The right to work share code was introduced in July 2019, as part of a post-Brexit law. They are now an integral part of the UK immigration system used to verify an employee’s right to work.
In this article, we will answer the key question: what is a share code? We will explain how to get one in the UK and when it should be used.
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What is a Share Code UK?
A share code is an online nine-digit alpha-numerical code provided by the UK government. It is used by non-UK nationals to verify their right to work. Each code is unique and can be shown to employers to demonstrate an individual’s immigration status and employment details.
The share code also shows the kind of work the employee is legally allowed to carry out and the length of time they can work for. They were introduced as part of the UK immigration system to help employers during the hiring process post-Brexit.
Since this right-to-work law has been put into place, employers can no longer accept EU, EEA or Swiss passports or ID cards in order to prove applicants’ immigration status.
Going forward, UK employers will have to complete a right-to-work check for their employees from European countries. Therefore, it’s crucial that HR teams and managers are well-informed about this process and how to verify rights.
These codes are used for a different purpose than UK visas. A visa is a residence permit granting citizens the right to enter, stay short-term or live permanently in the country.
How is a Right to Work Share Code Used?
The government share code aims to speed up the validation of overseas employees’ employment rights. Specifically, it’s a way to confirm someone’s ‘right to work’ to UK employers.
Using the code and date of birth of the applicant, you will be able to check:
- The types of jobs that the candidate is able to carry out.
- For how long the applicant is legally able to work in the UK.
- Whether they have access to public services like the NHS.
- The applicant’s rights with any UK benefits.
- Whether they are legally able to open a bank account or apply for any credit in the UK.
Keep in mind that the home office share code will only be valid for 30 days to prevent any fraudulent activity. After this, candidates will be required to generate a new code.
Generating a Share Code
These seven steps explain exactly how to get a share code in the UK.
1. The candidate must gather one of the following;
- Biometric residence permit (BRP) number (in many cases this is a visa number)
- Biometric residence card number
- Passport
- National identity card.
2. The candidate must log into their gov.uk account via the Government website with the ID they used for their initial visa application.
3. A 6-digit code will then be sent to their phone or email address.
4. Once they’ve logged in, they will be able to view their immigration status and generate a share code.
5. They must then select why they require the code, i.e. is the share code for employer, landlord or another purpose.
6. Once this has been selected, they will have the ability to “create share code”, and a 9-digit alphanumeric code will appear on their screen.
7. Finally, the individual can give the share code to their employer, along with their date of birth. This proves their right to work and will allow the employer to complete the right-to-work checks. They can then begin the onboarding process.
How to Complete Employer Right to Work Checks
A thorough right to work check should be carried out before hiring as this is the only defence an employer will have if an employee is found to be working illegally and they are subject to a civil penalty.
As a starting point, an employer can input the applicants’ share code and D.O.B into the gov UK website in order to view the applicants’ immigration status. This employers right to work checklist outlines the steps you then need to take to complete a right-to-work check:
- Obtain original documents proving their identity, such as a passport.
- Carry out a UK immigration ID check by confirming that each document is genuine and that the candidate is the rightful owner.
- Copy the documents in a way that cannot be tampered with and record the date of the check.
- Know how long your defense will legally last (this depends on the type of document you use to prove their identity).
You can find a full employers right to work checklist on the Government website with more details.
As of April 2022, this can also be checked through Identity Document Validation Technology (IDVT). There will be a list of right-to-work check providers that are established by the government. This allows candidates to upload their personal documents digitally rather than having to show physical documents.
Right to Work Legislation in the UK
Ultimately, managers and HR professionals need to familiarise themselves with this right-to-work process. Not only for the time-saving benefits but also to comply with UK employment laws which state that employers are legally obliged to check and prove the right to work of their employees in the UK. Failure to do a right-to-work check may result in a hefty fine of up to £20,000.
What is Indefinite Leave to Remain?
