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If you have settled status in the UK, then you will require a share code to provide proof of your immigration status to your employer, landlord, government department, university, airline, or any other institution.
As the UK immigration process has become digital in nature, individuals with settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) usually provide evidence of their status digitally using their eVisa and GOV.UK‘s View and Prove tool, instead of using the physical residence document.
In this revised guide, 2026, we provide all details you need to know regarding settled status with a share code, such as what is a settled status share code, how to obtain a share code, how long does it last, how to use it with your employers and landlords, and what to do in case your share code doesn’t work.
What Is a Share Code for Settled Status?
The Share Code is a special code created using the online government immigration status service in the UK. The code enables someone else to confirm your immigration status online.
If you have acquired settled status within the EU Settlement Scheme, then your status is registered online as an eVisa. The GOV.UK View and Prove Service can be used to create a share code for your status.
For example, you may need a share code when:
- Starting a new job
- Proving your right to work
- Renting a property in England
- Proving your UK immigration status
- Dealing with certain government or public services
- Providing evidence of your immigration status for another organization
- Supporting certain travel-related checks
Your share code does not mean that you have a new visa or immigration status. It is simply a secure way of allowing someone to check the digital immigration status that you already hold.
What Is Settled Status?
Settled status is a type of immigration status obtained by certain EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals and their family members through the EU Settlement Scheme of the United Kingdom.
This usually entitles the person to remain in the UK indefinitely, depending on the criteria of the EU Settlement Scheme.
According to the Home Office, over 7.9 million applications have been concluded under the EU Settlement Scheme, making settled and pre-settled status holders the largest digital visa group in the UK.
Settled status is distinct from pre-settled status. This is because settled status is associated with permanent residence, whereas pre-settled status is a temporary one.
Why You Need a Share Code in 2026?
Digital verification becomes mandatory within all UK sectors with the adoption of eVisa by the Home Office as the new digital immigration system. You are normally required to furnish a Share Code for:
Employment Right to Work Checks: Your digital standing needs to be verified by your employer before you start work.
Right to Rent Checks: In order to proceed with the tenancy agreement, landlords and letting agents in England will have to confirm your immigration status.
Financial Services: Opening British bank accounts, applying for loans or mortgages, and establishing credit lines.
Higher Education: Admissions departments at universities verifying home fee status and student finance entitlement.
Benefits and Public Services: To be able to claim benefits from DWP and to access certain treatments at NHS.
Is a Share Code the Same as Settled Status?
No.
This is a very important difference.
Settled status is your immigration status.
A share code is a temporary code that allows another individual or entity to verify your digital immigration status.
For Example:
Immigration status: Settled status
Proof of status: eVisa / digital immigration status
Means of sharing: View and Prove service
Verification process: Share code
Thus, an expired share code doesn’t automatically indicate that your settled status has expired.
How to Get a Share Code for Settled Status: Step-by-Step?
It only takes under five minutes online to create your share code. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Access Your UKVI Account
You have to log in to your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account and look at your digital immigration status.
You might need the identity document and contact information that is connected to your UKVI account. GOV.UK says that this can be your passport, national identity card, biometric residence card, old biometric residence permits or UKVI customer number, based on your situation. You will also need to have access, to the email address or phone number that you used for your account.
Step 2: View Your eVisa
After signing in you can check your immigration status.
Make sure your details are correct. This includes:
- Your name
- Date of birth
- Nationality
- Passport details
- Immigration status
- Photograph if you have one
It is important to keep your UKVI account details up, to date. This is especially true if the government has issued you a passport.
Step 3: Select the Option to Prove Your Status
Use the View and Prove service to share immigration status.
The View and Prove service will normally ask you why you want to share the information.
This is important because different checks give information.
For example: if proving right to work select the right to work option.
If proving right to rent, use the right to rent option.
For another immigration-status check select the alternative option.
Step 4: Generate Your Share Code
After picking the purpose the user can create the share code.
The share code can then be given to the person or the organization that will do the check. The person or the organization may also ask for the date of birth.
Step 5: Give the Code to the Relevant Organization
“I want to give you a tip”, you can use:
Here’s a helpful tip to keep in mind. Please give the share code to the organization that must check your status.
For example: if an employer has to verify your right to work give the right-, to-work share code and your date of birth.
Once you have shared the code the employer can then use the GOV.UK checking service to view the information needed for the check.
Step 5: Receive and Copy Your Code
Your 9-character code will appear on the screen alongside an option to download a PDF summary or email the code directly to the recipient.
Key Rules & Expiration Details
| Attribute | Details |
| Code Length | 9 Characters (Alpha-numeric, e.g., W12-345-678) |
| Validity Period | 90 Days from the date of creation |
| Usage Limit | Can be reused by multiple organizations for the same purpose within the 90-day window |
| Cost | 100% Free via GOV.UK |
If your share code expires before your employer or landlord verifies it, log back in and generate a fresh code instantly.
How Long Does a Settled Status Share Code Last?
A share code is generally valid, for 90 days.
According to GOV.UK you can use a share code times during its validity period. You can also generate a share code whenever you need one.
This means that if your share code has expired you usually do not need to apply for settled status
Instead simply generate a share code.
NOTE:
An expired share code does not automatically mean that your settled status has expired. The share code is temporary; your immigration status is recorded separately in your immigration record.
How Landlords Check Share Code?
If you are renting a property in England, the landlord or letting agent may need to check your right to rent.
If your status is stored digitally you can create the share code and give it along with your date of birth.
Then the landlord or letting agent can use the government’s checking service.
It is important to generate a share code that is made for the right to rent check rather than assuming that any share code will work for every purpose.
How Does an Employer Check Settled Status?
