UK Rolls Out Tougher Workplace Checks to Stop Illegal Work

LONDON, April 14, 2026 — The UK Home Office tightened rules on illegal working this week. Firms now face unlimited fines if they skip right-to-work checks.

The Home Office announced new workplace checks on Monday. The rules target firms that hire people without legal work status.

All employers must now run right-to-work checks before hiring. They must also repeat checks for staff with time-limited visas. The new system closes old gaps in the rules.

Firms that break the rules pay more now. The government scrapped the cap on fines. From February 13, 2024, a business that employs migrants without work permission for the first time can be fined up to £45,000 per worker. Repeat offences rise to £60,000 per worker.

Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said the goal is to make it “harder for illegal migrants to work and operate in the UK”. The Home Office added: “There is no excuse for not conducting the appropriate checks and those in breach will now face significantly tougher penalties”

The move aims to stop abuse of the job market. It also protects legal workers from unfair pay and poor conditions.

Impact on Workers
Workers will see more ID checks at work. Staff must show proof they can work in the UK. This covers passports, visas, or share codes.

People without the right papers risk losing jobs. They may also face removal from the UK. Employers are liable even if they were unaware that the worker lacked permission, if they failed to do a compliant check.

The Home Office will send more officers to check firms. Raids will target high-risk sectors like car washes, construction, and care homes. Compliance visits are already up by 50% — the highest level since 2019.

Officials said around 4,000 civil penalties worth £74 million have been issued to employers since 2018.

Employers must update their hiring steps now. To avoid fines, they need a “statutory excuse” by doing correct checks before employment starts and keeping records.