RTPF Checker

The RTPF Checker enables a council to instantly ‘look-up’ a person’s immigration status and confirm whether they can access public funds (benefits and local authority housing assistance). Therefore, a digital immigration status can be instantly accessed when a person does not have an eVisa account or is having difficulties obtaining a share-code.  

The RTPF Checker can be used by housing departments, early years teams and any other council services that may need to confirm immigration status when deciding whether a resident can access a service. 

The RTPF Checker is hosted by LoCTA Limited and operated by the NRPF Network. It has been developed in partnership with the Home Office. 

Now that eVisas have replaced physical immigration documents, the RTPF checker is an essential tool to reduce the risk of digital exclusion by enabling services, such as housing, to quickly clarify a person’s ability to access public funds in order to inform an eligibility decision. 

"Prior to using the RTPF Checker, our service had to contact the Home Office by email to confirm an applicant’s immigration status when they were unable to provide a share code or the required documentation. This often-delayed assessments and decision-making. 

Since adopting the RTPF Checker, our staff have been able to verify applicants' status instantly, significantly improving the speed of assessments and eligibility decisions."

- Housing needs manager, Barnet Homes

The RTPF checker should be used when confirmation of a person's immigration status or access to public funds is necessary to inform an eligibility decision, but no further contact with the Home Office is required. For example, where a housing authority needs to confirm an applicant’s eligibility for homelessness assistance. As there is no limit to the number of staff that can access the RTPF Checker, the service can be used widely by relevant teams so that immigration status can be quickly and efficiently confirmed, as required.

NRPF Connect is used by practitioners who are responsible for assessing need and delivering accommodation and financial support to families, adults with care needs, and care leavers, and are usually based in children’s social care, adult social care, or a dedicated NRPF team. When social care duties are engaged to provide accommodation and financial support, ongoing communication is required with the Home Office through NRPF Connect to notify involvement, request case prioritisation, and account for a high-cost area of social care practice.

A local authority user will be able to ‘look-up’ the person’s immigration status by inputting specific credentials, such as a National Insurance number, passport number, or UK Visas and Immigration account number. This information will be checked against Home Office systems.

The information returned on the RTPF Checker will confirm:

• The type of leave that the person has or has held within the last 2 years
• Whether the leave is valid
• Whether the person can access public funds (benefits and local authority housing assistance)

The council can then use the information to inform its eligibility decision, applying the relevant criteria.

The annual subscription charge is £1500 per organisation.

The charge includes:

• Access to the RTPF Checker
• An unlimited number of user accounts
• Ability for admin users to verify accounts and assign roles
• Fully supported Single Sign-On
• User support from the NRPF Network and LoCTA (hosting company)

Step one: Review access agreement

Contact the NRPF Network to request the RTPF Checker Access Agreement and review terms. 

A demonstration of the service can be provided on request. 

Step two: Enable access

Access to the RTPF Checker is secured by Single Sign-On and an IP allow list. We will require the assistance of your IT department to put these controls in place. 

Full instructions will be sent with the contract paperwork. 

Step three: Return the signed access agreement

Send the signed access agreement to the NRPF Network. 

We will return a countersigned copy for your records. 

Step four: Confirm local admin users

Confirm who will have admin rights to manage user accounts locally, so that relevant managers have oversight of access to the service.

Admin users will be able to create and delete user accounts and re-set passwords. 

Step five: Go live

We will advise you of your 'go live' date.

The link to the RTPF Checker can be passed on to relevant staff to save as a bookmark, so that immigration status and access to public funds can be quickly and efficiently confirmed when required. 

Admin users will need to set up and manage local user accounts.

New users will need to attempt to login once to request access. 

If you would like to enquire about subscribing to the RTPF checker, require user support, or have any other questions, please contact us at: RTPFChecker@Islington.gov.uk.