Asylum seekers and refugees: getting a job
Information about employment for people with refugee status in Northern Ireland.
Right to work in Northern Ireland
If you are a person seeking asylum, you do not have the right to work as soon as you arrive in Northern Ireland. You will receive your right to work if you are granted refugee status.
As someone seeking asylum, you can apply for the right to work if:
- you have not received a decision on your claim within 12 months and the delay is not your fault
- you are over 18 years of age and you are the main applicant on your asylum claim.
Talk with your solicitor before applying for the right to work.
Find out more about how to apply for the right to work during the asylum process on GOV.UK:
Working illegally
Working illegally is a crime and can badly affect your asylum claim or future settlement applications.
Employing people without the right to work is also a crime.
More information is available on the Home Office website:
Getting a job
You have the right to work as soon as you arrive in Northern Ireland, having been granted a UK Visa.
- to look for a job, you can use a website called NIJobs.com to be connected with thousands of employers
- Careers Service give careers information, advice and guidance to people living in Northern Ireland
- you can search for employment at Jobs and Benefits offices or visit your local office, or search at JobApplyNI
Information on employment rights and responsibilities can be found on the Labour Relations Agency website:
Right to Work checks
Prospective employers will ask you to show proof that you have the right to work in the UK.
You can use the following documents to prove your right to work:
- the UK entry stamp in your passport which is valid for six months
- the visa approval email from Home Office - it is possible that your sponsor received this email rather than you so if you do not have a copy of this, ask your sponsor to forward
- a ‘share code’ - a digital certificate provided by the Home Office which confirms your right to work - this is an online process which can be accessed at the following link:
- Prove your right to work to an employer: get a share code
Your BRP does not provide evidence of permission to work but can be used to apply for a ‘share code.’
If you are a prospective employer, visit the following link for further information about right to work checks:
Apply for the National Insurance Number
A National Insurance (NI) number is used to make sure your National Insurance contributions and tax are recorded against your name only.
This is a code with letters and numbers and never changes.
Employers must do ‘Right to Work’ checks on everyone they hire.
Having a National Insurance number is not part of these checks and does not prove that someone has the right to work.
If you do not have a National Insurance Number, you can find information on how to apply:
When you make an application, you will need to give a copy of your work documents and proof that you have the right to work. Your employer will tell you what documents you need.
Get your country’s qualifications recognised in the UK
If you live in Northern Ireland, the Department of Communities (DfC) offers a free qualification equivalence service to compare your qualifications to the UK equivalent.
You can access the free service by contacting your local Jobs and Benefits office, the Careers Service or the Cross Border Partnership for Employment Services (CBPES)
You can access the free service by contacting your local Jobs and Benefits office, the Careers Service or the Cross Border Partnership for Employment Services (CBPES).
Find out more about the service at the following link:
Proof of residence in Northern Ireland is needed to use the free service.
Note that there is a 48 working hours response time for qualifications sent to the UK European Network of Information Centres ((UK ENIC) for comparison.
Contact details for UK ENIC are available at the following link: