It is illegal to hire foreigners without work permission in the United Kingdom. Therefore, it is necessary for employers to verify their employees’ right to work, which can done through share code check. In this passage, we are going to discuss what is a share code, how to generate, share and verify it, ensuring compliance with latest immigration and employment regulations. Whether you are employee needing to get a share code or an employer checking a candidate’s eligibility, this guide will work for you.
A right to work share code is a 9-digit identifier code issued to non-UK nationals by the UK government. It proves that an individual is eligible to work in the UK. Employers can learn about the permitted type and length of legal work of their employees by checking share code. There are three types of codes listed as follows.
- UK share code with R
The code is generated to prove that a foreign national is eligible to rent a house in the UK.
- UK share code with W
The code is generated to prove that a foreign national is eligible to work in the UK.
- UK share code with S
The code is generated for reasons other than work and rent, such as studying, council housing, applying for a driving licence, and so on.
Getting a Right to Work code makes it more efficient and convenient for foreigners who are allowed to work under a UK visa when applying for a job. Recruiters used to ask potential employees to present multiple documents to prove their immigration status. Now things are becoming easier. They can conduct a digital identity verification by accessing the British government’s database and checking share code of right to work. However, not all employees are qualified for the share code system, and we will talk about it later.
Non-British and Irish citizens who wish to prove their eligibility to work digitally in the UK should get a right to work share code. However, to be eligible for the code, the person must satisfy one of the following requirements.
- EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals living in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme; or
- Non-EU nationals with a work visa or student visa with the right to work; or
- A family member from outside the EU of a UK resident with work permissions; or
- A holder of Biometric Residence Permits (BRP) or Biometric Residence Cards (BRC); or
- A holder of Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or Pre-Settled/Settled Status.
Eligible employees can get share code on the Home Office online portal by providing basic personal information. The whole process takes only a few minutes and is free of charge. Here is a step-by-step instruction on how to generate share code for work.
UK Government
- Visit the official website of the UK government and click on the “Start Now” button at the end.
- Choose your immigration status.
- Choose an identity document to create an account.
- Enter the document identifier code, such as passport number, national identity card number, BRC number, or BRP number.
- Enter your date of birth. Make sure it matches the birth date on your selected document.
- Choose the method of verification.
- Receive a security code by email or by SMS and enter it to log in. Please note that the code will expire in 10 minutes.
- Click on “Prove your status” and then “Get share code” after logging in.
- Choose reasons for requesting a share code.
- Click on “Create share code”. The authority will verify your information and send you a confirmation email in which you will find the share code and instructions on sharing it. The code is valid for 30 days and you should file another application after it expires.
EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens living in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme can prove the right to work through one of the following methods.
- Generate share code for work on the Official website of Home Office.
- Verify the identity of pre-settled or settled status on EU Exit ID Document Check app.
Present a certificate of EUSS application to the employer to check share code manually.
Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)
The Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) is credit-card size proof of immigration status in the UK. Applicants should choose “biometric residence card or permit” for immigration status and provide the biometric residence card or permit number on the top right corner of the front side of the card to get share code on GOV.UK. However, the UK government will no longer issue this document and all BRPs will expire after 31 December 2024, after which residents should access an eVisa to prove immigration status.
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After receiving the share code and authorization to check the Home Office record from the employee, the employer can verify the right to work share code through the steps below.
- Visit the UK Share Code Checker and click on the “Start Now” button at the bottom.
- Enter the share code provided by the employee.
- Enter the date of birth of the employee.
- View the employee’s name, right to work, permitted jobs to do, and the duration of employment. Verify whether the information is consistent with what the employee provides. Save a copy of the profile if possible.
Online share code check for employer is a convenient but not the only way to verify foreigners’ eligibility for work. Supposing that an individual is not eligible to generate a share code for work or the employer is not updated with the share code system, here are some alternatives to help the employer and the employee check immigration status.
Manual Right to Work Check
The manual check means to prove the immigration status through a set of government-issued documents. The required documents vary according to the nationality and residence permit of the employee.
| Individual’s Identity | Required Documents |
| British or Irish nationals | Original copy of a valid British or Irish passport; or A document with their name and National Insurance number issued by the government or the previous employer, plus a birth certificate, adoption certificate, or naturalization certificate. |
| Holders with indefinite leave to enter or remain | Original copy of a valid passport with an indefinite visa stamp or sticker; or A document with their name and National Insurance number issued by the government or the previous employer, plus an Immigration status document indicating indefinite leave to remain in the UK. |
| Citizens from commonwealth countries with the right to stay | Original copy of a valid passport with a residence sticker |
| Holders with Limited time to remain | Original copy of a valid passport with a visa sticker indicating the type of permitted work and duration of stay |
As of 6 April 2022, UK employers and landlords are allowed to have an identity check on their employees through certified digital identity service providers (IDSPs). The service applies to British and Irish citizens who are excluded from the online share code check. Supported by Identification Document Validation Technology (IDVT), IDSPs can check an individual’s right to work, rent, and criminal record.
Employer Checking Service
This service, provided by the Home Office, is available to employees or potential employees who cannot provide a share code of right to work or documents of immigration status. It might result from a pending case (i.e. appeal, review, or application) with the Home Office or arrival in the UK before 1989 without official immigration documents. To use the Employer Checking Service, the employee should provide his/her name, date of birth, nationality, job title, weekly working hours, address in the UK, and Home Office case ID (if any). The employee should provide the business name, business type, and business contact information.
FAQ
You should choose “To prove my immigration status for anything else” for “Why do you need a share code?”.
What to write on a right to work check?
It depends on how you check it. Online share code checker requires only the code and the employee’s date of birth while others require more detailed personal information and document details.
It is valid for 30 days. During this period, it can be used for limitless times and shared to multiple employers.
Yes, unless you have obtained the UK citizenship.
Conclusion
Adhering to immigration laws is important for both employers and foreign employees in the UK. Replacing troublesome documentation of immigration status with a right to work share code makes things easier. The code can be generated and verified online within minutes. even if you are not eligible to get share code, you can also prove rights to work through the alternative verification according to your identity status.
Erin Lo