How to Get a Right to Work Share Code in the UK

To get a right to work share code in the UK, use the official GOV.UK online service, sign in with your UKVI account or identity document details, choose the option to prove your right to work to an employer, and generate a code. You then give that code to your employer together with your date of birth so they can complete the Home Office online right to work check.

A right to work share code is often needed when you are starting a new job, changing employer or completing pre-employment checks. It is especially common for people with an eVisa, EU Settlement Scheme status, a Skilled Worker visa, a Student visa, family visa permission, settlement or another UK immigration status recorded digitally by UKVI.

The process is usually straightforward, but small mistakes can cause delays. The most common issues are using the wrong type of share code, entering the wrong date of birth, losing access to a UKVI account, or assuming that a share code means there are no work restrictions. If your immigration position is unclear, Immigration UK can help you understand what your status allows before you rely on it for employment checks.

A right to work share code is a digital code that allows an employer to view your Home Office record and confirm whether you are allowed to work in the UK. It does not give you permission to work by itself. It simply lets your employer check the permission you already have.

When the employer uses the code correctly, the online result may show whether you can work, the types of work you are allowed to do, any restrictions on your employment, and the date your permission ends if your status is time limited. For example, a student's online result may show work restrictions, while a worker with time limited leave may need a follow-up check before their permission expires.

Important: right to work, right to rent and general immigration status share codes are not interchangeable. If your employer asks for a right to work code, make sure you select the employment purpose when generating it.

Most people who use right to work share codes are non-British and non-Irish nationals whose immigration status can be checked online. This includes many people with an eVisa, a UKVI account, EU Settlement Scheme status, a biometric residence permit record, or another digital immigration status.

You may be able to use the online service if you have, or can sign in using, one of the following:

A passport or national identity card linked to your UKVI account.
A biometric residence permit or biometric residence card reference where accepted by the service.
UKVI account details, including access to the linked email address or mobile telephone number.
A digital immigration status, such as settled or pre-settled status.
A digital certificate of entitlement to the right of abode, in certain cases.

GOV.UK guidance should be checked before relying on expired biometric residence permit details to access the online right to work service, as transitional arrangements can change. In any event, using BRP details to access a digital check does not mean that expired immigration permission is extended. Your underlying immigration status is what matters.

British and Irish citizens generally do not get a right to work share code for this purpose. They usually prove their right to work through an original passport, Irish passport card, or another accepted document or digital identity route. If you are a British or Irish citizen and an employer asks for a share code, it may be worth explaining that the Home Office process for you is different.

The official route is the GOV.UK service for proving your right to work. You can start from the government page for getting a share code to prove your right to work. Be careful to use the employment option, not the right to rent option or a general status sharing code.

Before you start, it helps to have a few things ready. You may not need every item, but having the correct information nearby makes the process smoother:

Your passport, national identity card, BRP details or UKVI account details.
Access to the email address or mobile number linked to your UKVI account.
Your date of birth, which your employer will also need for the check.
Your employer's name or contact details, if you plan to send the code directly through the service.
An understanding of any work restrictions attached to your visa or immigration status.

You will be asked to sign in or provide identity details. The details requested depend on how your immigration status is recorded. Some people use their passport or national identity card, while others use UKVI account information or details linked to a biometric document.

If the service sends a security code to an old email address or telephone number, you may need to recover or update your UKVI account before you can continue. This is one reason it is sensible to keep your UKVI contact details up to date, especially before starting a new job.

Step 2: Choose the Right Purpose

Once you are in the system, choose the option to prove your right to work to an employer. This step matters because the Home Office produces different share codes for different purposes. A landlord does not need the same information as an employer, and a general immigration status code may not give the employer the right checking result.

The service will generate a right to work share code. Before sending it, check the information displayed in your online status. Make sure your name, photograph, nationality and immigration status appear correct. If something looks wrong, do not simply hope the employer will overlook it. Errors in your eVisa or UKVI account can cause avoidable delays.

If you need broader guidance on digital status, the article on how to prove your UK immigration status online explains how online status is commonly used beyond employment checks.

Step 4: Give the Code and Date of Birth to Your Employer

Your employer needs the share code and your date of birth. You can usually copy the code, email it, print it, write it down or use an online sharing option if available. Treat it as personal information and avoid posting it publicly.

The employer then uses a separate Home Office checking service. You do not complete the employer's check yourself. Your role is to provide the correct code and date of birth, and to make sure your immigration status details are accurate.

