What is a right to work check?

A right to work check is a check that validates the work rights of an individual to work in Australia.

This is done either:

• Through the Department of Immigration’s database (VEVO); or
• Sighting specific valid ID to verify you have the right to work in Australia.

VEVO lookups

For VEVO right to work checks, the right to work check will only provide information if your details are available electronically in the Department of Immigration’s database (VEVO).

Some foreign nationals, such as those permanent residents that migrated to Australia before the early 1990s and have not travelled out of Australia since, might not have a searchable record.

New Zealanders are often granted a Special Category (subclass 444) visa to them when they arrive in Australia which automatically ends on their departure from Australia. If you were granted one of these visas and you are outside of Australia when a right to work check is run, you will be shown as not having a current visa as that visa will have ended when you left Australia.

Australian Citizens

Australian Citizens need to verify their work rights by proving their citizenship. This can be done by supplying a government issued document:

• Australian Passport
• Australian Birth Certificate
• Australian Citizenship Certificate

Additionally, if the supplied document does not contain photo identification, a photo id (e.g. drivers licence) will also need to be supplied.