do i need a passport to begin a job

HI ALL,

ive applied for a few jobs this week. unfortunately ive realised that ive no passsport (it expired a few months ago) and i dont have a driver licence.

I i get a job offer, for legal employment reasons, would i need to provide a passport, or some kind of documentation of identity?

I have a birth cert, if an employer needs that.

If i need a passport, how long does it take to get one if apply for a renewal?

i think it takes a few months but im unsure(ive hear of a fast track passprt renewal, where you pay a larger sum of ££ and the give you a new passprt the same day, or next day-anyone know anything about this??).

if anyone knows, id be most gr8ful.

Reply 1

CrazyChris

14

bloomblaze

HI ALL,

ive applied for a few jobs this week. unfortunately ive realised that ive no passsport (it expired a few months ago) and i dont have a driver licence.

I i get a job offer, for legal employment reasons, would i need to provide a passport, or some kind of documentation of identity?

I have a birth cert, if an employer needs that.

If i need a passport, how long does it take to get one if apply for a renewal?

i think it takes a few months but im unsure(ive hear of a fast track passprt renewal, where you pay a larger sum of ££ and the give you a new passprt the same day, or next day-anyone know anything about this??).

if anyone knows, id be most gr8ful.

Are you a UK citizen?
If so, you don't need a passport to get a job in the UK.
They may request proof of ID, but they can't expect everybody to have a passport and/or a Driver's License. Thus a bank statement, utility bill in your name & address given, etc. should be sufficient.
> Not having a passport or drivers license does not mean you can't be employed.

(If being employed, you'll need your National Insurance number, as your employer will need to know this for NI contributions)

Reply 2

bloomblaze

OP

17

i am a uk citizen.

though i rememmber my last job, the manager photocopied my passport .

i do have bank statements etc, but surely they need to verify me by a photo ie passport, driver licence????

Reply 3

CrazyChris

14

bloomblaze

i am a uk citizen.

though i rememmber my last job, the manager photocopied my passport .

i do have bank statements etc, but surely they need to verify me by a photo ie passport, driver licence????

There must be other ways to verify... they can't expect everybody to have a photographic ID.

E.g. Not everybody has a passport.
Situation 1a: You've never been abroad, and have no plans for the foreseeable future to go abroad. Therefore, you don't spend out £77.50 for a passport. You don't have a passport.if you've never needed one and have no plans for the foreseeable future to go abroad, then you won't necessarily have spent out £77.50 for a passport.

E.g. Not everybody has a driver's license.
Situation 1b: You have epilepsy. Therefore, you cannot obtain a driver's license.

Add situations 1a and 1b together, and you have neither passport or driver's license.

To prove your identity if you have neither of the above, you will usually be asked to provide more than 1 document from different sources, with your name and address etc.

Reply 4

hermaphrodite

15

no

Reply 5

mistermeowingtons

15

There is no law that requires you to have a passport to get a job, but often they will ask you for a form of photographic ID. If you explain your situation then I'm sure they would be sympathetic.

Reply 6

Kell

In the group interview I was at the other day the people who didn't have passports were allowed to use their birth certificates instead. As others have said, passports are seen as the best because it is photo ID but employers are aware that not everyone has a passport. I mean, what with how much they cost these days - what's the point of getting one if you're not going to use it to go abroad?

You say that your passport has expired. I had the same issue a while back, I didn't realise that it had expired until the night before I had an interview where I'd been asked to bring it. It was well over a year out of date. I took it anyway as well as my birth certificate and bank statement. They accepted the out of date passport. I don't know if all places do this, but I had two interviews in that month when I didn't have an in date passport and both accepted the out of date one as ID. So you never know. If you haven't gotten rid of your old passport, don't. And if you get asked to bring ID to an interview/induction, ask if it would be okay.

Reply 7

SpiritedAway

17

They can't not hire you on those grounds, but I think it depends on the line of work. For my first job where I was training for bar work I was told I had to have photo ID, and in my job where I was working with children also, but whether this was more company policy rather than a regular occurrence, I can't say.

Reply 8

realale

Most local temp job agencies require a passport to register irrespective if you are part of the indigenous population. Being born and bred british
I've been turned down a few times cos i aint got a passport. Then again most local job agencies just looking for Poles and Romanian gypsies who will work 24/7 for a bowl of gruel and a piece of dried bread.

Reply 9

joraka

2

sounds like a closet racist ^

Reply 10

Shova grg

3

Hi

Reply 11

National Careers Service

17

Original post by bloomblaze

HI ALL,

ive applied for a few jobs this week. unfortunately ive realised that ive no passsport (it expired a few months ago) and i dont have a driver licence.

I i get a job offer, for legal employment reasons, would i need to provide a passport, or some kind of documentation of identity?

I have a birth cert, if an employer needs that.

If i need a passport, how long does it take to get one if apply for a renewal?

i think it takes a few months but im unsure(ive hear of a fast track passprt renewal, where you pay a larger sum of ££ and the give you a new passprt the same day, or next day-anyone know anything about this??).

if anyone knows, id be most gr8ful.

Hi there,

There are a number of alternatives to a passport such as a birth certificate, NI number, bank and utility statements.

What we have now is something called 'Right to Work' this is where regardless of whether or not say you have the right to work here, employers have standard practices in place to check this with all employees. If you don't have a passport it's important that you check what other documents are acceptable.

The guidance states - 'a full birth certificate issued in the United Kingdom which includes the name(s) of at least one of the holder’s parents, when produced in combination with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance Number and their name issued by a Government agency or a previous employer'

You can see the full checklist here - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/378926/employers_right_to_work_checklist_november_2014.pdf

I hope this helps, if you do have any problems I would also advise contacting a service called ACAS who are a free and confidental employment law service.

Thanks - Sophie.

Reply 12

Analyst89

20

I believe a birth certificate will be valid.

Reply 13

kazzykat95

20

Original post by bloomblaze

HI ALL,

ive applied for a few jobs this week. unfortunately ive realised that ive no passsport (it expired a few months ago) and i dont have a driver licence.

I i get a job offer, for legal employment reasons, would i need to provide a passport, or some kind of documentation of identity?

I have a birth cert, if an employer needs that.

If i need a passport, how long does it take to get one if apply for a renewal?

i think it takes a few months but im unsure(ive hear of a fast track passprt renewal, where you pay a larger sum of ££ and the give you a new passprt the same day, or next day-anyone know anything about this??).

if anyone knows, id be most gr8ful.

I'm pretty sure that most employers accept birth certificates.
(edit: just realised how old the thread is but my point still stands lol)

(edited 6 years ago)

do i need a passport to begin a job

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