What Is a UK Share Code? The Complete Guide for 2025

A UK share code is a unique 9-character alphanumeric code issued by the Home Office that allows you to prove your immigration status digitally. Instead of carrying physical documents like a passport or biometric residence permit everywhere, you can generate a share code and give it to employers, landlords, or other organisations who need to verify your right to work or right to rent in the UK.

The share code system was introduced as part of the UK’s move towards digital immigration status. It works alongside the eVisa system, which replaced physical documents like the biometric residence permit (BRP) sticker in passports.

When someone receives your share code along with your date of birth, they can check your immigration status online through the Home Office’s verification service. This confirms what you’re entitled to do in the UK without you needing to hand over sensitive original documents.

You’ll need a share code if you fall into any of these categories:

EU Settlement Scheme Holders

If you have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, your immigration status is entirely digital. You don’t have a physical document proving your rights — your share code is how you prove them.

eVisa Holders

The UK government is transitioning all immigration permissions to digital format (eVisas). If you hold an eVisa, you’ll use share codes to prove your status to third parties.

Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) Holders

While BRP holders can still use their physical card for some checks, generating a share code is often faster and more convenient, especially for right to rent checks where landlords prefer the online verification system.

Anyone with Digital Immigration Status

If your immigration status is recorded digitally by the Home Office — whether through a visa application, settlement scheme, or status update — you can generate share codes to prove your rights.

Generating a share code is straightforward, but you’ll need a few things ready before you start.

What You’ll Need

Identity document: Your passport, biometric residence permit (BRP), or biometric residence card (BRC)
Date of birth: Used as part of the verification process
Email address: The code will be sent to you via email as well as displayed on screen
Internet access: You’ll need to be online to generate the code through gov.uk

Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Visit the correct government page

Go to gov.uk/prove-right-to-work if you need a code for employment, or gov.uk/prove-right-to-rent if you need one for renting.

Step 2: Verify your identity

Enter your document details and date of birth. The system will verify your identity against Home Office records. For EU Settlement Scheme holders, you may need to use the same document you used when applying for status.

Step 3: Select the purpose

Choose whether you need the code for proving your right to work or your right to rent. This is important because it determines the validity period of your code.

Step 4: Receive your code

Your 9-character share code will be displayed on screen and sent to your email address. Make a note of it immediately — and consider storing it somewhere accessible like Apple Wallet using the Easy Share Code app so you always have it to hand.

One of the most common sources of confusion is how long share codes last. They don’t all have the same validity period:

Purpose	Validity Period
Right to work	30 days
Right to rent	90 days

Right to Work Codes (30 Days)

Share codes generated for employment checks are valid for 30 days from the date of generation. If your employer doesn’t complete the check within this window, you’ll need to generate a new code.

Right to Rent Codes (90 Days)

Share codes for rental checks last longer — 90 days. This gives you more time during the often lengthy process of finding and securing rental accommodation.

What Happens When a Code Expires?

An expired share code simply stops working. When someone tries to use it on the verification service, they’ll get an error message. There’s no penalty for letting a code expire — you just generate a new one.

The challenge is remembering when your code expires, especially if you’re juggling multiple applications. This is where tools like the Easy Share Code app become valuable, as they track expiry dates and send you reminders before your code becomes invalid.

For Right to Work Checks

When you start a new job, your employer is legally required to verify your right to work before your first day. Here’s how the process works:

Generate a right to work share code from gov.uk
Give your employer the 9-character code and your date of birth
Your employer checks online at the Home Office employer checking service
They see your status — including your photo, right to work confirmation, and any restrictions
They record the check — employers must keep a record of the verification

For Right to Rent Checks

Landlords in England must verify your right to rent before offering you a tenancy:

Generate a right to rent share code from gov.uk
Provide it to your landlord or letting agent along with your date of birth
They verify online through the Home Office landlord checking service
They confirm your status and can proceed with the tenancy agreement

Generate it fresh if you’re not sure when it expires
Have it ready before meetings with employers or landlords — don’t make them wait
Store it accessibly — buried in an email thread is not ideal when you’re standing in a letting agent’s office
Keep your date of birth handy — the checker needs both pieces of information

Common Problems and Solutions

The most common reason is expiry. Check when you generated it and whether it’s still within the validity window. If in doubt, generate a fresh one.

This usually means there’s an issue with your identity verification. Make sure you’re using the same document you used for your immigration application. If problems persist, contact the Home Office.

“My employer/landlord says the code shows the wrong status”

Your share code reflects your current immigration status. If your status has changed (for example, you’ve been granted settled status after having pre-settled status), generate a new code to reflect the update.

“I need my code but I’m offline”

This is a common frustration, especially at airports or in offices with poor mobile signal. The gov.uk service requires internet access to generate codes. The solution is to store your code in advance using an app that works offline — like Easy Share Code UK, which saves your code to Apple Wallet for instant access without internet.

The UK is moving towards a fully digital immigration system. Here’s how share codes compare to traditional documents:

Feature	Share Code	Physical Document
Can be lost or stolen	No (digital)	Yes
Works offline	Only if pre-saved	Yes
Can expire	Yes (30-90 days)	Varies
Accepted everywhere	Growing acceptance	Universal
Easy to share remotely	Yes	No
Shows current status	Always up to date	May be outdated

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. You can generate separate codes for different purposes (one for work, one for rent) and they’ll all be valid simultaneously until their individual expiry dates.

No. Your eVisa is your digital immigration permission. A share code is a temporary code you generate to let others verify that permission. Think of the eVisa as your status, and the share code as the key you give others to check it.

Share codes only allow viewing your immigration status — they can’t be used to change anything or access other personal information. They also expire automatically, limiting any potential misuse window.

Not directly. At UK borders, officers can check your status using your passport. However, having your share code readily available can speed up the process, especially if there are system delays. Read more about travelling with an eVisa.

Simply generate a new one. There’s no limit to how many codes you can generate. The old code will continue to work until it expires, and the new code will work independently.

Generate codes only when needed — don’t create them weeks in advance unless you have a specific use case
Store them securely — use a dedicated app rather than screenshots or notes
Track expiry dates — set reminders so you’re never caught with an expired code
Keep your documents updated — ensure your identity documents match your Home Office records
Have a backup plan — store your code in Apple Wallet so you can access it offline

Managing share codes doesn’t have to be stressful. With the right tools and a bit of preparation, you can always have your code ready when you need it. Download Easy Share Code UK to store your codes in Apple Wallet and get expiry reminders — it’s free and takes less than a minute to set up.