If you’ve ever hired someone who doesn’t hold a British or Irish passport, you already know the share code check isn’t optional—it’s the law. The process sounds more complicated than it really is, and most HR teams complete a compliant check in under five minutes once they know the exact steps. Here’s how to verify a share code without breaking a sweat or risking a penalty.
Official Provider: GOV.UK ·
Purpose: Verify UK right to work ·
Required Inputs: Share code + date of birth ·
Access: view-immigration-status.service.gov.uk ·
Tier: Government Tier 1
Quick snapshot
- Code is 9-character alphanumeric (MGBe Legal)
- Valid for 90 days from generation (Citizens Advice)
- Online check shows work permissions and expiry date (GOV.UK)
- Exact validity periods may vary by case type
- Regional rules for Crown Dependencies not fully documented
- 26 June 2025: UKVI guidance updated (MGBe Legal)
- 2026: Potential expansion to contractors under discussion (Immigration Expert)
- Save PDF immediately with worker name and check date
- Retain records for minimum 2 years after employment ends
The UKVI Employer Checking Service consolidates four key verification parameters into a single online query.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Service Name | View right to work |
| Official URL | www.gov.uk/view-right-to-work |
| Inputs Required | 9-character share code + date of birth |
| Output Provided | Work eligibility, restrictions, and expiry |
| Record Retention | 2 years after employment ends |
| Non-Compliance Fine | Up to £60,000 per illegal worker |
Right to work share code
Definition
A Right to Work share code is a unique 9-character alphanumeric code generated by the UK Home Office that allows workers to digitally prove their employment authorisation in real-time (MGBe Legal (Immigration Law Firm)). This digital identifier replaced many paper-based document checks following the Biometric Residence Permit rollout.
Who needs it
Share codes apply to EEA and Swiss nationals with digital EU Settlement Scheme status, non-EEA nationals with Biometric Residence Permits or digital immigration status, and students on term-time work limits (MGBe Legal). UK and Irish citizens do not need a share code—employers simply check their original passports or birth certificates manually instead.
Validity period
Share codes are valid for 90 days and can only be used for right to work verification, not for renting property or claiming benefits (Citizens Advice). Workers must generate a fresh code when needed rather than relying on previously shared codes.
Screenshots, printouts, or emails of share codes do not count as valid checks—the employer must run the live verification themselves through the official GOV.UK portal.
Get share code
Online application steps
Workers generate a share code through view-immigration-status.service.gov.uk by logging into their GOV.UK account and following the prompted workflow (GOV.UK (Official Worker Portal)). They then share the code and their date of birth directly with the prospective employer.
Eligibility
The worker must hold digital immigration status via UKVI to generate a share code. Share code generation requires UKVI account verification via SMS, email, or security questions (MGBe Legal). Those with only physical documents must use manual verification instead.
Digital certificate option
Some workers can generate a digital certificate instead of sharing the code verbally. This certificate can be downloaded and presented to employers as an alternative verification method, though the underlying verification process remains the same.
Right to work check
Employer process
Employers must use the official GOV.UK Employer Checking Service at www.gov.uk/view-right-to-work to verify a share code with the applicant’s date of birth (GOV.UK (Official Verification Portal)). The check must be completed within one working day of receiving the share code from the worker.
Required details
The employer needs the worker’s 9-character share code and their date of birth. Employers must also match the name, photograph, and details during verification to confirm the identity of the person presenting the code (Veremark (Background Screening Platform)).
Results interpretation
The online check returns the worker’s immigration status, work permissions, any restrictions, and leave expiry date (GOV.UK). Employers should immediately save the verification results as a PDF, including the worker name, check date, and verifier’s name.
Non-compliant employers face civil penalties reaching up to £60,000 per illegal worker, making proper verification essential for every hire.
Check share code UK
Step-by-step for employers
The Employer Checking Service guides employers through a straightforward verification workflow:
- Navigate to www.gov.uk/view-right-to-work and select “Check someone’s immigration status”
- Enter the 9-character share code exactly as provided by the worker
- Input the applicant’s date of birth in the required format
- Review the immigration status, work permissions, and any restrictions displayed
- Match the returned name and details against the worker’s identity documents
- Download and save the verification PDF immediately
Service URL
The official service is accessible only via the GOV.UK portal at view-immigration-status.service.gov.uk (GOV.UK Guidance PDF (Updated 26 June 2025)). Bookmarks and third-party portals do not provide valid verification.
Troubleshooting
If the share code is invalid, expired, or rejected by the system, request a fresh code from the worker. For workers with outstanding applications, employers can obtain a Positive Verification Notice from the Employer Checking Service that confirms a valid application is under review (GOV.UK Employer’s Guide).
