The Government issued advice for employers carrying out right to work checks for new recruits during the coronavirus pandemic, which was intended to make the checks easier. The full details can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-right-to-work-checks

Essentially, checks still needed to be carried out, but:

• checks could be carried out by video call; and
• job applicants or current workers were able to provide scanned documents or photos of documents instead of submitting originals.

If a worker had a current Biometric Residence Permit or Biometric Residence Card or status under the EU Settlement Scheme, an employer was able to use the online right to work checking service: https://www.gov.uk/view-right-to-work

NOTE: These temporary changes to right to work checks ended on 20 June 2021. The right to work checks that applied from 21 June 2021 can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/right-to-work-checks-employers-guide