Visa Share Code: Deep Dive into the UK’s Digital Immigration-Status Verifier

In the digital age, governments around the world are moving away from physical stamps, papers, stickers and visas to more streamlined, online systems. In the United Kingdom, one of the key innovations is the Visa Share Code (also called a “share code” for proving immigration status) — a tool that lets individuals share evidence of their immigration status (rights to study, work, rent, travel, etc.) digitally, securely, with third parties such as employers, landlords, universities, or border officials.

This article digs deeper than most resources: we’ll explore the legal background, technical workings, user experience, limitations, and even future developments. We’ll compare with other systems, clarify what isn’t always obvious, and give you all the steps, plus tips and pitfalls.

What is a Visa Share Code?

A Share Code in the UK is a short alphanumeric code (usually 9 characters) that allows a third party to verify your immigration status online via the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) system.

This code, combined with your date of birth, grants controlled access to some of your immigration status information — what visa or immigration permission you hold, its expiry date, what rights (study, work, rent, public services) you have, and any conditions.

Key features:

• Digital verification: You don’t need to physically show your visa in many cases. The code gives the third party what they need.
• Limited duration: The codes expire after a set period (commonly 90 days, but it depends on purpose) and must be regenerated.
• Purpose-specific: When generating you must usually state what the code is for (e.g. right to work, right to rent, study, or “something else”) because different purposes might show different information. Using the wrong category might lead to rejection.

Why Does the UK Use Share Codes?

The system was introduced to modernize, simplify, and secure immigration status checks by:

Reducing fraud and misuse: It’s harder to present forged documents when checks happen against up-to-date Home Office data.

Improving efficiency: Employers, landlords, educational institutions etc., no longer have to examine paper documents, check physical visas, or rely solely on manual checks.

Digital convenience: For many immigrants, having a digital record tied to an online account is more reliable, harder to lose, and more accessible.

Post-Brexit regulatory changes: Some laws changed how immigration status is verified, especially for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens, so digital verification was part of the solution.

How It Works: The Technical / Process Side

Here’s a detailed breakdown of how Share Codes are generated, what user credentials are needed, what the third party sees, and how long the code remains valid.

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Who Is Eligible / What Documents You Need

To generate a share code, you generally need:

• A UKVI account (this might have been created when applying for a visa, or via the “UK Immigration: ID Check” app, or if applying under the EU Settlement Scheme, etc.).
• One of the identity documents that you used in your immigration application, e.g.:
  ‒ Passport
  ‒ National identity card (if applicable)
  ‒ Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)
  ‒ Biometric Residence Card (BRC) or Permit.
• Your date of birth.
• Access to the email address or mobile number you used in the initial visa or immigration status application (for identity verification).

Steps to Generate a Share Code

From multiple sources (universities, legal/immigration advisory services), these are the steps you will follow:

Visit the UK government’s “View and Prove Your Immigration Status / View and share your immigration status” service on the GOV.UK site.

Sign in using your UKVI account, with identity document and date of birth, and then verify via a code sent by email or SMS.

Locate the “Get a share code” option. Sometimes it’s under “Prove your status.

Choose the purpose for which you need it: work, rent, study, or something else. This is important: the third party will only see what is relevant for that purpose.

Generate the code. The system will show you a code and the expiration date. Copy or save it.

What the Third Party Sees and Does

When you give the share code (plus your date of birth) to a landlord, employer, university, or another institution:

• They go to a specific GOV.UK service (depending on what they need to verify — right to work, rent, study etc.).
• They input the share code, your date of birth, and view a read-only page of your immigration status showing permitted rights, expiry, any conditions.

Validity / Expiry

• Share codes are temporary. The commonly quoted validity period is 90 days. Some earlier guides or misunderstanding may say 30 days depending on the purpose, but current university and official sources generally state up to 90 days.
• After expiry, you can generate a new share code, as many times as needed.

