What is a right to work check?

RapidID branded graphic displaying identification cards stacked on each other overlayed with green check and red cross icons

In today's world, where people can move around the globe and find job opportunities internationally, it's really important to know the rules about working visas. 

Making sure that the people you want to hire have the right visa to work in your organisation is a big part of the hiring process. In Australia, that's where the right to work or entitlement to work check comes in.

A right to work or entitlement to work check helps assess if someone's visa is valid and makes sure that employers follow the rules set by the Australian government when hiring non-citizens.

So, let's find out how it works to make sure recruiting teams follow Australian immigration laws and regulations when dealing with non-citizen candidates.

What is a right to work or entitlement to work check?

A  right to work or entitlement to work check allows recruiters to check the visa details and conditions for non-citizen candidates  (foreign nationals) in Australia. 

The check can be completed online and will verify the following details:

  • Passport Number
  • Passport Nationality
  • Visa Type (class /subclass)
  • Visa Grant Date
  • Visa Expiry Date (if applicable)
  • Work Entitlement (including any conditions)

How often do you need to conduct a right to work or entitlement to work check?

How often you need to check working rights depends on your employee's visa type. If they're on a temporary visa, you should confirm their work rights every three months. Make sure to look at the time validity and keep a track of the expiry date. 

Checking working rights of candidates can be additional manual work for recruiters, but that's where RapidID can help. Recruiters can automate their workflows and conduct the check quickly if their system is integrated with the RapidID API. RapidID has the ability to integrate with various ATS systems to help recruiters do passport and visa checks in their own environment. 

Who should use a right to work or entitlement to work check?

Employers in Australia need to use the right to work or entitlement to work check to verify their employees' or potential hires' work rights and visa conditions. Such verification helps employers ensure that they are hiring individuals with the appropriate work rights.

Various service providers, such as educational institutions, can use the right to work or entitlement to work check to confirm the visa status of their clients or students, ensuring that they are eligible for the services being provided.

Government departments and agencies use the right to work check to assess the visa status of individuals for administrative and immigration-related purposes.

The right to work or entitlement to work check is a secure and convenient way to access visa information, and it helps individuals and organisations ensure compliance with Australian immigration laws and regulations. 

How do you conduct a right to work or entitlement to work check using RapidID?

RapidID can conduct the check via a portal or integration, which the recruiters can access using a web browser.

To perform a right to work or entitlement to work check, you'll need specific information about the individual whose visa status you want to verify. The requirement typically includes their full name, date of birth, passport or ImmiCard details, and visa grant number (if available). For employers, the employee may provide this information.

You'll accurately enter the required information and double-check the details to ensure they are correct, as any errors may lead to incorrect results.

RapidID will process the information and check it against its database of visa holders in Australia. It will verify the person's visa status, including the type of visa, the expiry date, any work restrictions, and other visa conditions.

After processing, these results will indicate whether the individual has a valid visa and any associated conditions. Employers can use this information to determine whether an employee can work in Australia.

Why automate a right to work or entitlement to work check?

Automating a right to work  check through an ID verification provider like RapidID would be beneficial for businesses like yours, and here's why:

  • It's easy: Using automated services is straightforward.  It offers a user-friendly interface for uploading documents and viewing detailed results with reporting tools.
  • It's convenient: Employees or candidates can take care of the process themselves by scanning and uploading their documents through their mobile. 
  • It saves time: Automated checks save you time because you don't have to manually enter data for each check every few months, especially if you have many employees.
  • It's reliable: Automation eliminates the chance of human errors. The API handles everything, ensuring accuracy.

What other checks complement a right to work or entitlement to work check?  

Australia, New Zealand and China Document verification checks that verify the validity of a visa and the ID directly with the document issuer (eg Home Affairs for Australian passports etc.)

Final Thoughts

A right to work or entitlement to work check is an indispensable asset. RapidID makes it easy and safe to check visa details. From the moment you access the check to the instant you receive confirmation of visa status and entitlements, RapidID exemplifies the power of technology in simplifying complex processes. 

To understand how RapidID can make your visa-checking process easier and faster, get in touch with our team at RapidID for a demo.