Your UK eVisa: How to prove your status with share codes

What is a UK eVisa and how does it work?

The UK Home Office is transitioning to a digital-by-default immigration system. If you recently received your visa, you likely have access to a digital record rather than a physical sticker in your passport or a plastic card. This digital record is your eVisa, and it is linked directly to your passport or identity document within your UKVI account.

Instead of handing over a physical document, you now show your status using a secure, temporary string of characters known as a share code. According to the official Home Office guidance on viewing and proving your status, you can generate these codes online at any time to share with organisations that need to verify your rights in the UK.

The steps to generate a share code

To get a code, you need to access the official portal. This process is generally straightforward if your digital account is active.

1. Log in: Go to the 'View and prove your immigration status' page on the UK government website. You will need your identity document number (the passport or card linked to your account) and your date of birth.
2. Security check: The system will send a one-time access code to the phone number or email address registered to your UKVI account.
3. Select the reason: Choose why you are sharing your status. The system asks if you are sharing with an employer, a landlord, or for another reason. This step is critical because it determines what information the viewer can see.
4. Copy the code: The portal generates a 9-character code. You can copy this code and send it directly to your landlord, employer, or bank.

These codes are temporary and usually expire after 30 days. If your landlord or employer does not check the code before it expires, you will simply need to log back into the portal and generate a new one.

Proving your right to work to employers

When you start a job in the UK, your employer must perform a mandatory check. Handing over your passport is no longer sufficient if your visa status is digital. You will need to provide them with a specific right to work share code.

Under the official UK government right to work portal, when you select the 'work' option, your share code will begin with a specific letter (usually 'W'). This code gives your employer access to a limited profile showing your photograph, your full name, and whether you have any restrictions on your working hours. They do not see unrelated personal or travel history.

Proving your right to rent to landlords

In England, private landlords are legally required to check that their tenants have the right to live in the UK before a tenancy starts. When renting a flat, you will be asked for a right to rent share code.

When generating this code, choose the 'rent' option. This generates a code that typically begins with the letter 'R'. Giving a landlord a work code or a general code might mean they cannot view the necessary page, so matching the purpose to the code is important to avoid delays in your tenancy agreement.

Next steps for new arrivals

Once you have your digital status sorted and can prove your rights to a landlord, you can secure your housing. This step unlocks your proof of address, which is the key to opening local bank accounts. If you are preparing for these next administrative steps, it helps to understand how the sequence of UK paperwork fits together.

Movers commonly find that having their login details, passport, and contact info updated in their UKVI account saves days of frustration during their first week. If you are waiting on paperwork or looking to set up your first bank account, check our guide on opening a UK bank account without proof of address to keep your transition moving smoothly. For an overview of your first tasks, explore our checklist on what to do once your visa is approved.

Official sources to bookmark