Use Cases: When & Where a Share Code is Needed

Some of the main situations where a share code is required:

Purpose	Who requests it	Why it’s needed / How it helps
Right to Study / University Enrollment	Universities and colleges for international students	To verify you have valid student immigration permission without dealing with physical visa documentation. For example, at De Montfort University, you need to supply a share code to prove “Right to Study.
Right to Work	Employers (or placement providers)	To verify your permission to work, how long, under what conditions, what hours etc. Without having to inspect a physical BRP etc. Government has mandated these checks.
Right to Rent	Landlords (especially in England)	To ensure tenants have legal right to rent. Shared via code.
General Immigration Status / Access Public Services	Other bodies (border control, healthcare, benefits, etc.)	To check what rights the person has: e.g. whether they can reuse public services, cross borders, etc. Also used for proof at borders in some cases.

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Legal and Policy Context

To understand why this system operates as it does, it helps to know some policy/legal background.

• Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act and subsequent regulations require that employers (and in some cases landlords) check the immigration status of people they employ or rent to. Failing to do so can lead to fines or other penalties. The simple, reliable digital system helps institutions comply.
• Post-Brexit changes: Some legacy statuses for EU/EEA citizens are changing; share codes allow verification for EU Settlement Scheme status (settled / pre-settled) etc.
• Data protection & privacy: The Home Office controls what the “checker” sees when using the share code; only necessary information for the stated purpose is revealed. This balances verifying legal status with respecting personal data rights.
• Universities’ compliance obligations: UK institutions are required to maintain evidence of students’ immigration status, and share codes become part of that evidence record. For example, Ed’s “Digital Status Share Code” process.

Common Problems, Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them

Even though the system is relatively intuitive, people often run into issues. Here are things to watch out for:

Using the Wrong Purpose
If you generate a share code with the wrong purpose (e.g. “Right to Work” when the institution wants proof of study), it may not work, or it may not display the correct information. Always choose accurately.

Account Access Problems

• If you never created a UKVI online account (or used an identity-check app), you might not be able to access the View/Prove system.
• If your identity document has changed (passport renewed, name change, etc.), or email/phone is obsolete, verification may fail.

Delays in e-Visa / Digital Status Activation
After your visa is approved digitally (“eVisa” or “digital grant”), there can be a delay before your digital immigration status is live in the system. Institutions may ask you to wait or contact UKVI.

Expired Documents or Account Details
Even if your BRP or visa is valid, if your I.D. used in the account is expired or mismatched, or your details (email/phone) are not current, generating a code may be blocked.

Share Code Expiry
If you generate the code but don’t use it quickly, it may expire. Institutions often request it in advance; but you may need to regenerate nearer to the event.

Third Party Rejection due to Mistakes

• Mistyping date of birth
• Copying code incorrectly
• Not using the correct link or interface for the check (right-to-work vs. right-to-rent etc.)

Institutional Confusion / Staffing
Sometimes staff at universities, employers, landlords may not fully understand share codes; may ask for irrelevant or incompatible documents, or reject valid codes by mistake. If that happens, one can escalate or provide guidance.

Comparisons & Alternatives

It helps to contrast the UK’s system with what is done elsewhere, or with older methods in the UK itself:

• Physical BRP / Visa Documents: These remain legal evidence in many cases, but are more cumbersome to check or verify.
• Manual Checks: Pre-digital era involved inspecting stamps, visa vignettes, passport entries etc. More room for fraud, errors.
• Other Countries: Many countries use similar digital identity / immigration portals; but the degree of integration with employers or property/tenant law, and the ease of “sharing” status varies. The UK’s share code model is relatively advanced in combining multiple use-cases (study, work, rent) under one umbrella.

Step-by-Step: How to Get and Use Your Share Code (Detailed)

Here is a detailed “user journey” from scratch, with optimal tips.

