- A share code is a nine-character one-time code generated from a UKVI account that lets a third party view the holder's UK immigration status online.
- Share codes come in three types: right-to-work for employers, right-to-rent for landlords and a general status check for other purposes such as university enrolment or banking.
- Each share code is valid for 90 days from generation; a new code is generated for each new check rather than reusing a previous one.
- The recipient enters the code together with the holder's date of birth at view-prove-immigration-status to retrieve the status details relevant to the check type.
- Share-code generation is free and immediate; both the holder's generation and the recipient's check happen through the GOV.UK service with no commercial intermediary.
Last reviewed: 14 May 2026 | Chandraketu Tripathi, finance editor
A share code is the practical mechanism by which a UK visa holder proves status to the people who need to see it in 2026: the prospective employer running a right-to-work check, the letting agent confirming right-to-rent, the university registrar confirming international student status, the bank opening an account. The code is the bridge between the eVisa, held privately on the UKVI account, and the third party who needs a verified snapshot of it for a defined purpose. Generating a share code is the most common interaction a UK visa holder has with the UKVI online service after the visa is granted. This page is about how the share-code service works in 2026, the three code types and when each applies, and the operational rules that make the difference between a successful check and a rejected one.
What this means for UK visa applicants in 2026
The share code exists because UK immigration status in 2026 is digital and private: the eVisa lives on the holder's UKVI account and is not visible to anyone else unless the holder grants access. The share code is the consent mechanism. The holder generates a code, gives it to a specific third party, and the third party uses it to retrieve a defined view of the status. The code is single-purpose, time-limited and revealing only the status data relevant to the check type.
2026 is the first full year in which share codes are the universal status-proof mechanism for visa holders in the UK. Through 2024 and 2025, the BRP and the share code coexisted, with employers and landlords accepting either as evidence. From the end of 2025 the BRP no longer functions as status evidence, and the share code is the only mechanism through which a digital eVisa holder can prove status to a third party.
The practical implications are significant for everyday life. Every new job requires a fresh right-to-work share code. Every new tenancy requires a fresh right-to-rent share code. Many banks now require a status share code at account opening for non-UK nationals. University enrolment for international students includes a status share-code step in the registration flow. The holder needs to be familiar with the generation process and to be able to produce a code on demand, often within hours.
For holders comparing share codes to the old BRP, the operational mental model is similar but the direction of action is reversed. The BRP was a physical document the holder presented; the share code is a digital reference the third party retrieves. The third party never sees the holder's UKVI account directly; the share code unlocks a view-only window that is closed once the recipient leaves the page or when the 90-day validity expires.
How it works: the 2026 process
The share-code workflow has four steps from the holder's side and three steps from the recipient's side.
For the holder, step one is signing into the UKVI account at view-and-prove on gov.uk. Sign-in requires the passport number (or, for transitional holders, the BRP number), date of birth and a verification code sent to the registered email or phone.
Step two is choosing the share-code type. The service presents three options: prove your right to work to an employer; prove your right to rent to a landlord; prove your status to someone else (general status share, used for universities, banks, professional bodies and other non-employer non-landlord recipients). The holder selects the type that matches the recipient's check.
Step three is generating the code. The service produces a nine-character alphanumeric code and displays it on screen with the expiry date (90 days from generation). The code is unique to this share-code request and is not reused.
Step four is delivering the code to the recipient. The holder can email the code, message it, write it down or copy it to a form on the recipient's system. The recipient also needs the holder's date of birth, which is the second verification element.
For the recipient, step one is going to the appropriate verification service on GOV.UK (right-to-work for employers, right-to-rent for landlords, view-prove-immigration-status for general checks). Step two is entering the share code and the holder's date of birth. Step three is reviewing the displayed status information and, where the recipient is an employer or landlord, taking a screenshot or print copy of the result for their records under the Immigration Act 2014 statutory excuse framework.
