a UK share code programmatically?

Send POST /api/check with the share code, the applicant’s date of birth, your company name, and a bearer API key. The response is JSON: outcome, name, conditions, expiry where shown, the gov.uk reference number, the applicant’s photo, and the gov.uk PDF. Test-mode keys starting rtw_test_ return deterministic sandbox fixtures, so you can build and test the integration before running a live check.

Can I try a real check without creating an account?

Yes. The homepage runs a genuine check against gov.uk with no signup and no API key. It is capped at two checks a day per visitor and 200 a day in total, so it is a way to see a real result before you create an account, not a way to integrate the API. For your own software, sign up for a free account (10 checks a month, no card) and call POST /api/check with a bearer key; sandbox test keys are free and unlimited.

How it works

The API drives a real session against gov.uk/view-right-to-work with your inputs and returns the structured result, including the gov.uk PDF and applicant photo.

No data is stored. Each check is stateless.

Guides

Right to work check API: automate gov.uk verification. How the share-code check works end to end, and what it takes to run it from an ATS, an HR platform or a staffing pipeline instead of by hand.

Right to work checks for gig and agency workers. What changes for platforms and agencies when the duty expands on 1 October 2026, and what a compliant check has to record.