Right to work share code: A simple guide

How is a share code used at work?

An individual creates a share code on the UK government’s website. They submit their documents to the UK government through gov.uk, and the government checks their information and generates an individual share code. Note, this code will be unique to the individual and cannot be used for multiple people.

Employers should request an individual’s share code and date of birth. From there they can visit the website to quickly check employment eligibility.

Share codes also provide useful information to the employer on what type of work the employee may do, and for how long.

Good news for HR! This process is much faster than the older admin-heavy process, cutting it down into a few simple steps.

How long does a share code last?

From the day it’s generated, a share code lasts for 30 days. It can be used multiple times in that period, for example to give to a landlord to rent a flat and to potential employers to apply to jobs.

Who can get a share code?

Non UK-nationals can get a share code to prove their right to work in the UK to an employer. So that’s anyone who’s not a British or Irish citizen.

People who may need to generate or check their share code include:

1. Those with a biometric residence card or permit, or
2. Those with a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)

If the person is unable to access this digital service, they can still go down the traditional route by showing their original immigration documents to their employers.

British and Irish citizens don’t need a share code to work in the UK. They simply need a (current or expired) British passport, or Irish passport or passport card, or an alternative document listed here.

Employer right to work share code check

How does a share code check work?

Employers can quickly check if their new international recruit has the right to work in the UK using the government’s free and convenient share code checker.

To start a share code check on an employee, an employer will need the employee’s date of birth as well as their share code. They will then input this code on the government’s website, which scans a database to find out the person’s immigration status. The employer will be able to see the duration the employee is allowed to work and what types of jobs they can do.

How to check right to work with a share code

To check a share code, an employer simply has to:

1. Obtain the employee’s date of birth and share code.
2. Go onto the uk.gov website here, and press ‘start now’.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions and input these figures into the fields provided.
4. Check the employee’s immigration status on-screen.
5. As soon as possible, obtain original documents proving the applicant’s identity (such as their passport) and prove they are genuine. Copy the documents and date them in a way that can’t be altered or tampered with in future, such as scanning them. Often businesses do this on the first day the person arrives in the workplace.

How to generate a share code for right to work

The gov.uk right to work share code

Getting a share code is straightforward. The individual must simply apply for one on the UK government’s website uk.gov.

What do you need to get a share code

To get a share code, the individual will need one of these three items:

• Their biometric residence permit number
• Their biometric residence card number
• Their passport or national identity card

The process of getting a share code

The step-by-step process of getting a share code is:

1. Go to the gov.uk website.
2. Scroll down to the end of the page and click the green button that says ‘Start now’
3. Log in or register to the Government Gateway.
4. Enter your passport number or biometric residence permit number.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to generate the share code.
6. Save the share code and use it within 30 days.
7. If the share code expires, you must create another by starting the process again.