The three share-code types in detail
The right-to-work share code is the most common code type in 2026. Employers in the UK are required under the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 framework to conduct a right-to-work check on every new employee, with limited exemptions. The check produces a statutory excuse against illegal-working liability where the leave conditions support the role. The right-to-work share code shows the employer the employee's right-to-work status (yes or no), the route on which leave is held, the start and expiry of the leave, and any work-related conditions (restricted occupation, hours limits for students, no public funds).
The right-to-rent share code is used by landlords and letting agents in England under the Immigration Act 2014 framework, which requires a right-to-rent check on every adult occupant before a tenancy is granted. The check produces a statutory excuse against the criminal offence of letting to a disqualified person. The right-to-rent share code shows the landlord the tenant's right-to-rent status, the leave route, the expiry and any rent-related conditions. Right-to-rent applies in England only; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland do not operate the same regime, but landlords there may still request a share code as part of standard tenant referencing.
The general status share code is used for everything else: university enrolment, bank account opening, professional body registration, mortgage applications, DBS checks, NHS administration. The general code shows the recipient the full leave details (route, start, expiry, conditions) without the right-to-work or right-to-rent framing. This code is the most widely accepted because it covers all non-employer non-landlord checks.
Holders should generate the right code for the right recipient: a right-to-work code presented to a landlord may not display all the information the landlord needs; a general code presented to an employer may not produce the statutory excuse the employer is seeking. The service is designed so that each code type matches the recipient's check framework.
What the recipient sees and what they cannot see
The share code does not give the recipient unfettered access to the holder's UKVI account. The recipient sees only the status information relevant to the check type, in a read-only display, for a single session. The recipient cannot see the holder's contact details, the holder's full application history, the holder's biometric data or any information unrelated to the check.
For a right-to-work share, the recipient sees: the employee's name, photograph (where available), nationality, route on which leave is held, start and expiry of the leave, work conditions and any restrictions. The recipient does not see the employee's address, salary on file or other personal details.
For a right-to-rent share, the recipient sees: the tenant's name, photograph (where available), nationality, route on which leave is held, start and expiry of the leave and any conditions affecting tenancy rights. The recipient does not see the tenant's previous addresses, employer or other personal details.
For a general status share, the recipient sees: the holder's name, photograph (where available), nationality, route on which leave is held, start and expiry of the leave and all leave conditions. The general share gives the recipient the most complete view of leave details among the three types.
The recipient is expected to retain evidence of the check in line with the relevant Code of Practice. Employers retain right-to-work check evidence for at least 2 years after employment ends. Landlords retain right-to-rent check evidence for at least 1 year after the tenancy ends. For general status shares, the recipient's record-keeping requirement depends on the recipient's own regulatory framework.
Costs, timings and what to budget
Share-code generation is free for the holder. The recipient's check is free where the recipient uses the GOV.UK service directly; some commercial right-to-work check services charge employers for the check, but the underlying GOV.UK verification is free.
Timings: the code is generated instantly on the GOV.UK service and is valid for 90 days from generation. The recipient's check is also instant; the displayed status appears within a few seconds of entering the code. There is no waiting period for either side.
Re-generation is unlimited. A holder can generate as many share codes as needed, for as many recipients as needed; the only constraints are that each code is single-recipient (not designed to be shared widely) and each code expires after 90 days. Where a recipient needs to re-verify status after the code has expired, the holder generates a fresh code.
Storage costs: the recipient retains the check evidence (screenshot, PDF, system record) in line with the relevant Code of Practice. The holder is not required to retain any record of share codes generated; the UKVI account does not maintain a history of generated codes that is visible to the holder.
Worked example: A graduate using right-to-work and general status share codes during a job and tenancy move
Consider Daniel, a 24-year-old Filipino national who completed a UK undergraduate degree at Imperial College and was granted a Graduate visa for 2 years, anchored to his Philippine passport. He has secured a new job at a London engineering firm and is moving from a student residence to a private rented flat in Battersea. Both moves trigger right-to-work and right-to-rent checks.
