Share Code
A share code is a 9-character alphanumeric code that a visa holder generates through the Home Office online service to let employers, landlords, or other organisations verify their UK immigration status digitally — replacing the need to show physical documents.
In This Article
- What is a share code?
- How to generate a share code
- How employers and landlords use it
- Right to work vs right to rent share codes
- Validity and expiry
- Who can use a share code?
- Common issues and troubleshooting
- Frequently asked questions
- Related terms
What Is a Share Code?
A share code is a unique 9-character code (letters and numbers) that you generate online to prove your UK immigration status. Instead of handing over a physical Biometric Residence Permit or passport, you give your employer or landlord the share code along with your date of birth. They enter these into the Home Office online checking service and instantly see your current immigration status, including your visa type and any conditions attached.
The share code system is part of the UK government's push towards digital immigration status (eVisa). Since physical BRPs expired on 31 December 2024, the share code has become the primary way most non-British workers prove their status. If you are on a work visa in 2025, this is almost certainly how your employer will verify your right to work.
How to Generate a Share Code
You generate a share code through the Home Office online service:
- For right to work: Go to gov.uk/prove-right-to-work
- For right to rent: Go to gov.uk/prove-right-to-rent
- Log in to your UKVI account using your identity document (passport, BRP, or national identity card) and your date of birth
- Select what you want to prove (right to work or right to rent)
- The system generates a share code — a 9-character code displayed on screen
You can copy the code, note it down, or share it with the requesting party directly. The code is also sent to the email address linked to your UKVI account.
How Employers and Landlords Use It
Once you provide your share code and date of birth, the employer or landlord:
- Goes to the Home Office's online checking service (gov.uk/check-immigration-status)
- Enters the share code and your date of birth
- Sees your current immigration status: visa type, conditions (e.g., "can work" or "work limited"), and expiry date
- Downloads or saves a screenshot as evidence of the check
For employers, this constitutes a valid right to work check that establishes a statutory excuse. For landlords, it satisfies the right to rent check obligation.
Right to Work vs Right to Rent Share Codes
The share code system has two separate services for two different purposes:
| Purpose | Generate at | Checker uses | Who checks? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right to work | gov.uk/prove-right-to-work | gov.uk/check-immigration-status | Employers |
| Right to rent | gov.uk/prove-right-to-rent | gov.uk/check-immigration-status | Landlords |
Both codes draw from the same underlying immigration data, but don't mix them up: a right-to-work code won't work for a right-to-rent check, and vice versa. You need to generate the correct type for the situation.
Validity and Expiry
- Codes are valid for 90 days from the date of generation
- After 90 days, the code expires and you will need to generate a fresh one
- You can generate a new code at any time, even if a previous one is still active
- There is no limit to the number of codes you can create
- Each code is single-purpose, showing only the status information relevant to the check type (work or rent)
If your employer or landlord needs to do a repeat check (e.g., before your visa expires), you will need to generate a fresh code at that time.
Who Can Use a Share Code?
You can generate a share code if you have any of the following:
- An eVisa (digital immigration status) linked to your UKVI account
- A Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) — though since BRPs expired in December 2024, most holders have now migrated to eVisa status
- EU Settlement Scheme status (settled or pre-settled)
- A UK visa linked to your passport via the online immigration status service
People who cannot use the share code system include British and Irish citizens (who prove status with a passport instead) and a small number of legacy visa holders whose status has not yet been digitised. In those cases, the employer or landlord falls back on a manual document check or the Employer/Landlord Checking Service.
Common Issues and Troubleshooting
- "Code not recognised" error — Check the code hasn't expired (90-day limit) and that the date of birth entered matches exactly what's on your immigration record. Even a single digit difference will fail.
- Status shows outdated information — Your UKVI online account may not have been updated after a recent visa decision. Contact the UKVI Resolution Centre to request an update.
- Cannot log in to generate a code — Make sure you're using the same identity document you used to create your UKVI account. If you've got a new passport since then, you may need to link it to your account first.
- Employer refuses to accept a share code — They shouldn't. Employers have a legal obligation to accept online checks for workers with digital immigration status. They cannot insist on a physical document when the online system confirms status.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my share code doesn't work?
Check that the code has not expired (codes are valid for 90 days) and that the employer or landlord is entering your date of birth exactly as it appears on your immigration record. If the code is valid but the check returns an error, contact the UKVI Resolution Centre — there may be a data mismatch on the Home Office system.
Can I generate multiple share codes at the same time?
Yes. You can generate as many share codes as you need — for example, one for your employer and a separate one for your landlord. Each code is independent and has its own 90-day validity period.
Do I need a share code if I have a British passport?
No. British and Irish citizens prove their right to work and right to rent using their passport (or Irish passport card). The share code system is designed for people with digital immigration status — those on visas, with EU Settlement Scheme status, or holding eVisas.
What if the employer's check shows incorrect information?
Contact UKVI immediately to correct the record. In the meantime, the employer can use the Employer Checking Service (ECS) to request a manual verification from the Home Office, which provides a Positive Verification Notice valid for 6 months while the issue is resolved.
Related Terms
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