Work & Careers · Finding Work
Right-to-work checks and share codes
Employers must check your right to work before you start — generate a share code from your eVisa and know your work conditions.
Before you start work in the UK, your employer must verify your right to work through an official Home Office check. As a foreign resident or visa holder, you will almost certainly need to generate and provide a share code from your eVisa account. Understanding how share codes work, how long they last, and what to do if the check fails can mean the difference between a smooth start and costly delays.
What is a share code and why do you need one?
A share code is a unique 9-character code generated from your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. It replaces the old system of handing over physical documents to employers. Instead of presenting your passport or Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) to prove your immigration status, you generate a code online and give it to your employer along with your date of birth. Your employer then enters this information into a Home Office service at gov.uk/view-right-to-work and receives an instant confirmation of your right to work status.
This digital approach is now the standard for most non-British and non-Irish visa holders whose status is held digitally. It means you never have to hand over original documents, reducing the risk of loss or fraud. The Home Office pulls the verification directly from its records in real time, so the check is immediate and secure.
How to generate your share code
Step 1: Access your UKVI account
You must have an active UKVI account linked to your eVisa. If you have not yet set one up, go to gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status and follow the registration prompts. You will need to verify your identity using a valid passport, an expired BRP (if it expired after 31 December 2024), or a Biometric Residence Card. Keep your UKVI account details current—your name, date of birth, nationality, and passport information must match what you provide to employers, or verification may fail.
Step 2: Choose the right type of code
Share codes are purpose-specific. For employment, you need a right to work code, which always starts with the letter 'W'. Do not generate a right to rent code (starting with 'R'), as your employer will not be able to use it to verify your work status. Once you sign in to your UKVI account, select the reason for your code (work, rent, or another purpose) and the system will generate the correct type.
Step 3: Note the expiry date
Share codes are valid for 90 days from the date you generate them. Aim to create a fresh code shortly before your interview or before you expect to start work. If you have applied for a job and know you will need the code in a few weeks, generate it only when you are close to needing it, so that it does not expire. Many candidates make the mistake of creating a code too early, only to have it expire before the employer uses it.
What happens during the employer check
Once you provide your share code and date of birth, your employer logs into the Home Office online service and enters both pieces of information. The service immediately returns a result showing your name, your immigration status, and any work conditions or restrictions (such as visa expiry dates or sector limits). Your employer keeps a record of this check as evidence of compliance with immigration law.
The check must happen before you start work. If your employer carries out the check after you have already begun employment, it does not provide them with legal protection, even if you do have the right to work. This is why employers should request your share code during the job offer or onboarding stage, not after you arrive on your first day.
Student visa work restrictions
If you hold a Student visa, your share code will show specific work restrictions that your employer will see during the check. The standard permission for degree-level students is 20 hours per week during term time. Below-degree courses (such as pre-sessional English or foundation programmes) permit 10 hours per week during term. Your employer will verify this limit and should not offer you more hours than your visa allows.
A 'week' is defined by the Home Office as a seven-day period from Monday to Sunday. You cannot work 30 hours one week and 10 hours the next to average 20 hours—each individual week must stay within the limit. If you exceed your permitted hours in term time, even slightly, you breach your visa conditions, which can lead to visa cancellation, removal from the UK, and damage to future visa applications.
During official university vacation periods (Christmas, Easter, and summer holidays), you can work full-time with no hour restriction. If you are writing a dissertation, thesis, or completing your course after formal teaching ends, you must still observe the 20-hour term-time limit until your institution confirms that your studies have ended.
Red flags: When an employer's request is problematic
Charging you for the check
Generating a share code through your UKVI account is free. Some employers or recruitment agencies may try to charge you a fee to 'process' your right-to-work check, or they may demand that you pay for an ID verification service. This is not necessary and should raise concerns. The Home Office online check costs the employer nothing, and the employer's legal obligation to verify your status is not your financial responsibility. If a prospective employer asks you to pay for a right-to-work check or share code processing, this is a significant warning sign that they may not be following proper procedures.
Other warning signs
- They ask you to provide original documents or copies by post or email instead of using the official share code method.
- They claim they will 'hold onto' your passport or immigration documents during employment.
- They ask for documents from you after you have already started work, rather than before.
- They tell you they do not need to check your right to work at all, especially if you are a visa holder.
- They ask you to use a private third-party service to upload documents, instead of directing you to the official gov.uk service.
If you encounter any of these situations, contact the Home Office directly or speak to an immigration adviser before proceeding.
What to do if your share code check fails
Common reasons for failure
- Your name spelling does not match exactly (including middle names, hyphens, or accents).
- Your date of birth was entered incorrectly.
- Your immigration status has not yet been updated in the Home Office system (this can happen if your visa was granted recently).
- You generated a right to rent code instead of a right to work code.
- Your UKVI account details are out of date.
Recovery steps
If the check fails, stay calm—this does not mean you cannot work. First, review the name and date of birth your employer entered; ask them to double-check spelling and dates. If the information was correct but the Home Office system shows a mismatch, log into your UKVI account immediately and verify that all your personal details are current. If you have recently changed your name, updated your passport, or received a new visa decision, your account may need updating before the system recognises your status.
If your status has genuinely not been updated in the system yet (which can happen within two working days of a visa decision), your employer can use the Home Office Employer Checking Service instead. This requires your Home Office case reference number, which appears on all correspondence from the Home Office about your application. The employer submits a request with your details, and if approved, they receive a Positive Verification Notice valid for six months.
Keep your UKVI contact details updated
Your UKVI account is your official immigration record and the source of every share code you generate. If the Home Office cannot contact you because your email address or phone number is out of date, you may miss important notices about visa changes, extensions, or requirements. This can lead to your visa status becoming unclear or share codes failing to verify.
Log into your UKVI account regularly and update your contact details if you change your phone number, email address, or UK address. This is especially important if you have recently moved house. The Home Office uses these details to send you notifications about your immigration status, including alerts if your visa is about to expire or if you need to take action.
Timeline and planning
Because share codes expire after 90 days, timing matters when you apply for jobs. If you are applying to several positions and do not yet know which offer you will accept, it is best to wait until you have a definite job offer and a start date before generating your code. Once you have agreed to begin work, generate the code and provide it to your new employer right away. Your employer should complete the check within days, and you can start work once they have verified your status.
If a job offer comes through and asks you to start within a few weeks, generate your share code as soon as you have accepted and returned your signed contract or offer letter. This gives your employer time to conduct the check without the code expiring.
What happens if you work without a completed check
If you start work before your employer has completed a right-to-work check, you are at serious legal risk. If the Home Office later discovers that your employer did not verify your status before you began work, the employer can face a civil penalty of up to £45,000 for a first offence, rising to £60,000 for repeat breaches. Although you are not directly liable for the employer's penalty, your employment may be terminated immediately, and your visa status may be reviewed. Never agree to begin work without a completed check.
Summary checklist
- Ensure your UKVI account is set up and all details are current (name, date of birth, nationality, passport details, contact information).
- Generate a right to work share code (starting with 'W') only when you are ready to apply for jobs or close to your start date.
- Remember: share codes expire after 90 days.
- Provide your code and date of birth to your employer.
- Ask your employer to confirm they have completed the check before your first day.
- If you are a student, know your permitted hours and ensure your employer understands the 20-hour term-time limit.
- Never pay an employer or agency a fee for a right-to-work check—it is the employer's legal responsibility.
- If the check fails, update your UKVI account details and try again, or ask your employer to use the Employer Checking Service.
- Keep proof of your completed check (a reference number or confirmation email) for your records.
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