Right to work in the UK
To apply for a licence for the first time or for a renewal you will need to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK. You must do this even if you are a UK citizen.
If you’re a British or Irish citizen, you can prove your right to work in the UK with either of the following:
- a British passport
- an Irish passport or passport card
Your passport or passport card can be current or expired.
If you do not have a passport or passport card, you can prove your right to work with one of the following:
- a UK birth or adoption certificate
- an Irish birth or adoption certificate
- a certificate of registration or naturalisation as a British citizen
You must also give your employer an official letter or document from a previous employer or a government agency.For example, you could use a letter from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or the Social Security Agency in Northern Ireland. The letter must show your name and National Insurance number.
If you’re not a British or Irish citizen, you can prove your right to work with:
- a share code - you can get a share code online
- your eligible immigration documents
For full details about documents you can provide and who has the right to work in the UK please visit gov.uk