Get Share Code UK: GOV.UK Step-by-Step Guide

Key facts about the share code system, including validity windows and alternative verification methods.

How do I get my UK share code?

Generating a share code takes most people under five minutes, provided you already have a UKVI account. If you do not, you can create one when you apply for a visa, through the UK Immigration ID Check app, or when applying to the EU Settlement Scheme. The portal to use is view-immigration-status.service.gov.uk.

Access the GOV.UK portal

• Navigate to view-immigration-status.service.gov.uk/get-share-code
• Sign in with the email and password linked to your UKVI account (GOV.UK)
• If you do not have a UKVI account, you will need to create one first via the GOV.UK portal

Enter your details

• Once signed in, you will be prompted to confirm your date of birth
• The system will display your current immigration status and any available share code options
• Select the purpose type: right to work, right to rent, or other verification

Generate and share

• Click “Generate share code” — a 9-character alphanumeric code will appear on screen
• You can copy it immediately or request it be sent via email or text
• The code is valid for 90 days from generation and can be reused during that window (Citizens Rights Project)

What are share codes and how do I use them?

A share code is a temporary digital credential that lets a third party — an employer, landlord, or government official — check your immigration status through the GOV.UK system without seeing your full immigration file. There is no physical document involved once you have an eVisa; the share code is your proof.

Definition from GOV.UK

An eVisa shows your identity and immigration status, including your rights to work, rent, and claim benefits in the UK (GOV.UK). A share code is the access key that lets someone else query that record. The system is designed so that the third party learns only whether you have the right they are checking — not your full immigration history.

Generate options

You have two main routes into the share code system. The first is through your UKVI account at view-immigration-status.service.gov.uk, as described above. The second is via the eVisa route: if you already have an eVisa, you can log in and generate a share code from the same portal. Both routes produce the same 9-character code.

Share with employer or landlord

When you give your share code to an employer, they enter it alongside your date of birth at the employer verification portal (GOV.UK). They will see a confirmation screen showing whether you have the right to work and any conditions attached. For landlords, the same process applies at the right to rent portal.

Where can I use a share code?

Share codes are accepted across three main contexts: employment verification, rental checks, and travel or border documentation. Each context has its own rules about what the employer or agent receives back from the system.

Right to work checks

When applying for a job, employers are required to check that you have the right to work in the UK. They cannot reject your application because you gave them an eligible immigration document instead of a share code (GOV.UK). However, using the share code online is the fastest route for both parties. Employers can use the share code to check the types of jobs you are allowed to do and how long you can work in the UK. For settled and pre-settled status holders, this check only needs to happen once at the start of employment — no follow-up checks are required (Citizens Rights Project).

Rentals and travel

Landlords and letting agents use the share code to verify your right to rent in England. If you have pre-settled status and use a share code, your landlord will not see the expiry date of your status in the confirmation they receive (Citizens Rights Project). For travel, the share code is less commonly demanded at border control, but it serves as supporting documentation if your immigration status is questioned.

eVisa integration

The eVisa system is progressively replacing physical BRP cards. If you have an eVisa, your immigration status lives entirely in the digital record — there is no physical document to lose or damage. The share code is the interface between that digital record and anyone who needs to verify your status. A biometric residence permit (BRP) can still be used to get a share code for up to 18 months after the expiry date printed on the card, which provides a transition window for those still waiting for eVisa access (GOV.UK).

Can I check my UK immigration status online?

Yes — the entire point of the eVisa system is that your immigration status is always accessible online. You do not need to wait for a physical document, contact the Home Office by phone, or attend an appointment to find out where you stand.

Online status viewer

The online status viewer at view-immigration-status.service.gov.uk shows your current immigration status the same way the Home Office sees it. If your status has been decided — whether granted, refused, or still pending — it will appear there. You do not need a share code to check your own status; you only need your UKVI login credentials.

eVisa access

An eVisa is a digital record of your identity and immigration status, including your rights to work, rent, or claim benefits (GOV.UK). To access yours, sign in with the same details you used when you created your UKVI account — your passport, national identity card, or biometric residence card. Once in, you can generate a share code at any time.

Update pre-settled status

Pre-settled status holders can update their status to settled (also called indefinite leave to remain in some categories) once they have accumulated five years of continuous UK residence. The online system will reflect that update without requiring you to reapply by paper or attend a biometric appointment. If your status changes, the online viewer updates automatically.

Can I work in the UK without a share code?

Yes and no — you do not technically need a share code to work, but you do need to demonstrate your right to work by some means. A share code is the most convenient digital route, but it is not the only one.

Alternatives limited

You can prove your right to work by showing an eligible immigration document to your employer, rather than providing a share code. Your employer cannot reject your application because you provided an eligible immigration document instead of a share code (GOV.UK). This covers situations where you have a valid BRP, passport with valid vignette, or other Home Office-issued document. However, many employers now prefer the online share code route because it is quicker and produces a clearer confirmation result.

Employer requirements

Employers are legally required to conduct right to work checks before employing someone. They must use either the online service (via share code or Employer Checking Service) or check physical documents from a prescribed list. If an employer asks all employees to re-verify their right to work, you may be asked to prove your status even if you proved it before 1 July 2021 — that date is the cutoff after which re-checking is not routinely required for individual employees (Citizens Advice).

Right to work rules

If you cannot generate a share code — for example, because you are waiting for a decision on a pending application — your employer can verify your right to work using the Home Office Employer Checking Service. This service provides a written confirmation that is valid for 6 months, after which a new check must be requested (Citizens Rights Project). The certificate of application issued by the Home Office when you apply to the EU Settlement Scheme allows you to work while your application is pending, though since August 2023 these certificates are no longer issued automatically upon submission (Citizens Rights Project).