How to Get Share Code for UK Right to Work

If you’ve ever started a new job in the UK and been asked to prove your right to work, you may have encountered something called a share code. It’s not a PIN, not a password — it’s a 9-character code that lets employers check your immigration status online through an official government service. The process takes about five minutes once you know where to look, and you don’t need to visit a office or post documents anywhere. This guide walks you through exactly how to generate one, what it’s valid for, and who actually needs one.

Official Access: view-immigration-status.service.gov.uk/get-share-code · Primary Purpose: Prove right to work · Restriction: No vignette sticker · Additional Need: Date of birth

These links form the backbone of the UK digital right-to-work verification system.

How do I get a share code?

Generating a share code takes place entirely online through the GOV.UK portal. You do not need to visit a Home Office office, post documents, or pay a fee. The official service at view-immigration-status.service.gov.uk handles the entire process for both right to work and right to rent purposes.

Prerequisites for generating a share code

Before you begin, you need three things in place. First, you must have a UKVI account — this is the online account tied to your immigration status, typically created when you applied for your visa or EU Settlement Scheme. Second, you need your date of birth. Third, your immigration status must be recorded digitally. This means you hold an eVisa or have converted your documents to the online system. Holders of a vignette sticker in their passport cannot generate a share code and must instead apply for a digital certificate of entitlement.

Step-by-step process on GOV.UK

The generation process follows five straightforward steps. You go to gov.uk/prove-right-to-work/get-a-share-code-online and select the purpose — right to work or right to rent. You then sign in to your UKVI account, which triggers a 6-digit code sent to your registered phone or email. You enter that code to confirm your identity. Finally, you create the share code, which is generated immediately on screen.

The share code appears as a 9-character alphanumeric string. You can share it with your employer or landlord, who will use the Employer Checking Service to verify your status. Employers need your share code plus your date of birth to complete the check.

What are share codes and how do I use them?

A share code is a unique 9-character alphanumeric code that non-UK nationals provide to third parties — primarily employers or landlords — so those parties can verify immigration status through an official government portal. The code is not proof in itself; it is a key that unlocks a real-time check of your digital immigration record.

Definition and purpose

The GOV.UK guidance states that you can get a share code to prove your right to work in the UK if you are not a British or Irish citizen. The share code links to your immigration account and shows your work type, duration, and any restrictions. It replaces the need to present original physical documents in most cases.

British and Irish citizens do not need a share code — a valid passport is sufficient under the Common Travel Area arrangements. EU, EEA, or Swiss citizens with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme do need one. So do visa holders on Skilled Worker, Graduate, Health and Care, or Student routes. Refugees and those with indefinite leave to remain also require a share code to prove their right to work.

Sharing with employers or landlords

When you start a job, you give your employer the share code and your date of birth. The employer then enters these into the Employer Checking Service at view-immigration-status.service.gov.uk. The service returns a result confirming your eligibility to work in the UK.

Landlords follow a similar process using the right to rent version of the service. Crucially, share codes are purpose-specific. A code generated for right to work is invalid for right to rent, and vice versa. This distinction matters — you cannot reuse the same code across different types of checks.

How to get share code right to work?

The right to work share code is the most commonly requested version. If you are a non-British, non-Irish national starting employment in the UK, this is the code you need. The process runs through the dedicated right to work portal at GOV.UK.

Right to work specific steps

Navigate to gov.uk/prove-right-to-work/get-a-share-code-online. Select “get a share code” and then choose “right to work” as the purpose. Sign in to your UKVI account using your credentials. Receive and enter the 6-digit authentication code sent to your registered mobile number or email. Select the relevant immigration status you want to share and generate the code.

Your share code is valid for 90 days from the time of generation, according to guidance from Citizens Advice. After that period, you simply generate a new one — the process is the same and free each time.

Employer verification process

Once you provide your share code and date of birth, the employer uses the Employer Checking Service. They enter the code and your date of birth on the official portal. The system returns a result showing whether you have the right to work and any conditions attached, such as work type or permitted hours.

Employers must complete right to work checks before your first day of employment. Failure to do so can result in civil penalties. The share code check satisfies this requirement entirely online — no physical document inspection is required at that stage.

What this means: for employers hiring non-UK nationals, the share code system has made compliance faster but requires attention to timing. Codes expire, so generating one too far in advance of a start date can mean it lapses before the check is completed.

Can everyone get a share code?

Not everyone in the UK needs a share code. The requirement applies to non-British and non-Irish citizens with digital immigration status. There are specific groups who are exempt, and there are exceptions that require alternative proof methods.

Eligibility criteria

You need a share code if you fall into any of these categories: EU, EEA, or Swiss citizens with settled or pre-settled status; holders of Skilled Worker, Graduate, Health and Care, Student, or other visa types; refugees and those granted asylum; people with indefinite leave to remain; Commonwealth citizens exercising right of abode; and eVisa holders.

British citizens do not need one — a valid British passport is sufficient. Irish citizens can use their Irish passport under Common Travel Area rules and do not require a share code, though they may choose to obtain one if preferred.

Exceptions and alternatives

The main exception is holders of vignette stickers in their passport. If your entry clearance took the form of a sticker rather than a digital record, you cannot generate a share code. Instead, you must apply for a digital certificate of entitlement, which involves additional steps and documentation.

If you have a biometric residence permit (BRP) that has expired, you can still use it to generate a share code for up to 18 months after the expiry date, according to GOV.UK official guidance. This bridge period allows time to transition to the fully digital eVisa system.

EU Settlement Scheme applicants who are still awaiting a decision receive a certificate of application, which can serve as temporary proof of right to work while the application is pending.

How long is a share code?

A share code consists of 9 alphanumeric characters. It is not a number-only code, and it is not formatted like a PIN or password — it is a random string of letters and numbers generated specifically for each session.

Format and validity period

The code follows the format of 9 characters, such as “AB12CD34Z” — a combination that makes it reasonably secure and unique. One code is generated per purpose per session, and you can regenerate as many times as needed.

Validity runs for 90 days from the date of generation. During this window, you can share the code with employers or landlords as needed. Once it expires, you must generate a fresh code — the old one stops working.

Renewal process

Renewing a share code is identical to generating the first one. You log in to the UKVI portal, authenticate with your 6-digit code, and create a new share code. There is no cost and no limit on how many times you can renew. For employees with long-term visas, generating a new code every 90 days becomes a routine task before checks with new employers or at periodic intervals.

Why this matters: the 90-day window means share codes function as temporary access keys rather than permanent credentials. This is by design — each check pulls a current view of your immigration status, so if your circumstances change, the record is up to date.

For employers and employees in the UK, the share code system has largely standardised how immigration status gets verified across industries. Non-UK nationals starting work should generate their code well before day one — the 90-day window covers the pre-employment check period comfortably, but an expired code forces a same-day re-generation that can delay a start date. Employees with settled or pre-settled status who change jobs regularly will want to bookmark the GOV.UK portal and treat code renewal as part of their onboarding routine.