Working for Border Force
Part of the Home Office, we carry out immigration and customs checks at ports (sea, rail and air) across the country.
Working for Border Force: video
You can also view a version of the video with audio description.
Working for Border Force: audio description version
Who we are
As part of the Home Office, we carry out crucial immigration and customs checks at ports (sea, rail and air) across the country.
What we do
We’re a frontline law enforcement organisation, and it’s our job to make sure the UK’s border is safe and secure 24/7. That means we patrol the UK coastline, alert security services to people of interest, and gather intelligence. We also search baggage, vehicles and cargo for illegal immigrants or goods, and check the immigration status of people arriving in, or departing from, the UK.
So – whatever’s about to land, or whoever’s about to enter the country – we’re the UK’s first line of defence. And ultimately, we help to keep people safe.
What it’s like here
Security will always be our top priority and, with both data and intelligence, we have a clear picture of those wanting to enter the country. It’s about blending this knowledge with the skill and intuition of our officers to make informed, swift decisions. That’s how we’re able to stop certain individuals or goods from crossing our borders, and minimise the threat they pose.
Being a Border Force Officer sometimes puts you in difficult or pressurised situations. It means emotional resilience, commitment, discipline and respect are key. You’ve got to be calm and professional under trying circumstances, and enjoy being part of a team.
In addition to day-to-day responsibilities, you might also be deployed on projects to meet other strategic objectives, such as counter-terrorism or human trafficking. So, a career with us is varied, exciting and rewarding. Alongside competitive salaries, we also offer a range of excellent benefits – from a pension, flexible working and generous holiday allowance, to childcare vouchers and a season ticket loan. We also offer:
- maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks’ full pay followed by 13 weeks’ statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid
- paternity leave of 2 weeks’ full pay
Our officers work at 140 ports around the UK. Check out our latest vacancies below for opportunities near you.
Diversity
We have an incredibly broad remit at the Home Office, with our work affecting every citizen of the country. It’s essential that our organisation reflects the very best of 21st century Britain and we encourage applications from all backgrounds and circumstances. We recruit on merit after a fair and open selection process and support different ways of working, such as flexible working.
We’re proud to be a ‘Disability Confident Employer’ and we were the first organisation to be ‘Clear Assured’, which recognised our efforts to recruit and retain employees with disabilities. We also offer a guaranteed interview scheme for people with disabilities who meet our minimum selection criteria.
To date we have been recognised by the Times Top 50 Employers for Women, named a Stonewall Star Performer, and listed by Business In The Community as an inclusive employer for race.
Employees have the opportunity to join our vibrant diversity staff support networks, including Gen (gender), The Network (black Asian and minority ethnic), Spectrum (LGBT+) and Able (disabilities). Our networks help raise awareness and help us build an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive and be themselves at work.
More about Border Force
To find out more about working for Border Force, including links to the latest recruitment campaigns and staff testimonies please visit the Home Office Careers website.