For the right-to-work check at the new employer, Daniel signs into his UKVI account at view-and-prove, selects "prove your right to work to an employer", and generates a nine-character share code that is valid for 90 days. He emails the code together with his date of birth to the employer's HR coordinator. The HR coordinator goes to the right-to-work check service on GOV.UK, enters the code and Daniel's date of birth, and the system displays his Graduate visa status, the expiry date (2 years from grant), the work conditions (no restrictions on occupation under the Graduate route) and his photograph. The HR coordinator takes a screenshot for the employer's records under the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 statutory excuse framework.
For the right-to-rent check at the new flat, Daniel signs into his UKVI account again, selects "prove your right to rent to a landlord" and generates a separate share code. He gives the code and date of birth to the letting agent, who runs the check on the right-to-rent service and confirms his right to rent under the Immigration Act 2014 regime. The agent records the check in the tenancy file.
For his bank account move to a new bank, the bank asks for a status share code at account opening. Daniel generates a general status share code, gives it to the bank, and the bank's onboarding team retrieves the leave details for their customer due diligence record. Three different codes for three different recipients, all generated within 10 minutes of each other, none reused, all free.
Getting regulated help: OISC, IAA and SRA advisers
Generating and using share codes is administrative, not legal. Regulated advice is rarely needed for a routine share-code generation. Where regulated advice does matter is in cases where the share code displays status that the holder did not expect (a missing dependant, an unexpected condition, a wrong expiry), where a right-to-work or right-to-rent check has been rejected for reasons the holder cannot identify, or where the underlying leave is in doubt.
A Level 1 adviser can confirm whether the status displayed matches the leave granted, and can help resolve a mismatch through the GOV.UK update-your-details service. A Level 2 adviser is appropriate where the mismatch sits alongside a wider casework issue (prior refusal history, paragraph 320/322 character concern, in-progress administrative review).
Verify any adviser's current authorisation on the OISC register at oisc.gov.uk/register or the SRA register at sra.org.uk/consumers/register.
Anyone giving UK immigration advice for a fee must be regulated. Before instructing an adviser, run these four checks:
- Confirm the adviser or firm appears on the Immigration Advice Authority register, formerly the OISC register, at iaa.gov.uk, or is an SRA-authorised solicitor at sra.org.uk.
- Check the registered level. Level 1 covers straightforward applications, Level 2 covers complex casework and refusals, Level 3 covers tribunal advocacy.
- Ask for the adviser registration number and verify it matches the name and firm shown on the public register.
- Get the fee quote and the scope of work in writing before any payment, and confirm what happens if the application is refused.
Are you a regulated adviser? Kaeltripton works with a limited number of partners per topic. Partner with Kaeltripton →
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
The share-code service produces a small number of recurring errors that can be prevented with care. The first is generating the wrong type of code. A right-to-work code sent to a landlord may not display the right-to-rent confirmation the landlord needs. The fix is to confirm the recipient's check type before generating, and pick the matching share-code type on the GOV.UK service.
The second is sharing the code without the date of birth. The recipient needs both the share code and the holder's date of birth to retrieve the status. The fix is to provide both pieces of information at the same time.
The third is providing a code that has expired. Codes are valid for 90 days from generation; codes given to a recipient months in advance of the check may have expired by the time the recipient runs the check. The fix is to generate the code shortly before the recipient needs to use it, not weeks or months in advance.
The fourth is providing the same code to multiple recipients. While the code itself can technically be used multiple times within the 90-day window, the design intent is one code per recipient. Sharing a code widely creates an audit trail issue and may not match the recipient's record-keeping requirements. The fix is to generate a fresh code for each recipient.
The fifth is generating a code with the wrong passport details. The code is tied to the holder's UKVI account; where the passport number on the account has not been updated after a passport renewal, the generated code may produce a verification mismatch when the recipient runs the check. The fix is to update passport details on the UKVI account before generating codes for any new recipient.
