Free UK compliance tool

Right-to-Work
Penalty Calculator

Enter your team size below to see your maximum civil penalty exposure under UK Right-to-Work legislation — updated for the 2024 increase to £60,000 per worker.

Calculate your exposure

Maximum civil penalty exposure
£240,000
4 workers × £60,000 per worker
First offence: up to £45,000 per worker. Repeat offence: up to £60,000 per worker.
⚠️ Moderate risk — even one unverified worker creates legal exposure
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How are Right-to-Work fines calculated?

Under the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 (updated by the Illegal Migration Act 2023), employers who employ a worker without valid Right-to-Work face a civil penalty of up to £60,000 per worker — tripled from the previous £20,000 maximum.

This penalty applies per worker, per incident. An employer with 10 undocumented workers could face a maximum penalty of £600,000. The maximum is rarely imposed, but it sets the legal ceiling and establishes your risk exposure.

The statutory excuse — the only reliable defence — requires conducting a compliant check before employment begins, and a repeat check for time-limited workers before their permission expires. StaffClock automates those repeat-check reminders.

Frequently asked questions

What is the statutory excuse?
The statutory excuse is a legal defence against a Right-to-Work civil penalty. You establish it by checking an original document (or conducting a share code check for EEA nationals) before employment begins. For workers with time-limited permission, you must re-check before their current permission expires to maintain the excuse.
When did the fine increase to £60,000?
The penalty maximum increased from £20,000 to £60,000 per worker under new rates effective 13 February 2024, enabled by the Illegal Migration Act 2023. First-offence penalties are up to £45,000 per worker; repeat-offence penalties are up to £60,000 per worker. The actual amount depends on mitigating factors and whether the employer cooperated with the Home Office.
Which workers need a re-check?
Only List B workers require a follow-up check: those with time-limited permission to work (e.g. a visa, BRP, or Biometric Residence Card with an expiry date). List A workers (British citizens, settled status, indefinite leave to remain) never need a re-check. StaffClock tracks both, flags List B workers approaching re-check dates, and maintains a full audit trail.
How does StaffClock help avoid fines?
StaffClock sends escalating reminder emails at 30, 14, 7, and 1 day before a Right-to-Work re-check is due, then daily once it's overdue — so you never miss a deadline by accident. Every check and reminder is logged in a timestamped audit trail you can hand to a Home Office inspector. From £19/month, it costs less than 0.03% of a single fine.

Protect your business from day one

StaffClock tracks every Right-to-Work re-check, CSCS card, SIA licence, and DBS check. Escalating alerts mean you never miss a deadline. Inspection-ready audit trail included.

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