What Is a Share Code? A Guide for Right to Work Checks in the UK

When hiring, the UK government needs to confirm that candidates can work legally before taking them on. The rule helps in combating illegal work and ensures that companies are complying with UK immigration laws. A share code is a simple way for individuals to prove that they are legally employed. This guide aims to first clarify the term “share code” by explaining it to job applicants and employers.

What Is a Share Code?

A share code is an unusual grouping of 9 letters and numbers. People who do not have citizenship in the UK receive this code from the UK Home Office. This code makes it possible to determine a person’s immigration status online. So they can use it as a basis for immigration checks and make the documentation process easier since the code can be verified by employers, landlords, and schools throughout the UK.

People no longer have to show themselves as visa or permit holders by using printed documents. Instead of this, a digital code is initially given to them. If jobs are related to the information technology industry and the companies are seeking software engineers, employers can check the code to know if the person is authorized to work, rather than waiting for the whole department’s approval. T

Who Can Get a Share Code?

Some people who are not residents in the UK with specific statuses of immigration statuses can acquire a share code. These are the ones:

• EU, EEA, or Swiss citizens who have either settled or pre-settled status
• Holders of biometric residence cards (BRC), biometric residence permits (BRP), or frontier worker permits
• Visa holders belonging to various UK immigration types (for example, students or skilled workers)

The share code serves as proof of immigration status on the internet. Citizens of the UK and indefinite leave to remain holders typically for physical documents. They do not need a share code.

Why Is the Share Code Important?

One of the advantages of the share code is that it gives them a simple, fast, and secure way for a person to prove the right to work. To get an entry-level position, job applicants do not have to send important papers. The employers only get information on the employee’s status from the Home Office.

This is one of the primary reasons why employers need to be careful when hiring people. In the worst case, the penalty for undocumented employment can reach large amounts or imprisonment. This is why it is so important to use government tools and share code. The consequences of not doing so could be severe, and in extreme cases, the whole company could be closed down.

How to Get a Share Code

If you need a share code, the process is simple and free. Here’s how to get one:

1. Go to the official Govt site.
2. Log in with your identity details (biometric residence permit number, passport number, or other ID linked to your immigration status)
3. Generate a share code to confirm your right to work
4. Pass the code and your birth date to your employer (you will still have 90 days to use the code)
5. This is the way to prove your right to work fast and securely.

How Employers Use a Share Code

Once the job applicant gives a share code, the employer can check their right to work by:

1. Visiting the official Government Right to Work page.
   
2. Entering the share code and the person’s date of birth
   
3. Viewing the applicant’s right to work status, including any conditions (like the type of job allowed or working hours)
   

It’s a quick and legal way to confirm someone is allowed to work in the UK.

What Information Does a Share Code Show?

When an employer uses the share code, they will see:

• The person’s name
  
• Their immigration status
  
• Whether they can work in the UK
  
• Any restrictions (like only being allowed to work a certain number of hours)

For employers hiring candidates through the right-to-work process, especially for part-time or hourly roles, it’s equally important to estimate wages accurately. Using simple tools like an hourly wage calculator can help determine fair pay based on hours worked, break times, and agreed rates, ensuring transparency from the start.

Tips for Employees

If you’re applying for a job in the UK, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Always generate a share code for the specific purpose you need (like work, rent, or study)
  
• Make sure the information is up to date. If your immigration status changes, so will your work rights
  
• Share your code only with trusted employers or authorities.
  
• Keep track of when your code will expire (usually 90 days)

Tips for Employers

For employers, it’s essential to:

• Always complete a right-to-work check before hiring anyone
  
• Use the official government website to check the code.
  
• Save a copy of the results page or take a screenshot as proof that you did the check.
  
• Don’t rely on physical documents unless they’re specifically allowed under Home Office guidance.

Final Thoughts

The UK government introduced the share code to simplify the immigration procedure. This digital invention is far better than carrying physical documents, and both employers and workers benefit from it. Share codes should be both used and understood by those signing a UK immigration contract, as well as others, both those in the UK and those who are hiring foreign workers.