Settled Status Share Code – How to Get, Check and Use It

A share code is a temporary nine-character alphanumeric code that allows individuals to prove their UK immigration status online. Issued through GOV.UK services, these codes are commonly used by EU citizens with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, as well as holders of other immigration categories including eVisas. The system enables employers, landlords, government agencies, and other authorized parties to verify immigration rights without requiring the physical presence of documents such as Biometric Residence Permits.

The share code system became central to UK immigration verification following the transition to digital-only status records. Where individuals once carried physical documents to prove their right to work or rent, they can now generate a time-limited code and provide it alongside their date of birth to whoever needs to check their status. This shift reflects a broader move by the Home Office toward online immigration management.

For those holding settled or pre-settled status, understanding how to generate, use, and manage share codes is essential. Codes are valid for 90 days from the moment of creation, and the same code can be shared with multiple parties during that period. This guide explains the process in full, with practical details for different verification scenarios.

How to Get a Share Code for Settled Status

Key Insights

• The code is valid for 90 days from generation, not from first use
• Print or record the code immediately after generation, as there is no automatic reminder before expiry
• For settled status holders, a share code is the preferred form of external proof
• Pre-settled status holders claiming benefits may additionally need residence evidence such as payslips
• Decision letters from EUSS applications are not valid for external verification purposes
• British, Irish, and Commonwealth citizens with a digital certificate of entitlement can also generate share codes
• The same code can be provided to multiple employers or landlords within the validity period

Essential Facts

How to Check a Share Code in the UK

Generating Your Code

To create a share code, visit the GOV.UK service at view-immigration-status.service.gov.uk and select the option to start. The process requires entering details from the identity document originally used during the immigration application, whether that is a passport, national identity card, or biometric residence card and permit. A date of birth is also required along with access to the mobile number or email address linked to the account, as a security code is sent to confirm identity.

Those who already hold an eVisa or have a UKVI account, including accounts created through the EU Settlement Scheme, can log in via www.gov.uk/evisa instead. After entering passport, national identity card, biometric residence card, or UKVI number alongside the linked contact details, the share code can be generated directly from the account dashboard.

While Awaiting an EUSS Decision

Individuals who have submitted an EU Settlement Scheme application but have not yet received a decision can still generate a share code in certain circumstances. They should use their passport or national identity card alongside the application certificate received via email or through the online application portal. A share code is available to those who applied online, providing a practical solution while the formal decision is pending.

Check Immigration Status with Share Code

How Verifiers Use the Code

When an individual provides a share code and their date of birth, the receiving party enters these details into the GOV.UK checking service at www.gov.uk/check-immigration-status. The system then returns information about the person’s immigration status, including the rights they hold, such as permission to work or rent, any restrictions that apply, and some basic personal details.

This process applies across several contexts. Landlords use it to confirm that a tenant has the right to rent in the UK. Employers may use it as part of their right-to-work checking procedures. Government departments including the Department for Work and Pensions use it to verify benefit eligibility.

What Each Context Requires

Using Share Code for Right to Work Checks

The share code system serves as the primary method for proving right to work since the shift to digital immigration status. Rather than presenting physical documents such as a passport or Biometric Residence Permit, employees provide their share code along with their date of birth. The employer then enters these details into the appropriate GOV.UK service to verify the individual’s right to work in the United Kingdom.

Employers who are uncertain about the results of a share code check, or who are dealing with unusual circumstances, can use the Employer Checking Service as an additional resource. This service is designed to handle edge cases and provides a formal route to confirm an individual’s right to work when standard verification is insufficient.

Employer Responsibilities

• Accept share codes as a valid form of right-to-work evidence
• Enter the code and the employee’s date of birth into the official checking service
• Record the check and keep it for the duration of employment and two years afterwards
• Use the Employer Checking Service if the share code check returns an inconclusive result
• Avoid requesting unnecessary additional documentation beyond the share code and date of birth

Key Dates in the Share Code System

1. 30 June 2021 — Deadline for submitting a valid EU Settlement Scheme application to retain rights under the old Biometric Residence Card system for travel purposes
2. 2025 — Transition to eVisa-only status for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens, with Biometric Residence Permits no longer valid as primary proof
3. Ongoing — Share codes remain mandatory for external verification of digital immigration status across all sectors

What Is Established and What Remains Unclear

Understanding the Shift to Digital Immigration Status

The introduction of the share code reflects a fundamental shift in how the Home Office manages immigration records. Physical documents such as the Biometric Residence Permit, which once served as the primary evidence of immigration status, have been progressively phased out in favour of digital records. These records, known as eVisas, are held within the UKVI account system and are accessible to the individual at any time.

This move to digital-only status brings practical advantages. Individuals no longer need to carry physical documents to prove their rights. Status information is updated in real time, reducing the risk of carrying outdated documentation. The share code bridges the gap between digital records and the third parties who need to verify status, allowing the verification to take place entirely online without requiring the individual to present any documents.

“Prove your immigration status online using a share code.”

— GOV.UK

Key Takeaways

The share code is a nine-character code generated through GOV.UK that allows individuals to prove their UK immigration status. It is valid for 90 days and can be used repeatedly with employers, landlords, and government agencies during that period. For those with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or those holding eVisa records, generating a share code is typically the first step in any verification process.

The system requires individuals to keep their UKVI account details current and to generate a new code before it expires or if their circumstances change. While the process is straightforward for most users, support is available through the UKVI Resolution Centre and the EU Settlement Resolution Centre for those who encounter difficulties.

For more on related government policy developments, see When Will WASPI Get a Decision – Government Rejects Compensation Again.

Frequently Asked Questions