A right to work share code is valid for 90 days under current GOV.UK guidance. It can be used more than once during that period, so you do not necessarily need a new code for every individual check within the 90 days.

Once the code expires, you can generate a new one if you still have an immigration status that can be proved online. The expiry of the code is not the same as the expiry of your visa or immigration permission. A code expiring after 90 days does not shorten your visa, and a fresh code does not extend your visa. It is simply a temporary access key for the employer's check.

Your employer enters the code and your date of birth into the Home Office online checking service. The result should show whether you have permission to work and whether there are any restrictions that affect the job being offered.

The employer should check that the photograph on the online result matches you, that the result confirms permission for the role, and that any conditions are followed. If your permission is time limited, the employer may need to record when a follow-up check is required. Employers are also expected to keep evidence of the online check, including the date it was carried out.

This is why a screenshot of your eVisa or a code typed into an email is not normally enough on its own. The employer must complete the prescribed online check and review the Home Office result. It is a little more formal than simply saying, "Here's my code, all sorted", but the process is designed to protect both the worker and the employer.

Work Restrictions and Visa Conditions

A right to work share code may show that you can work, but it does not always mean you can do any job without limits. Your employer must check whether the specific role is allowed under your immigration conditions.

Students should be particularly careful. Student visa holders may have limits on working hours during term time and restrictions on the types of work they can do. If you are unsure how your study conditions affect employment, Immigration UK's UK Study Visa guidance may help you understand the wider immigration context.

Skilled Worker visa holders should also take care when changing role, employer or working pattern. Some changes may require a new visa application or updated sponsorship before the work can begin. If your job offer depends on sponsored employment, Immigration UK's UK Work Visa support explains key issues around employment-based immigration routes.

If your employer says the code does not work, do not panic. A failed check does not automatically mean you have no right to work. It may be a technical issue, an expired code, a typing mistake or a problem with your UKVI account.

Start with the simple checks. Make sure the employer has entered the code exactly as provided and used your correct date of birth. Confirm that the code was generated for right to work, not right to rent or another purpose. If the code is more than 90 days old, generate a new one.

If the problem continues, sign in to your UKVI account and check whether your personal details and immigration status are correct. Look for errors in your name, photograph, nationality or status expiry date. If you changed passport, telephone number or email address, your account may need updating.

Where you cannot use the online service, an alternative route may be available, but only if your document or circumstances are accepted under current Home Office right to work guidance. Many people with eVisas, BRPs, BRCs or status linked to a digital record must use the online checking service instead. In other cases, particularly where there is a pending application, appeal, administrative review or unavailable document, the employer may need to use the Home Office Employer Checking Service. If the Home Office confirms the position, the employer may receive a Positive Verification Notice.

You should not assume you can start work simply because you believe an application is pending or because you previously had permission. The employer must have acceptable evidence before employing you.

Yes, in some circumstances. Not everyone proves the right to work with a share code. British and Irish citizens generally use accepted identity documents or an eligible digital identity service. A manual document check may be possible for some people, but only where the document is accepted under the current Home Office right to work guidance.

However, if you have an eVisa or online immigration status, your employer will usually need to complete the Home Office online check using your share code. Many people with BRP or BRC-linked status also need to use the online checking service rather than relying on the physical document itself. The correct method depends on your nationality, immigration status and documents. Employers should not discriminate against applicants because of nationality or because their right to work is proved in a particular permitted way.

If your online status is wrong, your work conditions are unclear, or you are in the middle of an extension, appeal or review, it is sensible to get advice before relying on an assumption. A routine share code is simple; an unclear immigration position is not always simple.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a right to work share code in the UK?

Use the GOV.UK online service, sign in with your UKVI account or identity details, choose the option to prove your right to work to an employer, and generate the code. Give the code and your date of birth to your employer.

How long is a right to work share code valid?

A right to work share code is valid for 90 days under current GOV.UK guidance. You can generate a new code when needed if your status can still be proved online.

Can British or Irish citizens get a right to work share code?

British and Irish citizens generally do not use right to work share codes. They usually prove their right to work with accepted documents, such as a passport or Irish passport card, or through an approved digital identity route.

Does a share code prove I can do any job?

No. The employer must check the online result and confirm that your immigration conditions allow the particular role, hours and type of work. Students and sponsored workers should be especially careful about restrictions.

What should I do if my eVisa details are wrong?

You should update or report the incorrect UKVI account or eVisa details before relying on a new share code. If the error affects your work permission, consider getting immigration advice before starting employment.

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