Should I Mention Right to Work on My CV in the UK?

If you are wondering "should I mention right to work on my CV in the UK?", the short answer is: often, yes. Keep it to one factual line. Recruiters screening a pile of applications may wonder whether you can legally start work. A clear line answers that question before it becomes a reason to move on.

This post gives you wording for common situations and tells you what to leave out. It also covers how the advice changes in other countries.

Not legal advice. This is general information about CV writing, not immigration or employment law guidance. Your visa conditions are set out in your official documents and on GOV.UK. Check those, and speak to a qualified immigration adviser if you are unsure.

Should I mention right to work on my CV in the UK?

UK employers must check that people they hire have the right to work in the UK. GOV.UK explains the process on its page for employers: Check a job applicant's right to work. The check happens before employment starts, using documents or an online share code. It does not happen through your CV.

So a CV line is not a legal requirement. It is a practical courtesy. It helps in some situations more than others:

• It helps most if your name, education or work history is from outside the UK. A recruiter might otherwise assume you need sponsorship.
• It helps if you are applying from abroad or relocating, and your location could raise the same question.
• It matters less if you are a British or Irish citizen with an entirely UK-based history. Some people still include it, and it does no harm.

UK employers should not treat applicants differently because of nationality or race. GOV.UK guidance tells employers to carry out right to work checks on all candidates equally. In practice, you cannot control how a busy recruiter reads your CV. A neutral, factual line removes guesswork.

Wording you can copy (one line each)

Put the line in your contact details at the top, or as the last line of your short profile. Use a label so it is easy to spot. Pick the one that truthfully matches your situation.

Full, unrestricted right to work

• Right to work: Full right to work in the UK
• Right to work: Full right to work in the UK (British citizen)
• Right to work: Settled status (EU Settlement Scheme), no restrictions
• Right to work: Indefinite leave to remain, no restrictions

You do not have to state your nationality. "Full right to work in the UK" is enough on its own.

Time-limited visa without sponsorship needs

• Right to work: Graduate visa, valid until [month year]. No sponsorship needed during this period
• Right to work: Dependant visa, unrestricted right to work until [month year]

Include the expiry month if the role could run beyond it. Employers find out at the check anyway, and hiding it can damage trust later. Check your own visa's conditions before writing "unrestricted". Some visas allow most work but carry specific limits.

Student visa

• Right to work: Student visa, up to [X] hours per week in term time, full time in vacation periods

The permitted hours depend on your course level and sponsor. Copy the limit from your own visa or university guidance rather than guessing. This line matters most for part-time and seasonal roles.

Needs sponsorship

• Right to work: Will require Skilled Worker visa sponsorship
• Right to work: Currently based in Lagos; will require Skilled Worker visa sponsorship to relocate

Being upfront saves you time with employers who cannot sponsor. You can check whether a company holds a sponsor licence on the official register of licensed sponsors. For how to raise sponsorship in a letter, see how to mention visa sponsorship in a cover letter.

Application in progress

• Right to work: Graduate visa application submitted [month year]; current Student visa permits work until [date]

Only write this if it is accurate today. Update the line as soon as your status changes.

What to leave out

One line means one line. Do not include:

• Passport, BRP or eVisa reference numbers
• Your share code (you give this to an employer at the check stage, not on a CV sent to many people)
• Scans or photos of documents
• Date of birth, unless a specific form asks for it
• Long explanations of your immigration history

CVs get forwarded, uploaded to job boards and stored in recruitment databases. Identity details should only go to an employer that has reached the checking stage. Fake recruiters sometimes ask for them early, so stay cautious. GOV.UK explains how individuals share their status on Prove your right to work to an employer.

Where the line goes: a quick example

Here is a header for someone with a Graduate visa:

Amaka Obi Manchester | 07xxx xxxxxx | amaka.obi@email.com | linkedin.com/in/amakaobi Right to work: Graduate visa, valid until September [year]. No sponsorship needed during this period

That is it. Nothing more is needed in the body of the CV. If you want help laying out the rest of the page, our UK CV format guide covers length, spelling and the profile section.

Application forms and screening questions

Many UK employers ask about right to work directly in their online application form. Common questions include "Do you have the right to work in the UK?" and "Will you now or in future require sponsorship?"

A few practical points:

1. Answer the form exactly and honestly, even if your CV already says it. Forms are often reviewed separately from the CV.
2. Keep your answers consistent. If your CV says "no sponsorship needed until 2026" and the form asks about the future, the honest answer may be "yes". Read the question carefully.
3. Expect some forms to filter on these answers. Some employers set up their applicant tracking system so certain answers stop an application progressing. A CV line will not change that. Neither will any wording trick, so do not try to word around a question you should answer "yes" to.

If you are applying from Nigeria or another country, our guide on applying for UK jobs from Nigeria covers location lines and other CV changes.

How this differs by country

If you apply in more than one market, adjust the line for each one. Always check that country's official government guidance on work eligibility.

Country	Common practice	Example line
UK	Optional, useful if your background could raise questions	Right to work: Full right to work in the UK
US	International applicants often add a work authorisation line; many forms ask directly	Work authorization: Authorized to work in the US for any employer
Canada	Common to state status briefly, especially for newcomers	Status: Permanent Resident, eligible to work in Canada
Australia	Often included near the top; some employers ask for visa type	Work rights: Australian Permanent Resident
Nigeria	Rarely needed for Nigerian citizens applying locally; foreign nationals may mention their permit	Usually omitted for citizens

For remote roles hiring across borders, the question is often where you live rather than a visa. A line such as "Based in Abuja, Nigeria (WAT, UTC+1), available for fully remote roles" may be more relevant. Read location tags in the advert carefully.

A 2-minute checklist before you send

• Does the line match your current documents, word for word on any limits or dates?
• Is it one line, labelled, near the top?
• Have you removed document numbers, share codes and date of birth?
• Is the expiry date included if the job could outlast your visa?
• Does your application form answer agree with your CV?
• Have you adjusted the wording for the country you are applying in?
• Have you checked GOV.UK (or the relevant government site) if anything has changed recently?

If you are rebuilding your CV from scratch, the AI CV builder can help you structure the header and profile. Write the right to work line yourself from your own documents, because only you know your exact status.

The short version

One factual line, labelled "Right to work", near your contact details. State what you have, include an expiry date if relevant, and say clearly if you need sponsorship. Leave out identity numbers and long explanations. Check every detail against your official documents and GOV.UK rather than relying on this post. It will not guarantee an interview, but it gives the reader one less question to ask.