The sixth is treating the share-code check as a guarantee of permanent status. The code shows the status at the point the recipient runs the check; subsequent changes (leave variation, leave expiry, surrender of leave) are not retrospectively communicated to past recipients. The fix is for recipients (employers, landlords) to re-check status at the points required by the relevant Code of Practice, particularly when leave is about to expire.
How Kaeltripton verified this article
The share-code generation process, the three code types, the right-to-work and right-to-rent statutory frameworks and the recipient-side verification process described in this article are drawn from the GOV.UK view-and-prove service pages, the right-to-work check pages, the right-to-rent check pages, the Code of Practice for employers under the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 framework and the Code of Practice for landlords under the Immigration Act 2014. The eVisa transition context is drawn from the published Home Office BRP transition guidance. The OISC tier framework is drawn from the Immigration Advice Authority's Code of Standards.
No code design, validity period or check arrangement on this page has been estimated. If the GOV.UK service screens differ from what is described here, the live service shows the current process.
Every UK visa application is made through GOV.UK. Kaeltripton is an editorial publisher, not a government service. Use the official pages below to apply, pay and track:
- Apply for a UK visa: gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration
- Check current fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge: gov.uk/visa-fees
- View and prove your immigration status: gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status
Regulated immigration firms can reach UK visa applicants on this page. See the Kaeltripton Partner Programme →
| Editorial note: Kaeltripton.com is an independent editorial publisher and is not regulated by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC). This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute regulated immigration advice. UK immigration rules, fees and processing times change without notice. Always verify current requirements directly on GOV.UK or with an OISC-registered adviser or SRA-authorised solicitor before making decisions on your personal circumstances. |
Frequently asked questions
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What is a UK share code?
A share code is a nine-character one-time code generated from a UKVI account that lets a third party view the holder's UK immigration status online. Three types exist: right-to-work for employers, right-to-rent for landlords and a general status share for other recipients such as universities, banks and professional bodies. Each code is valid for 90 days from generation.
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How much does a UK share code cost?
Share-code generation is free for the holder, and the recipient's check is free through the GOV.UK service. Some commercial right-to-work check services charge employers for the check function, but the underlying GOV.UK verification has no cost. The holder pays nothing to generate any number of codes.
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How quickly can I get a share code?
Instantly. The GOV.UK view-and-prove service generates the share code at the time of request. On the checker's side the result is immediate too, with the status showing seconds after the code is entered. There is no waiting period.
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What if the share-code check shows the wrong information?
Report any mismatch through the GOV.UK update-your-details route and ask for it to be corrected. Common issues include a wrong expiry date, missing dependants, name mismatch or wrong conditions. Provide evidence of the correct position. Travel, employment or tenancy decisions that depend on the corrected status may need to wait for the correction to be processed.
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What happens if my share code expires before the recipient uses it?
The recipient cannot use an expired code; the check fails. Generate a fresh code from your UKVI account and provide the new code to the recipient. Codes are valid for 90 days from generation; generate close to when the recipient will use the code rather than weeks in advance.
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Can I use the same share code with multiple employers or landlords?
Technically the code can be retrieved multiple times within its 90-day validity, but the service is designed for one code per recipient. Sharing a code with multiple recipients can complicate audit trails and may not match the recipient's record-keeping requirements. Generate a fresh code for each new recipient.
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Sources
- GOV.UK - View and prove your UK immigration status
- GOV.UK - Prove your right to work to an employer
- GOV.UK - Prove your right to rent to a landlord
- GOV.UK - Right to Work checks: an employer's guide
- GOV.UK - Right to Rent immigration checks: a landlord's guide
- GOV.UK - UK eVisa: digital immigration status
- Legislation.gov.uk - Immigration Act 2014
- Immigration Advice Authority - Immigration Advice Authority (formerly OISC)
