UK right to work share code: Everything you need to know

With the UK increasingly attracting global talent, it’s no surprise that 54,900 skilled worker visa applications were submitted between April 2024 and January 2025. It’s great news for British businesses, looking to expand and diversify their teams and find the right people for open roles.

But with this increase in global talent working in the UK, verifying an employee’s right to work (RTW) with a right to work share code has become crucial for businesses hiring employees who are non-British citizens. Right to work share codes allow you to you quickly verify that a candidate can legally work in the UK to ensure your business remains compliant. As a HR professional or business leader, it’s essential you understand how the process works, how to get a share code and why it’s important.

Whether you’re a job seeker or an employer, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the UK right to work share code in this guide.

What is a right to work share code?

A right to work share code is a nine-digit alphanumeric code that confirms a non-UK national’s legal right to work in the UK. This code is issued by the Home Office, is totally unique and provides details of the individual’s immigration status and employment details, including:

• the type of work they are allowed to do
• verification of employment eligibility
• the permitted duration of employment.

In July 2021, the UK Government introduced share codes as part of their immigration system to support employers’ hiring processes post-Brexit. This required UK employers to complete a right-to-work check for employees from European countries.

A right to work share code:

• is valid for 90 days
• can be generated as many times as needed
• typically starts with W for ‘Work’, formatted like: W9X-6GY-2S2.

Rather than showing physical documents to prove an applicant’s immigration status, individuals must provide their right to work share code and date of birth. The employer then uses these details to confirm work eligibility in the UK.

Who needs a right to work share code?

Non-British or Irish citizens need a right to work share code to prove their legal right to work in the UK. Share codes are also required by individuals with digital immigration status. That includes:

• EU, EEA, or Swiss citizens with settled or pre-settled status.
• Visa holders (e.g., health and care worker visa, skilled worker visa, seasonal worker visa).
• Someone with a biometric residence permit (BRP).
• Someone with a biometric residence card (BRC).
• A person with refugee status or indefinite leave to remain in digital form.

If you’re a British citizen, you do not require a right to work share code. You can prove your work eligibility in the UK with one of the following:

• A British passport (current or expired)
• An Irish passport or passport card (current or expired)
• A UK birth or adoption certificate
• An Irish birth or adoption certificate
• A certificate of registration or naturalisation as a British citizen.

If you don’t have a passport or passport card, you must also provide an official letter or document from a previous employer or government agency.

How to generate a right to work share code

Employees can generate a share code for right to work via the Government website. To do this, they’ll need either:

• A UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account
• A passport or national identity card
• A BRP/BRC number.

Once they have these details, they can take the following steps:

1. Visit the website: Access the gov.uk ‘View and prove your immigration status’ page.
2. Provide their details: They’ll need to enter the details from their identity document, such as their passport or BRP number, along with their date of birth.
3. Get a code: A six-digit security code will be sent to their phone or email address.
4. Start the process: Once logged in, they will see their immigration status. They can then navigate to “Get a share code”.
5. Select the reason: From the options provided, choose “To prove my right to work – Including work placements”, then select “Continue”.
6. Review their code: A unique nine-digit right to work share code will be generated. The employee can take a screenshot, print the page, or email the code directly to you, the employer.
7. Finalise the process: Once the employee has decided how the code will be shared, they can select “Finish and leave service”.

How long is a right to work share code valid?

A right to work share code is valid for 90 days, and the employee will receive the expiry date when the code is generated. Once the share code expires, they will need to create a new one. They can use the code multiple times within 90 days, and create a new one as many times as needed.

Employers will require both the right to work share code and the employee’s correct date of birth to verify their status on the Government website. It’s worth keeping a copy of the documents or the right to work confirmation of the check for your own records.

How employers should check right to work share codes

As an employer, carrying out right to work checks is crucial to remain compliant. This is your main defence against illegal work, which can impose a civil penalty.

To err on the side of caution and avoid any legal risks, you must thoroughly check a candidate’s right to work share code. To do this:

1. Obtain the applicant’s share code and date of birth.
2. Navigate to the “Check a job applicant’s right to work” page and select “Start now”.
3. Input the applicant’s share code and date of birth.
4. View their immigration status and review the results to confirm their right to work.

Afterwards, you must verify the applicant’s identity by:

• Obtaining their original document(s) proving their identity, such as a passport.
• Comparing the photograph in the online results with the applicant, either in person or by video call.
• Confirming that each document is genuine and that the candidate is the rightful owner.
• Saving a copy of the “profile” page showing the individual’s right to work share code, and status.
• Copying the documents so that they cannot be tampered with.

What are the penalties for hiring unauthorised workers in the UK?

As an employer, you are legally responsible for confirming that job applicants have the right to work in the UK before they are hired. Failing to conduct a right-to-work check alone can incur a fine of up to £45,000 per unauthorised worker for a first offence.

Hiring unauthorised workers can also result in penalties such as:

• Civil fines of up to £60,000 for each unauthorised worker
• Criminal liability up to five years in prison
• Sponsor license revocation, suspension, or refusal of renewal.

Checking an applicant’s right to work share code is the first step to preventing hefty fines. That includes conducting repeat checks for existing employees with time-limited permission or an immigration status change.

Right to work share codes FAQs

What do employers use a right to work share code for?

Employers use a right to work share code to verify a candidate’s work eligibility in the UK, including the types of work permitted and the duration. This is a legal requirement for employers, helping to streamline the verification process and allowing them to digitally check immigration status through a government service.

How long is a right to work share code valid for in the UK?

A UK right to work share code is valid for 90 days from the date it is generated. The share code can be used multiple times within the 90-day period, but once it expires, you must create a new one. Share codes are only unique to their specific purpose, which means you cannot use a right to rent share code to prove your work eligibility.

How do I find my right to work share code?

You can find your right to work share code on the Government website. Sign in to your account and follow the prompts to generate a share code using your BRP/BRC number or passport. You’ll need your ID number and date of birth, and once generated, you can send your share code directly to your employer.