IDSP Checks: Staying Compliant and Secure”
Government requirements for identity checks went live in October 2022. What is it and why every recruitment agency or employer needs to be on board with this.
The IDSP service enables employers and recruitment agencies to verify the status of British or Irish employees through an accredited identity service provider. Many agencies can now perform these checks efficiently and with HT Recruit, integration is seamless. We make IDSP checks part of our service, ensuring compliance while helping you focus on finding the right talent.
One disadvantage of using an IDSP service is the cost, as the system requires candidates to hold a valid, in‑date passport or visa. If they don’t, employers must revert to face‑to‑face meetings and manual checks to verify eligibility a process that can be both time‑consuming and burdensome. Recruitment agencies like HT Recruit remove this drudgery by integrating IDSP checks into our service, delivering a faster, more efficient way to validate applicants and keep your hiring process compliant.
The consequences for failure to meet this criteria is £20K to £40K fine for every illegal person found working for the employer. The fine is considered severe enough to act as a strong deterrent, especially for small to medium sized companies or businesses and since 80% plus of businesses in the UK are SME’s this can be particularly harsh on a business bottom line profits.
There is the suggestion that at least one out of every five people in the UK will not have an in-date passport to verify who they are. Which ultimately means that the employer should not hire that person for the position because they may be considered an illegal, until the person in question can be verified.
The current UK government is considering making modifications to the way identity checks are performed which will make it easier with hopefully less red tape to help people who do not have an up-to-date document which will help them get into work.
In the meantime, the ID checks are completed by the growing accredited IDSP service providers and can be completed by a recruitment agency.
The theory is that an accredited IDSP service provider provides an efficient and secure way to verify a person’s identity, one of the drawbacks is the cost as noted before as it is prohibitive to some small businesses.
As the industry continues to grow at a rapid pace, it’s essential for recruiters and employers to carefully assess the market and carry out proper due diligence before partnering with an IDSP provider. Taking the time to evaluate options ensures compliance, efficiency, and the right fit for your hiring needs.
Employers and recruiters should recognise that this process goes far beyond paperwork or box‑ticking. It involves handling sensitive personal data, which must be stored securely and verified with precision. By working with an accredited IDSP provider, digital right‑to‑work checks can be completed more quickly and conveniently, streamlining compliance while protecting both the employer and the applicant.
Accredited IDSP providers certainly have advantages when it comes to combating identity fraud, especially compared to manual checks carried out by employers or SMEs a process that can be repetitive and time‑consuming for every serious applicant. However, for smaller recruitment agencies or those just starting out, the cost of outsourcing ID checks to an IDSP provider can feel prohibitive, often leaving you to handle the task yourself.
While the UK government website offers guidance for verifying non‑British citizens, including proof of residency, passports, or visa details, the process still demands accuracy, compliance, and time. That’s where HT Recruit steps in. We integrate IDSP checks directly into our recruitment service, giving you a faster, more efficient, and cost‑effective way to validate candidates, whether British or international.
At HT Recruit, we streamline the verification process to make it as efficient and straightforward as possible. The steps follow a clear pattern: candidates provide a recent photo along with supporting documents such as a valid passport, driving licence, or proof of residency. Where appropriate, video platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, or Zoho can also be used to confirm identity face‑to‑face, complementing the other required checks.
While these procedures can be time‑consuming when carried out manually, our integrated approach ensures compliance without unnecessary delays. For further guidance, employers and recruiters can also consult official resources on digital right‑to‑work checks, but with HT Recruit, much of this complexity is handled for you as part of our service.
AT HT Recruit we always perform the checks before we move forward with a new recommendation
It makes sense to do so and it’s a legal requirement for employers and recruiters to carry out these checks to validate a candidate. Why not let HT Recruit handle your IDSP checks quickly and efficiently, so you can focus on what matters most: finding that great potential applicant.
👉 Get started today, let us take care of your IDSP checks and streamline your hiring process.
In conclusion
Remember, using an external IDSP provider can often be expensive and time‑consuming. By choosing HT Recruit to fulfil your hiring needs, you gain a quicker and more efficient way to process potential applicants for digital right‑to‑work checks and the best part is, it’s included as part of our service.
👉 Let us streamline your compliance and help you secure the right talent with ease.
