to think that it is ludicrous that you can not work here (Irish citizen) without a passport?

[WildeWoman]

FFS.
I'm Irish.
Eligible to work here.
Want to work.
Went to agency meeting today ahead of job interview.
Apparently, you can't work here without a passport unless you are British.

Am I the last to know?

Oh - and before you ask, passport was stolen. It will take 6 weeks for new one to issue.

Such bollox.

I'm Scottish and to anyone outside of Scotland all Scottish accents sound the same (clearly they don't). Having an Irish accent is not proof of you being Irish and most employers don't want a massive fine.

An Irish birth cert, driving license, National Identity card? Plus the big Irish head on me? Arah jaysus.

Right to work in the UK has to be confirmed by the employer. Agencies will be more bureaucratic over this than companies themselves because they take responsibility for their employees legitimacy and contractually companies can sue them.

However, a birth or marriage certificate is sufficient if you don't have your passport. That I true for British Citizens. If you have your Irish birth certificate and if you also have the proof of posting certificate for your passport application and/or an acknowledgement that should be sufficient to employ you. They woukd have to keep in touch and if you didn't produce your passport after the agreed time have in place a clear dismissal procedure.

Problem is, it's hassle for agencies. If it's any consolation for you ds mangled his passport, I posted the replacement application last Monday - his new passport arrived this Mobday. It's a quiet time of year and I hope yours is turned around faster than the guidance.

Good luck.

I'm writing to the Queen. Or a bishop. Or the President. Or someone.

You should write to all of them. Do one of those old style chain letter - tell them they have to post it on to the next person on the list. It'll save on postage for you. Bonus.

Wilde- could you do the 10 day passport express by post? Or do you need to be in Ireland for that (I think a member of gardai has to sign the form...)

YANBU, since the passport isn't a legal requirement and there are other documents that verify your nationality. It's standard now though, unfortunately.

I'm surprised a birth certificate is ok given I could get hold of a birth certificate for just about anyone just by asking (and paying).

FFs, the Irish accent comment was clearly said as a joke.

What, an original one, written with a fountain pen or even a newer one with the registrar's signature?

It's probably got more to do with anti fraud and anti money laundering practices. NO point complaining.

BeaufortBelle Your original birth certificate is the actual entry in the register. The paper copy you have at home is just that, a copy. Certified of course.

And registrars are still expected to be able to write neatly with a fountain pen. I applied for a registrar's position a couple of years ago and was tested on my handwriting by being asked to copy a certificate with a fountain pen.

And I applied for a copy of a family birth certificate a little while ago, paid the fee and received a copy. It is that easy.

Being born in Britain doesn't automatically guarantee British citizenship so I am surprised that birth certificates are accepted

Im british but have to show passwork before working in the nhs. I know my dh did the same for his office job. I cant think of a job i havent worked out without showing my passport to hr before i started.

Wildewoman certainly seems to post with an Irish accent.

I think the obvious answer is to just print off a copy of this thread.

Wilde I work with people employed in a low paid industry where they change jobs as often as their undies. Even UK born nationals have to have a passport before they can get a got, register with a GP etc. Right? No but we have to work with it.

There is a lot of Mis-information on this thread.

Employers have to check your right to work in the UK via one of a list of accepted documents. It's nothing to do with money laundering. They have to document the checks & keep copies of documentation. You are not allowed to only check workers who you think/know are from abroad or that's discrimination. I had to check & document my own brother's ID!

Birth certificates are valid to prove your right to work in the UK if it is a British one & it's a full one showing the name of at least one parent.

Ditto if it's an Irish one & accompanied by an official document stating your NI number

An alternative to providing the full birth certificate is to provide a British or Irish passport.

I'm not familiar off the top of my head with acceptable documentation relating to foreign nationals but they include things like biometric revidence permits & possibly ID cards.

For a DBS you need one document from the group below and 2 more from another group (2nd group can include bills etc)

Passport Any current and valid passport
Biometric residence permit UK
Current driving licence photocard - (full or provisional) UK, Isle of Man, Channel Islands and EU
Birth certificate - issued within 12 months of birth UK, Isle of Man and Channel Islands - including those issued by UK authorities overseas, eg embassies, High Commissions and HM Forces
Adoption certificate UK and Channel Islands

The op's driving licence would meet the criteria for a DBS so why doesn't it meet the criteria for the job?unless it's MI5

Because the rules for DBS are different than that for right to work checks.

It just seems really odd to me. I have been asked to show proof of qualifications and also to provide ID for a DBS check, but I have never been asked for anything else.

I guess that's up to your employer if they are willing to take the risk.

The home office can & do raid premises looking for illegal workers & the penalties for employers are severe.

My MIL is Irish living in London for the last 50 odd years. She misplaced hers not long before a trip back home but phoned up and they said put it an application and they would see what they could do - it was back in days

This is very strange - if someone took your passport and you think is using it why didn't you immediately rush off to get another and report the theft? Why would you object to showing a passport when many many English people in England need to produce theirs all the time now anyway? In fact if we leave the EU you might not even get a visa to work here in due course.

DeoGratis If BREXIT comes to pass nothing will change for Irish citizens the UK and Irish Govt have long standing agreements in place that cover Ireland and the UK they have stated clearly they will remain place.

It's unreasonable, because, a passport is a travel document, not proof of eligibility to work.

It IS proof of your right to work, if you needed a visa it would be in your passport. An EU passport without a visa proves you can work legally here in the UK.

The op's driving licence would meet the criteria for a DBS so why doesn't it meet the criteria for the job?

Because a driving licence does not show your nationality or right to work.

It's tricky, you have the right to work, but no proof of that.

Thanks to all for your brilliant advice.
I have emailed the agency the relevant piece about the common travel area (thanks to the posters who referred me to that Home Office guide).

I'll update if he comes back to me.

Where would I be without Mumsnet, eh?