Check immigration status with share code
Full process
Once the share code and date of birth are entered, the system displays the worker’s complete immigration status including entitlements, work restrictions, and any conditions attached to their leave (GOV.UK). The result is instantaneous and provides everything needed to determine employment eligibility.
What it shows
Results reveal whether the worker has unlimited or time-limited right to work, any conditions on their employment, and when their leave expires. Student visa holders will display term-time work limits—typically 10 or 20 hours per week during term time (MGBe Legal).
Employer responsibilities
Checks must be completed before employment starts. Records must be retained for at least 2 years after employment ends (Veremark). If leave expires while the employee is still working, the employer has 28 days to re-verify via the Employer Checking Service or face potential penalties for continued employment.
Gig economy and zero-hours workers require right to work checks before engagement—just like permanent employees. Agency workers follow the same rules, with responsibility falling on whichever party engages them.
Step-by-step guide
- Request the share code from the worker — Ask the applicant to generate and share their 9-character code along with their date of birth before your screening deadline.
- Access the verification service — Go to www.gov.uk/view-right-to-work and select the employer option, logging in with your government gateway account if required.
- Enter the details — Input the share code and date of birth exactly as provided by the worker, checking for transcription errors before submitting.
- Review the result — Check the immigration status, work permissions, restrictions, and expiry date displayed on the confirmation screen.
- Match identity — Confirm the name, photo, and details match the worker’s identity documents they present in person.
- Save the PDF immediately — Download and save the verification result with worker name, check date, and verifier included.
- Retain records — Store the verification records for at least 2 years after employment ends, even if the worker leaves earlier.
Upsides
- Digital, real-time verification eliminates document forgery risks entirely
- GOV.UK official process ensures legal compliance when followed correctly
- PDF records provide clear, timestamped audit trail for inspections
- Check completes within one working day, keeping hiring on schedule
- Code validity spans 90 days, giving flexibility during extended hiring processes
- Positive Verification Notice available for pending applications
Downsides
- Only works for workers with active digital immigration status
- Screenshots and emails do not count—employer must run live check
- Manual document checks still required for UK and Irish citizens
- Limited to right to work only—cannot be used for renting or benefits verification
- EU citizens without settled status cannot use share code route
- Workers without smartphones may struggle to access UKVI account
What employers say
“This is the only way to do a valid digital right-to-work check. Anything else, like a screenshot or an email from the applicant, doesn’t count.”
— Rippling (HR Compliance Platform)
“A Right to Work share code is a unique 9-character alphanumeric code generated by the UK Home Office that allows workers to digitally prove their employment authorisation in real-time.”
— MGBe Legal (Immigration Law Firm)
Employers who skip the share code check expose their organisation to fines of up to £60,000 per illegal worker, criminal liability in serious cases, and reputational damage that far outlasts any penalty notice. Run the check correctly, save the PDF, and you have an airtight compliance defence.
Related reading: Part Time Jobs London · Tax on Dividends UK 2026 Rates
rippling.com, nationbetter.uk, gov.uk, employmenthero.com, citizensadvice.org.uk, chambers.com
Related coverage: employers full guide fördjupar bilden av Check Right to Work – UK Employers Full Guide.
Frequently asked questions
How often must employers check share codes?
Share codes must be checked before employment starts for all new hires. For workers with time-limited permissions, a follow-up check is required before the current permission expires. Employers should set calendar reminders well in advance of any expiry dates.
What if the share code is invalid?
If a share code is invalid or has expired, request a fresh one from the worker. If they cannot provide a valid code because their status is under review, ask the Employer Checking Service to issue a Positive Verification Notice instead.
Does share code replace BRP?
Share codes offer an alternative to Biometric Residence Permit for those with digital status. Workers with physical BRPs can still use manual document checks using List A or List B documents. The share code route simply automates what manual checks previously did manually.
Who cannot get a share code?
UK and Irish citizens, and those without digital immigration status, cannot generate share codes and require manual document verification instead. ARC holders also cannot use the share code route—the employer must contact the Home Office directly to verify their right to work.
Is training required for share code checks?
No formal training certification is required, but HR staff responsible for hiring should be familiar with the GOV.UK employer’s guide and understand how to interpret verification results, including work restrictions and expiry conditions.
What are restrictions shown in results?
Results may display work hour limits for students (typically 10 or 20 hours per week during term time), job type restrictions, sector-specific conditions, or mandatory follow-up requirements at specific dates.
How to handle expired share codes?
Request a fresh share code from the worker. If their leave has expired but they have submitted a renewal application, use the Employer Checking Service to obtain a Positive Verification Notice confirming their application is in progress.
Related stories
Eleanor Price is Editor-in-Chief at UKBullet.uk, overseeing editorial policy, corrections, standards and publication decisions.