Note: This is a temporary check type which is set to be replaced by a new combined UK RTW check. This upcoming check will simplify the process by automatically routing candidates to the correct ‘path’ depending on their citizenship and document status.
Pinpoint's UK Right to Work (Alternative) check lets you run a share code check on candidates who don't hold a valid UK or Irish passport. It's a Pinpoint-provided check that captures the candidate's share code, verifies it against the UK Home Office's online service, and returns an indicative result you can review.
This check sits alongside the existing UK Digital Right to Work (IDSP) check provided by Certn, which covers UK/Irish passport holders. Together they cover the two digital paths employers use for right to work in the UK.
When do I use the UK Right to Work (Alternative) check?
Use this check when a candidate is not a British or Irish citizen and can provide a share code (typically via a Biometric Residence Permit, an eVisa, or a UK Visas and Immigration account).
If the candidate cannot provide a share code, or they are a British or Irish citizen but don't have an in-date passport, they can select "I can't provide a share code" and instead describe how they can prove their right to work, after which you’ll need to conduct the check manually.
The existing UK Digital Right to Work (IDSP) check via Certn continues to be the right choice for candidates with a valid UK/Irish passport.
How do I set up a package with the check?
The UK Right to Work (Alternative) check can be ordered as a standalone check, or combined into a package with other checks.
Go to Settings → Templates → Pinpoint Checks.
Select Create package (or edit an existing package).
In the ‘Individual Checks’ step, add UK Right to Work (Alternative). You can add it alongside a standalone DBS check or other Certn checks as needed.
Save the package
Once saved, the package is available anywhere you order Pinpoint checks — from the candidate's Background Checks tab, from the central Checks page, from bulk actions, or via a stage action.
Note on credits. The UK Right to Work (Alternative) check costs 0 credits. Standalone DBS check credit costs have been reduced to match the equivalent bundle pricing so you can build packages with either combination without a pricing penalty.
What does the candidate see?
Once the check is ordered, the candidate receives an invite email from Pinpoint with a link to a short form.
This invite email can be configured from your email templates.
Go to Settings → Templates → Email Templates → Standard Candidate Templates → Pinpoint Background Checks Invitation (Alternative Right To Work)
On the form, they can:
Enter their share code (a 9-character alphanumeric code starting with "W")
Enter their date of birth
Add any additional comments they want to share
Select "I can't provide a share code" if they don't have one — in which case they select and describe which documents they'll use instead
What happens after the candidate submits?
When the candidate submits a valid share code, Pinpoint automatically checks it against the UK Home Office's Right to Work service and returns one of three indicative results:
Clear (indicative) — the share code was successfully checked and shows no expiry, conditions, or restrictions on the candidate's right to work.
Review — the share code was successfully checked, but the result shows conditions, an expiry date, or restrictions that need reviewing.
Unable to complete — either the candidate selected "I can't provide a share code", or the check couldn't be completed (for example, the Home Office service was unavailable or the share code was invalid).
Orders containing this check will always resolve to Complete (Review) at the order level, regardless of the individual check's indicative result. This is by design — the indicative result should never be treated as a substitute for the check you conduct yourself.
How do I review the result?
Open the candidate's profile and go to the Background Checks tab, or use the central Checks page.
Against the UK Right to Work (Alternative) check you'll see:
The indicative result (Clear, Review, or Unable to complete)
A PDF of the Home Office share code results page, captured at the time the check ran
Any additional comments the candidate added
Results for the check can be viewed in the Order drawer, on the Results tab.
Example: Clear (Indicative)
Example: Review
Example: Invalid share code
Example: Candidate does not have a valid share code
The PDF gives you a snapshot of what the Home Office service showed at the point the check ran. Download it, review the details, and use it as part of your own manual verification.
Important: The indicative result and the PDF do not establish a statutory excuse against illegal working penalties on their own. You should still independently check the share code against the UK Home Office Right to Work service and complete the imposter check in line with the UK Government's Employers' right to work checklist.
How do I route candidates to the right check?
Currently, you have two options for making sure each candidate ends up on the right path:
Option 1 — Order via the existing UK bundle and pick up cancellations. Order a package containing the UK Digital Right to Work (IDSP) check (bundle or standalone). If the candidate can't complete the digital check (for example, they don't have a valid UK/Irish passport), the check will be cancelled. You'll be notified and can then order the UK Right to Work (Alternative) check separately for that candidate.
To make this easier, we recommend setting up a package that contains only the UK Right to Work (Alternative) check in advance, so it's ready to order when needed.
Option 2 — Ask up front. Add an application question asking whether the candidate has a valid UK or Irish passport. Order the applicable check based on their answer. This avoids the cancellation loop and removes potentially unnecessary steps for the candidate.
Frequently asked questions
Does this check establish a statutory excuse?
No. The indicative result is a helpful checkpoint, but it does not establish a statutory excuse. You must still independently verify the share code using the UK Home Office service and complete an imposter check in person or via video call, in line with the current UK Government Employer's Guide.
Who can generate a share code?
Share codes can be generated by candidates who have either a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. This covers most candidates with a visa or status that gives them the right to work, including indefinite leave to remain, sponsored and unsponsored work visas, family/settled/protected status, and student visas. Since 2025, BRPs have been replaced by eVisas.
What does a share code look like?
Share codes are 9-character alphanumeric codes starting with the letter "W". Pinpoint validates the format of the code when the candidate submits it. If the format doesn't match, the candidate is asked to correct it.
What if the candidate can't provide a share code?
If the candidate selects "I can't provide a share code", they'll be asked to indicate the documents and/or add a comment explaining how they plan to prove their right to work — for example, using a birth certificate and National Insurance number for a British citizen without a passport, or an application registration card for someone awaiting a visa decision. The check will return Unable to complete as its indicative result, and you can follow up with the candidate to conduct a manual check.
Why don't I get structured data back (like expiry dates or conditions)?
The check works by capturing the Home Office share code page as a PDF at the point it's run. Rather than parsing that page into structured fields — which risks incorrect data — we return the full PDF so you can review the exact details yourself.
Does this check trigger the same notifications as other checks?
Yes. The UK Right to Work (Alternative) check follows the same notification rules as other Pinpoint checks. Reminder emails are also sent to candidates who haven't completed the form.
Can I use this alongside a DBS check?
Yes. You can combine the UK Right to Work (Alternative) check with a standalone DBS check (Basic or Enhanced) in the same package. This gives you a Pinpoint-ordered package equivalent to the existing UK bundle, for candidates on the share code path. Candidates will receive two separate emails, one for any checks conducted via Certn, and another for the UK Right to Work (Alternative) check.
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