If you have settled status and you are starting a job your employer may need to verify your right to work in the UK. This step helps ensure that all employees are eligible to work
The process is digital. All steps are completed online. There is no need for hard copies.
You provide the employer with:
- Your right-, to-work share code
- Your date of birth
The employer then uses the GOV.UK online service to check your immigration status and right to work. The check is quick only a few minutes.
Your employer does not normally need to rely on a residence card to establish your right to work if your status can be checked digitally. If the digital check is successful, the employer can record the result. Keep it on file.
GOV.UK says that people from the European Union the European Economic Area and Switzerland who have status can use the digital View and Prove service to show their rights, in the UK.
What If My Settled Status Share Code Is Not Working?
There are some reasons why a share code might not work.
- Your Share Code Has Expired
Share codes are valid, for 90 days.
If your code has expired, please generate a one.
- You Generated the Wrong Type of Share Code
The right-to-work code is different from the right-to-rent code.
They cannot be used interchangeably. You need to use the right code for its intended purpose.
- Your Passport Details Are Out of Date
If you have just gotten a passport check that the document is updated in your UKVI account.
GOV.UK says it is important to keep your UKVI account information current especially when your identity document changes.
- You Cannot Access Your eVisa
If you are not able to reach your eVisa or create a share code, make sure that your UKVI account is correctly set up.
GOV.UK also offers help for people who are having trouble reaching their eVisa or creating a share code.
- Your Digital Status Contains an Error
If the eVisa has details, like the wrong date of birth or the wrong immigration status GOV.UK says you should report the mistake.
You need to fix the information before you use your digital status for a big immigration or travel check.
What Documents Do You Need to Get a Share Code?
Most people find that uploading a set of immigration documents is not required each time a share code is generated.
You need a UKVI account and the correct sign-in details to access the service.
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Depending on circumstances this can include:
- Your passport or other identity document details
- Date of birth
- Access to your registered email address or mobile number
- UKVI account details
The exact sign-in requirements can vary depending on your account and circumstances.
Do I Need a BRP to Prove Settled Status in 2026?
Generally, you should not rely on a BRP as your main proof of immigration status.
The UK has moved towards digital immigration status through eVisas. GOV.UK says that eVisas are records of identity and immigration status and that eVisas have replaced physical immigration documents in the digital immigration system. eVisas are generally considered a more convenient and straightforward option for travellers.
For people with pre-settled status, under the EU Settlement Scheme the digital record can be accessed through the UKVI account and used with the View and Prove service.
What If I Have an Old Residence Card?
If you have a residence card tied to your settled or pre‑settled status the government has switched from that old residence card to a digital eVisa.
GOV.UK says that the old residence card is being replaced by an eVisa and people, with EUSS status can use their eVisa to prove their rights.
Before you travel it is especially important to make sure your passport is linked to your UKVI account because your UKVI account holds your eVisa status.
Share Code Settled Status for People Applying for Jobs
If you have settled status and are applying for a job an employer might ask you to prove your right to work.
You can create a right-, to-work share code using the service.
The employer can then verify your status online.
This is very helpful because your immigration status is available digitally. It does not depend on a document. Having your status online makes it faster and easier to show proof.
Share Code Settled Status for Renting a Home
If you are renting a property in England, you might have to prove that you have the right to rent.
You can check your immigration status online using the right service.
You should create the share code for the reason and give it to your landlord or letting agent along with your date of birth.
Keep in mind that the right-to-rent process is not the same as the right-, to-work process.
Is There a Fee for a Settled Status Share Code?
You do not usually have to pay a fee just to get your eVisa or to create a share code.
GOV.UK says that creating a UKVI account and getting your eVisa is free.
Watch out for websites or people who ask you to pay to make a regular government share code.
For the process use GOV.UK.
Share Code vs. BRP: What’s the Difference?
The UK’s immigration system is increasingly digital, so people should make sure they can access their UKVI account and eVisa.
| Feature | Share Code | BRP |
| Format | Digital code | Physical card |
| Purpose | Allows online status checks | Physical immigration document |
| Validity | Generally 90 days | Card validity depended on the document |
| Access | Online | Physical document |
| Used for digital status checks | Yes | Increasingly replaced by eVisa |
| Can be regenerated | Yes | No |
| Main system in 2026 | Digital/eVisa | Being replaced by digital status |
FAQS:
The UK government’s digital immigration system provides this code. It lets someone, like a person or organization check your immigration status.
Sign in to your UKVI account go to your eVisa and View and Prove service pick the reason why you want to share your status and create the share code.
A share code is generally valid for 90 days
No. Share codes are specific to their purpose. You should create the code, for the service you want.
Yes. The United Kingdom immigration system is digital. Your eVisa can be used through the View and Prove service to show your status. The United Kingdom immigration system is digital. You can use your eVisa through the View and Prove service to show your immigration status.
Not always. Settled status is a type of UK immigration permission. It does not automatically mean you are visa-free, for Schengen countries. Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality your passport and the country you are going to.
Check that the code has not expired. Check that you generated it for the purpose also that your UKVI account and passport details are up, to date. If the problem continues use the GOV.UK support options.
Conclusion:
I think understanding share code and settled status is becoming more important because the UK immigration system now uses proof through eVisas.
If you have settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme you can generally use your UKVI account and the View and Prove service to show your immigration status. Share codes are temporary normally valid for 90 days. You must generate it for the correct purpose.
Importantly remember the difference between settled status and share code. Settled status is your immigration status; share code is simply a way to let another person or organization verify settled status online.
I always check the GOV.UK immigration services for the most accurate and up-, to-date information because UK immigration rules and digital services can change.
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