Right to work in the UK – what stadium employers actually check

Every UK employer is legally required to check that you have the right to work in the UK before your first shift. For matchday and event work, that check usually happens before you’re rostered for shifts – not on the night – so getting it sorted early is the difference between starting in 7 days vs 7 weeks.

What counts as right to work

In the UK, you have right to work if you are:

• A British or Irish citizen with a UK or Irish passport.
• An EU/EEA/Swiss citizen with Settled or Pre-Settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.
• The holder of a valid UK visa with permission to work (e.g. Skilled Worker, Graduate, Student visa within working hours, dependant visas with work rights).
• A British citizen with a Biometric Residence Permit.

If you’re not sure, check using the GOV.UK right to work tool.

What you’ll usually need to provide

Most stadium hiring runs a digital right-to-work check, not a paper one. Depending on your status, you’ll be asked for one of:

1. A valid UK or Irish passport, scanned (this is the simplest route for British and Irish citizens).
2. A share code generated via GOV.UK share code service – needed for everyone with a digital UK immigration status, including most EU citizens with Settled or Pre-Settled status.
3. A Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) – if you still have a physical BRP, employers may use it as a fallback during the transition to fully digital status.

How the share code works

If you need a share code, generate it on GOV.UK before you start the application:

1. Go to GOV.UK > view and prove your immigration status.
2. Sign in with your UKVI account.
3. Choose “prove your right to work to an employer”.
4. The system gives you a 9-character share code that’s valid for 30 days.
5. Send the share code (and your date of birth) to the employer.

The employer then checks the share code on their side via the Home Office digital service for employers.

What stadium employers don’t ask for

• They don’t typically ask for your National Insurance number at the right-to-work stage – that’s a payroll check, separate from immigration.
• They don’t ask for a physical visa stamp scan.
• They don’t keep your passport.

If a stadium employer asks for unusual documents (your driving licence + utility bill instead of a passport, for example), it’s worth asking why – the standard right-to-work checks are well-known and consistent.

Common gotchas

• Student visa hour limits. If you’re on a Student visa, your per-week working hours are capped during term time (usually 20 hours). Stadium employers will ask whether you’re a student – be honest, because the cap applies across all jobs combined.
• Pre-Settled Status expiry. Some EU citizens with Pre-Settled Status have status that requires renewal. Make sure your share code reflects current status.
• BRP transition. Most BRPs expired on 31 December 2024. If you still have a physical BRP, you should now be using the digital share code service.

Day-one onboarding

Once your right-to-work check passes, expect to be asked for:

• National Insurance number. Used for HMRC tax records.
• Bank details. For payroll (most operators pay weekly or fortnightly).
• Emergency contact details.
• Uniform sizing.
• Health questionnaire. Especially for security and stewarding roles.

Get all of these together before you apply and you can usually go from application to first shift in 2–4 weeks.

Disclaimer. This is general information only. The Home Office sometimes updates its right-to-work guidance – always check GOV.UK before relying on this article.