A right-to-work share code is a nine-character code provided by the UK government to confirm someone’s legal right to work. Individuals must generate this code themselves; it is valid for 90 days. The process of proving eligibility varies based on immigration status, such as British or Irish citizens, Commonwealth citizens, asylum seekers, or those with indefinite leave to remain.
Employers are responsible for verifying the code using the Home Office’s online service and keeping necessary documentation. The UK has become a popular destination for skilled talent post-Brexit, thanks to its technological growth and tax benefits. This guide covers everything you need to know about share codes, including how to obtain and use them effectively.
What is a share code UK?
A right-to-work share code is a nine-character code, like A15 315 57H, issued by the UK government. It helps non-UK nationals prove they are allowed to work in the UK. Employers use this code to check what type of work the person can do and how long they are permitted to work in the country.
Who can get a share code?
If you have a biometric residence card, permit, or a UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) account, you can use the online service at https://www.gov.uk/prove-right-to-work/get-a-share-code-online to generate a share code.
You’ll have a UKVI account if you’ve ever:
- Applied to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS).
- Used the UK Immigration: ID Check app during a visa application to verify your identity.
- Created an account while applying for a visa and received a confirmation email from UKVI.
- Set up an account to access an eVisa (your online immigration record) and received an email about it.
How can you generate a share code in the UK?
In the UK, only individuals can create share codes, not companies. You can apply for a share code online, which will be valid for 90 days, and share it with your employer.
To generate a share code, you’ll need your biometric residence permit or card number, passport, and national identity card. Once you have these, follow these steps:
- Log in to your GOV.UK account using the ID from your visa application.
- Enter the 6-digit code sent to your phone or email.
- Once logged in, view your immigration status and create a share code.
- Share the code and your date of birth with your employer as proof of your right to work.
Important: Make sure to use a share code specifically created to prove your right to work. Codes for other purposes, like renting, are not valid for employment verification.
Getting a Share Code Online
If you’re not a British or Irish citizen, you can generate a share code online to prove your right to work. Employers and employees can use this code to check:
- The types of jobs you are permitted to do in the UK.
- How long you are legally allowed to work in the country.
This process helps ensure that your employment complies with UK regulations.
Proving Your Right to Work in the UK
If your immigration status, residency, or citizenship is questioned during job applications, benefit claims, or other service requests, you’ll need to prove your right to work. You can do this by providing one of the following:
- Biometric Residence Permit Number: A unique ID that shows you have permission to live and work in the UK.
- Biometric Residence Card Number: Similar to the permit, this card confirms your immigration status and right to work legally.
- Passport or National Identity Card: These official documents validate your identity and citizenship, confirming your eligibility to work.
By submitting these documents, you confirm your identity, immigration status, and legal right to work in the UK.
Proving Your Right to Work Based on Citizenship or Immigration Status
British or Irish Citizens: Use a valid or expired passport or passport card. If unavailable, provide a UK/Irish birth or adoption certificate and an official document with your National Insurance number.
Non-British or Non-Irish Citizens: Use a share code, passport with a Home Office stamp, immigration status document, or ARC with “work permitted.”
Waiting for EU Settlement Scheme Decision: Provide a share code or Certificate of Application verified by the Home Office.
Indefinite Leave to Remain/Commonwealth Citizens: Use a share code, passport with Home Office endorsement, or ARC.
Asylum Seekers: Work only if ARC says “work permitted” or “SOL” for specific jobs after 12 months.
Limited Leave to Remain: Prove with a share code or passport with a Home Office stamp.
No National Insurance Number: Apply online with your ID and follow instructions for verification. For help, contact the NINo helpline: 0800 141 2079 (UK), 0800 587 0024 (Northern Ireland).
If you think there’s an error in your immigration status that’s impacting your ability to work, access benefits, or use services, you can request a review from the Home Office.
Fill out the request form and include any supporting documents to explain the issue.
For more details, visit the GOV.UK page: Ask the Home Office to check your immigration status is correct.
Employer Responsibilities for Verifying Right to Work and Employee Responsibilities for Providing Proof
Employers are legally required to verify that job applicants have the right to work in the UK. This process is essential to comply with immigration laws and avoid severe penalties, such as fines of up to £60,000 per illegal worker or imprisonment for up to five years. The right-to-work share code is a key tool that simplifies the verification process, ensuring compliance while streamlining employee onboarding.
To verify an employee’s right to work using a share code, employers should access the Home Office’s right-to-work checking service. Once on the site, scroll to the bottom of the page and click ‘Start Now.’ Enter the nine-character share code provided by the employee along with their date of birth. The system will display the employee’s name, their eligibility to work in the UK, the types of jobs they are permitted to do, and the duration for which they can work.
Employers must carefully verify the details, including confirming that the photograph on the profile matches the individual. After completing the check, download and securely store the profile page, ensuring that both checkboxes are ticked. A clear copy of the employee’s passport should also be retained. These records must be stored for the entire period of employment and for two years after the employee leaves.
If an employee does not have a share code, there are alternative methods to confirm their right to work. Employers can use the employer checking service, hire an identity service provider, or perform a manual assessment of their documents. These options provide flexibility while ensuring compliance with legal requirements.
It is important to note that employers can no longer accept EU, EEA, or Swiss passports and ID cards as proof of immigration status. This change emphasizes the importance of using updated methods, such as the share code or other approved documents, to validate a candidate’s right to work.
Employers must approach the verification process diligently, as failing to confirm an applicant’s eligibility can lead to serious consequences. By following these steps and maintaining proper records, businesses can ensure compliance with UK employment laws while efficiently onboarding new employees.
Understanding Right toWork Laws in the UK
The right-to-work requirement is part of the Immigration Act of 2014, which requires employers to check if a potential employee is legally allowed to work in the UK. Employers can verify this by:
- Manually checking acceptable identity documents.
- Using the Home Office’s online service for verification.
- Conducting ID checks through certified Identity Service Providers using Identity Document Validation Technology (IDVT).
Employers who fail to complete these checks properly can face fines of up to £60,000 for each unauthorised worker. However, by following the correct process outlined in the Immigration (Restrictions on Employment) Order 2007, they can use a “statutory excuse” as a legal defence against penalties.
