Penalties for employing illegal workers
You can be sent to jail for 5 years and have to pay an unlimited fine if you鈥檙e found guilty of employing someone who you knew or had 鈥榬easonable cause to believe鈥� did not have the right to work in the UK.
This includes, for example, if you had any reason to believe that:
- they did not have leave (permission) to enter or remain in the UK
- their leave had expired
- they were not allowed to do certain types of work
- their papers were incorrect or false
Check your employees have the right to work in the UK and make sure their documents are valid.
Check your employees properly
You can also be penalised if you employ someone who does not have the right to work and you did not do the correct checks, or you did not do them properly.
If this happens, you might get a 鈥榬eferral notice鈥� to let you know your case is being considered and that you might have to pay a civil penalty (fine) of up to 拢60,000 for each illegal worker.
You鈥檒l be sent a 鈥榗ivil penalty notice鈥� if you鈥檙e found liable and you鈥檒l have 28 days to respond.
The notice will tell you how to pay, what to do next, and how to object to the decision.
Your business鈥檚 details may be published by Immigration Enforcement as a warning to other businesses not to employ illegal workers.
Read more about illegal working penalties.
You will not have to pay the civil penalty if you can show you made the correct 鈥榬ight to work鈥� checks.
Get help and advice
Call or email for help and advice on preventing illegal working.
Phone
Telephone: 0300 790 6268
Monday to Thursday, 9am to 4:45pm
Friday, 9am to 4:30pm
Find out about call charges
[email protected] - if you鈥檙e an employer or Tier 1 investor
[email protected] - if you鈥檙e from an educational institution or you鈥檙e a student sponsor