Step	What to Do	Tips / What to Check
Before you start	Make sure you have your identity document (passport or other) used during visa application; your date of birth; access to your email or mobile used then.	If you don’t have these, you’ll need to update your UKVI account or request new credentials.
1. Log in to the UKVI / GOV.UK service	Go to “View and prove your immigration status” on GOV.UK. Sign in with your UKVI account.	Use a secure device; ensure internet connection; if you don’t remember how you created account (via ID check app etc.), check government instructions.
2. Identity verification	May be asked to verify via a code sent by email or SMS to the account linked.	If you no longer have the old email or phone, update them first via the UKVI account settings.
3. Find “Get share code”	Once logged in, look for “Prove your status / Get share code”.	Sometimes the labeling is a bit different; some institutions’ guidance refers to “something else” if the standard options (work, rent, study) don’t apply clearly.
4. Select the correct purpose	Choose the purpose (e.g. “To prove your Right to Study”, or “Right to Work”, or “Something else”).	If unsure, ask the institution what they need. For university, “study” or “something else” may be required.
5. Generate and copy/share the code	Once selected, generate the code. Note expiry date. Provide it plus date of birth to the receiving party.	Copy carefully; avoid errors. Save screenshot or email for your records.
6. Use the code when needed	The organisation (employer, university, landlord) will enter the share code plus your date of birth into the relevant GOV.UK verification service.	Ensure they know which website to use. Check with them ahead of time.
7. After use / Renew	If expired or if you need for another purpose, repeat. Also, update your UKVI account if any details have changed.	Keep proofs of your status access; if something doesn’t show correctly, contact UKVI or your institution.

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Specific Example: Student Visas & Universities

Universities make heavy use of this for international students. Let me walk you through a concrete example (drawn from places like De Montfort University, University of Edinburgh etc.):

• Upon being granted a Digital Student Visa / “digital grant” status, your immigration permission is recorded online. Universities (as sponsors) must verify a student’s status as part of registration/enrolment.
• The student needs to obtain a share code via the “View and Prove Immigration Status” service. During generation, they may select “something else” or “study” as the purpose.
• The student gives the share code and their date of birth to the university. Sometimes the university will also want proof of entry date, passport stamp or boarding pass if e-gate etc., depending on whether the visa vignette was issued.
• The university uses the share code to confirm the digital status and adds it to their student immigration compliance record.

Common Misconceptions

• “A share code = full visa document”: Not quite. The share code gives certain info, but not everything. It’s a view-only proof, not a replacement for all physical documentation in every context.
• Any share code works for any purpose: No — if you generate it for “work” it might not work when trying to use for “study” or “rent”. Purpose matters.
• It lasts “forever”: No — as noted, codes expire (commonly 90 days).
• You only need a code: Sometimes you also need additional evidence (passport, entry stamp, BRP, etc.), especially at borders or for certain registrations.

Policy Challenges & Future Considerations

• Equity of access: Not all applicants have easy access to reliable email, mobile service, or internet. People in vulnerable situations might struggle to generate or use codes.
• Technical glitches: System delays, issues logging into UKVI account, mistakes in matching identity documents can cause stress.
• Communication gaps: Some employers, landlords or university departments may be unaware how the share code process works, causing unnecessary rejections or delays.
• Data privacy: Ensuring only minimal necessary information is revealed, that access is secure, that codes cannot be misused.
• Renewal / Expiry policies: Determining optimal validity periods (too short causes inconvenience; too long can risk stale information).
• International access: For those outside the UK trying to access the system (e.g. before travel), or needing code while abroad, whether the system is robust enough globally.

FAQ

Here are frequently asked questions, with precise answers.

How long is a Share Code valid?
A typical validity is 90 days. After that, the code expires and a new one must be generated.

Is there a fee to get a Share Code?
No. Generating a share code is a free service provided via the UK government’s official site. There are no government fees specifically for generating a share code. (Though of course there may be costs associated with your visa application itself.)

Can employers or universities generate a Share Code on my behalf?
Generally no. The individual must log in with their personal UKVI account to generate the code. Third parties (employers, landlords, universities) cannot generate the code for you. They can request you to provide one.

What happens if my identity document has changed (new passport, name change etc.)?
You should update your UKVI account with the new details. If your account has mismatched information, verification may fail. If you try generating a share code with old/incorrect ID info, it may be rejected.

Can I use one Share Code for multiple purposes (e.g. work + rent)?
It depends. Because share codes are generated for a specific purpose, a code made for “work” might not satisfy a check for “rent” or “study”. So it’s safer to generate for the specific purpose you need. Some institutions accept codes made under “something else” but that can be risky.

What if I cannot access my UKVI account or don’t have one?

• If you never created one, you may need to set one up.
• If you used an identity-check app, sometimes that is how account was established.
• If access is blocked (due to wrong email/phone etc.), you may need to recover or update your account details via the UKVI system.
• If none of this works, contact UKVI support or the institution requesting the code to see what alternative evidence is acceptable.

