Share Code Right to Work: How to Get & Check Guide

If you’re a non-UK national looking for work in the UK, the phrase “share code” might sound like yet another administrative hurdle. In practice, it’s a straightforward digital token that lets employers check your right to work online. According to the UK government’s official right-to-work guidance, employers simply enter the share code and the applicant’s date of birth to verify their immigration status – a process that takes minutes and is completely free for both sides.

Share code validity: 90 days ·
Biometric residence permits accepted? No ·
British citizens: Cannot get a share code

The pattern is clear: the UK is moving away from paper and towards a fully digital verification system.

What is a share code for right to work?

A share code is a temporary, unique identifier that a non-UK national generates online to prove their right to work. As the UK Home Office guidance explains, the code is used together with the applicant’s date of birth to pull up their immigration record. The employer never sees the underlying documents – just a confirmation of the person’s name, immigration status, and any working restrictions.

How does a share code work?

• The worker generates a share code via the GOV.UK ‘Prove your right to work’ service.
• The worker provides the code and their date of birth to the employer.
• The employer enters both pieces of information on the official ‘Check a job applicant’s right to work’ page.
• The system returns a confirmation showing the worker’s photo, name, and whether they can do the job in question – a check that must be done before employment starts.

The Home Office’s Right to Work Checklist PDF adds that the employer must compare the photograph on the screen with the person presenting for work – either in person or via video call.

Who can get a share code?

Only non-UK nationals with a valid immigration status that permits work can get a share code. The government is explicit: British and Irish citizens cannot use the online share code service. Their employers must either check original documents (like a passport) or use an authorised identity service provider. This is a key distinction – if you hold a British passport, you will not be able to generate a share code to prove your right to work.

How to get a share code online?

Generating a share code is free and takes about five minutes. The Citizens Advice guide recommends that workers create a UKVI account as a first step, as this is the gateway to generating share codes for eVisa holders.

Step-by-step: get your share code

1. Go to gov.uk/prove-right-to-work and select ‘Get a share code online’.
2. Sign in using your UKVI account details, or create one if you haven’t already.
3. Provide the required information – typically your passport, Biometric Residence Permit, or eVisa details.
4. The system instantly generates a 9-character alphanumeric code.
5. Share the code with your employer before they need to perform the right-to-work check.

What information do you need?

You will need your immigration document details to log in. The gov.uk service page notes that if you have a biometric residence permit, its number will be required. For eVisa holders, the UKVI account login is sufficient. No additional documentation is needed – the system pulls your immigration record automatically.

How to check a job applicant’s right to work using their share code?

Employers have a legal duty to verify that every new hire has the right to work in the UK. Using a share code is the most straightforward way for candidates who are not British or Irish citizens.

Step-by-step: employer check

1. Visit gov.uk/view-right-to-work – the official employer verification page.
2. Enter the 9-character share code provided by the applicant.
3. Enter the applicant’s date of birth.
4. The system displays the applicant’s photograph, name, immigration status, and any working restrictions.
5. Compare the photograph with the person presenting for work (in person or via video call).
6. Keep a record of the check result – including the date – for the duration of employment, plus two years afterwards.

As stated in the Home Office Right to Work Checklist, the employer must ensure the photograph match and confirm that the applicant is allowed to do the specific work in question. If the system returns any restrictions, those must be respected.

What does the result show?

The result page provides the applicant’s full name, a photograph, and a clear statement of their right to work – including whether they have a time limit or any restrictions on the type of work. The government service also gives the employer a statutory excuse against civil penalties for illegal working, provided the check is done before employment begins and the code is valid at that time.

What is an eVisa share code and how does it relate to right to work?

The UK is gradually moving from physical immigration documents like Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) to a fully digital system called eVisa. For right-to-work checks, this means that eVisa holders generate share codes – sometimes called eVisa share codes – to prove their status.

eVisa vs physical documents

According to Citizens Advice, workers with an eVisa can use their UKVI account to generate a share code. This replaces the need to carry a physical BRP or vignette. The Home Office has confirmed that BRPs are no longer acceptable as original documents for manual right-to-work checks, reinforcing the move to digital verification.

How to get an eVisa share code

• Log into your UKVI account (create one if you haven’t yet – it’s free).
• Navigate to the ‘Prove your right to work’ section.
• Generate a share code – the same 9-character format as for other non-UK nationals.
• Share the code with your employer along with your date of birth.

The process is identical to the standard share code generation; the only difference is that the backend relies on the digital eVisa record rather than a physical document number. As the UK phases out physical permits, this method will become the norm for all visa holders.

What this means: workers with older physical documents should plan their transition to a UKVI account now, before the phase-out leaves them unable to prove their status.

What is the difference between a share code and a right to work check?

These two terms are often used interchangeably, but they refer to distinct parts of the same process.

Share code as a token

A share code is simply the input – a temporary identifier that the worker provides. It is not proof of right to work by itself. The government warns that the code must be validated online to carry any legal weight. Think of it as a key: without using it in the lock (the employer check), it grants no access.

Right to work check as a process

The right-to-work check is the employer’s action of entering the share code and date of birth into the official system, viewing the result, and comparing the photograph. Only then does the check fulfil the legal requirement. The Home Office checklist emphasises that the check must be completed before the employee starts work, and that a record must be kept. The share code alone, sitting in an email, does not protect the employer from penalties.

Expert perspectives

“You can get a share code online if you have a valid immigration status.”

– UK Home Office, ‘Prove your right to work’ service

“Workers who have an eVisa or other online immigration status use a UKVI account to generate a share code.”

– Citizens Advice (UK charity providing legal guidance)

The two perspectives underline a consistent message: the shift to digital verification is well underway, and understanding the share code process is crucial for both workers and employers.

Related reading: 4 Day Work Week – Definition, Countries, Pros & Cons

For a detailed walkthrough from the employer’s side, see this employers guide to share codes which explains the verification process step by step.

Frequently asked questions