Sponsor records · Official guidance · Checked 22 September 2026
Civil penalty levels for illegal working (dated, 2026)
Civil penalties for employing an illegal worker tripled on 13 February 2024 and stand at up to £45,000 per worker for a first breach and up to £60,000 for a repeat breach. They are maximums assessed against the circumstances, and the defence against them is documentary: a prescribed check, correctly done before employment began, and still retrievable. Checked 22 September 2026.
Last updated .
Penalty register
Levels, reductions and the statutory excuse
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| Item | Amount or rule | In force | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| First breach | Up to £45,000 per illegal worker, raised from £15,000 | 13 February 2024 | |
| Repeat breach | Up to £60,000 per illegal worker, raised from £20,000, where a previous penalty falls within the preceding three years | 13 February 2024 | |
| Fast payment reduction | 30% reduction where a first-breach penalty is paid within 21 days | Current | |
| Statutory excuse | Established by carrying out a prescribed right-to-work check correctly before employment begins, and retaining the evidence | Current | |
| How the amount is set | The figures above are maximums and starting points, not automatic charges; the Home Office assesses the circumstances, previous liability and mitigating factors | Current |
Checked 22 September 2026. Per worker, not per incident, so exposure scales with the number of workers involved. This page summarises published penalty levels and does not assess liability, the strength of any excuse, or the merits of an objection or appeal, all of which need advice on the facts.
What actually protects you
The excuse is evidential, not procedural
Having a checking policy is not the same as being able to produce the check for the worker in question.
A penalty is also separate from action against your licence: the same facts can produce a civil penalty and a licence decision, on different tracks and different timescales. Soteriaa can hold check records, dates and follow-up tasks and show which workers have nothing on file; it does not verify a document, determine whether an excuse exists, or represent you. See right-to-work check tracking and director liability.
- Complete the prescribed check before employment begins; a check done later does not retrospectively create the excuse.
- Retain the evidence in the prescribed form, and keep it retrievable for the required period.
- Record who carried out each check and when, so a named check can be produced rather than a general assurance.
- Repeat checks where the worker has time-limited permission, and record the follow-up date.
Where the official action happens
Reports, applications and payments are completed in the Home Office systems, not in Soteriaa. A record tracker can hold the dates, the evidence and the follow-up task, and show you what has no record against it. It does not file a report, does not become the official system because the names overlap, and does not confirm that what you filed was correct or in time. The responsible person remains the one named on your licence.
How to use this page
This is a dated, manually checked summary of published official sources, not a live feed and not a complete statement of immigration law. Figures, deadlines and paragraph references were correct against the sources cited on 22 September 2026 and change without notice. Always open the primary source before acting, and refer questions about an individual worker to a solicitor or a regulated immigration adviser. Soteriaa sells document and record-tracking software and makes no compliance determination. Soteriaa provides document and workflow tools, not legal assistance or compliance advice. It helps organise records, evidence and deadlines; it does not determine compliance, certify records or submit official reports on your behalf. You review the information and remain responsible for required checks and submissions.