Can I travel using only my share code?
Not entirely. A share code helps prove your immigration status, but for international travel you may also need your passport, visa vignette or stamp, or other proof of entry/permission depending on the specific border rules. The share code assists border / immigration officials in verifying your status, but doesn’t replace all identity and travel documentation. Institutions may require additional proof of date of entry, e-gate stamps, or boarding passes if vignette is absent.

What are the consequences of not providing a share code when required?

• For students: delayed enrolment / inability to register / access of courses.
• For employment: employer may not hire until right-to-work is proven, risking job loss or not being allowed to start.
• For renting: landlord might refuse tenancy.
• In legal or regulatory terms, the organization requesting proof may fail to comply with Home Office rules.

Original Perspectives / Insights

Beyond the standard “how-to,” here are some deeper observations and suggestions, perhaps not much discussed yet.

Behavioral Incentives & Timing
The share code model tends to push applicants to keep digital status accurate. Knowing that identity documents, phone numbers, or email addresses that are stale will cause future friction provides a behavioral incentive to keep those up-to-date. A small but meaningful effect in making the system more robust over time.

Potential Integration with Other Digital Identity Systems
As governments move toward digital identity wallets, blockchain-based identities, or interoperable identity verification, share codes could integrate more seamlessly. For example, verifying status as part of digital identity apps so third parties can scan a QR code rather than manually entering codes. The system already partially works this way via apps that read identities.

Resilience & Redundancy
The UK’s reliance on centralized digital infrastructure means downtime, delays or failures (UKVI system offline, delays in digital grants) have real consequences. Backup procedures (manual document reviewing) must remain robust. Also, ensuring diaspora or people abroad have equitable access (bandwidth, device compatibility) is important.

User Experience & Transparency
Some users find navigation confusing: different terms (“eVisa”, “digital grant”, “online status”, “legal permissions”, “share code”), some interfaces are less intuitive, or instructions differ per university/employer. There is opportunity for streamlining, clearer UI, and more consistent guidance.

Policy Evolution Post-2025
The UK continues to refine immigration law, particularly with regards to EU/EEA status, travel post-Brexit, asylum, and skilled worker visa categories. It’s likely the share code scheme will expand in scope (maybe to other types of permissions), or change validity periods, or tie in more with digital identity verification. Watching policy signals will be important for those affected.

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FAQs (Extended)

Below are more specific, less obvious questions people often ask.

Can share codes be revoked or invalidated by UKVI earlier than their expiry?
Yes. If your immigration status changes (e.g. you get an updated visa, change from one status to another, are deported, or otherwise your permission is altered or revoked), a previously issued share code may no longer reflect your current status accurately. Also, if UKVI updates identity information (e.g. upon discovery of error), old codes may no longer work. Always verify close to when you need it.

What if I lose my original visa vignette or physical documentation?
If physical documents are lost but your digital status is valid, a share code plus supporting identity documents may help in many interactions. However, some situations (e.g. travel, border control) may still require physical documents or proof of entry. Also, for replacement BRP or physical documentation, follow Home Office/UKVI guidance.

Is the share code recognized outside the UK?
It depends. The share code verifies UK immigration status. It may be accepted by UK border officials abroad (if required), or UK embassies. But foreign jurisdictions are under no obligation to accept share codes as proof of status, especially for visa applications, etc. Always check with the destination country.

What if I generate a share code but the third party (employer, etc.) claims it doesn’t work?
Possible causes:

• The third party is attempting to use the code via the wrong portal (e.g. wrong purpose).
• Mistyping date of birth.
• The code has expired.
• The code was generated under the wrong purpose.
• The UKVI account or digital immigration status is not yet fully activated.

Solution: double-check with them which portal or link they are using; regenerate with correct purpose; confirm your digital status is active; contact UKVI if there seems to be a glitch.

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Conclusion

The UK’s Visa Share Code is a powerful and modern tool for verifying immigration status digitally. It simplifies many administrative procedures: securing work, study, housing, accessing services — all without needing excessive physical documentation. But for all its advantages, it demands that users understand how to use it correctly, keep data up to date, select correct purposes, and ensure that the recipient knows how to verify codes.