Indefinite leave to remain (ILR), or a ‘settlement’, is the way in which individuals can settle in the UK with the right to live, work, study and apply for benefits. However, it doesn’t not give someone the ability to vote, hold public office or apply for a British passport. It can be used to apply for British citizenship.
You can apply for this type of settlement if:
- You or a family member are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen. This is under the EU Settlement Scheme.
- You already have a UK work visa. In this instance, you’ll most likely need to have lived in the UK for at least 5 years. This is reduced to 2-3 years if you possess a tier 1 visa or Innovator or Global Talent visa.
You can used an ILR to apply for a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). More on this below.
Individuals may have obtained an immigration status document if they received indefinite leave to remain before 2013 and either:
- Are a refugee.
- Don’t yet have a biometric residence permit.
Those with this type of immigration status document do not need a share code. Employers can use this document alongside one other document with a person’s name and NI number on it to check right to work. However, it must have a residence permit sticker on it to be valid.
What is a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)?
A biometric residence permit (BRP) is a document used to confirm a person’s identity, right to study and right to public services/benefits. It cannot be used to show right to work.
Those with a BRP either:
- Applied to stay in the UK for a period of over 6 months.
- Extended their visa for a period of over 6 months.
- Applied to settle in the UK.
- Transferred their visa to a new passport.
- Applied for certain travel documents from the Home Office.
A BRP card is slightly different to a BRC card (or ‘UK residence card’). A BRP card is titled ‘Residence Permit’ whereas BRCs are either called ‘Residence Card’, ‘Permanent Residence Card’ or ‘Derivative Residence Card’.
If you previously used the UK immigration ID check, you cannot get a BRP.
Head to the Government website to learn more about these.
Right to Work and EU Settlement Scheme
You may be able to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme and remain in the UK if you’re related to an eligible resident of Northern Ireland, or you’re from either:
- The EU
- Switzerland
- Norway
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein.
The deadline for the majority of applicants was 30/06/2021, but you may still be able to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme if you or a family member are from one of the countries listed above and were living in the UK before 31/12/2020 – as long as you have reasonable grounds for the delay.
This will give you settled or pre-settled status.
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FAQs about Share Codes
What is the right to work share code in the UK?
The right to work share code is an online nine-digit alpha-numerical code provided by the UK government to enable non-UK nationals to prove their right to work. It shows the kind of work the employee is legally allowed to carry out and the length of time they can work for. The share code is a way to prove ‘right to work’ to UK employers.
How is the right to work share code used?
The share code is used to speed up the validation of overseas employees’ employment rights, and it is a way to prove ‘right to work’ to UK employers. Using the unique share code and date of birth of the applicant, the employer can check the types of jobs that the candidate is able to carry out, for how long the applicant is legally able to work in the UK, and whether they have access to public services like the NHS.
How can one generate a share code in the UK?
To generate a share code in the UK, the candidate must gather one of the following: their biometric residence permit number, biometric residence card number, passport, or national identity card. They must then log into their gov.uk account with the ID they used for their initial visa application. A 6-digit code will be sent to their phone or email address, and once they’ve logged in, they will be able to view their immigration status and generate a share code. The candidate can give the share code to their employer, along with their date of birth, to prove their right to work.
What is the process for completing employer right to work checks?
A thorough right to work check should be carried out before hiring, and this is the only defence an employer will have if an employee is found to be working illegally and they are subject to a civil penalty. As a starting point, an employer can input the applicants’ share code and D.O.B into the gov UK website to view the applicants’ immigration status. The employer should also obtain original documents proving the applicant’s identity, check that the documents are genuine, copy the documents in a way that cannot be tampered with, record the date of the check, and know how long their defense will legally last.
What happens if an employer fails to do a right-to-work check?
UK employment laws state that employers are legally obliged to check and prove the right to work of their employees in the UK. Failure to do a right-to-work check may result in a hefty fine of up to £20,000.
