UK eVisa Share Codes: How to Prove Your Status to Employers, Landlords and Airlines

Since physical immigration documents gave way to eVisas, the question we hear most at our MG Road office has changed. It is no longer “where is my BRP card?” but “my new employer is asking for a share code. What is that?”

This guide covers only share codes: what they are, how to get one, and how employers, landlords and airlines use them. If you have not yet set up your UKVI account, start with our UK eVisa setup guide.

What is an eVisa share code?

A share code is a short code you create from your UKVI account. It gives one person, such as an employer, a landlord or an airline, a view of your immigration status and the conditions attached to it. Those conditions include whether you can work, rent or claim benefits.

Three facts from GOV.UK matter most:

• It lasts 90 days. After that it stops working, and you create a new one.
• It is reusable. You can give the same code to more than one checker while it is valid.
• It is free. GOV.UK states that you do not need to pay to set up a UKVI account or access your eVisa.

You do not need to show anyone your eVisa screen itself. The share code is the proof.

What you need before you start

To sign in to the share code service you need one of these:

• your passport
• your national identity card
• your biometric residence card (valid or expired)
• your expired biometric residence permit (BRP)
• your UKVI customer number

You also need access to the mobile number or email address linked to your UKVI account, because a sign-in code is sent there. If you changed your Indian mobile number after applying, sort that out first, or you will be stuck at this step.

GOV.UK also asks you to update your UKVI account before creating a share code if you have changed your name or nationality, or if you no longer look like your account photo.

How to get a share code, step by step

1. Open the official service. Go to “View your eVisa and get a share code” on GOV.UK (view-immigration-status.service.gov.uk). Avoid look-alike sites that charge a fee.
2. Sign in. Enter the details of the document you use for your account, then the code sent to your phone or email.
3. Choose what you are proving. For example, your right to work or your right to rent.
4. Create the code. The service shows you the code and tells you which of your details the checker will see.
5. Send it with your date of birth. The checker needs both. Note the date you created the code so you know when its 90 days run out.

Who checks your share code, and what they see

The checker sees some of your personal details and your permission to be in the UK. They do not get access to your account.

Share codes when you fly

Your eVisa is checked when you leave and enter the UK, and when you check in with your airline to return. Most of the time the airline matches your eVisa to the passport linked to your account, and you never need a share code.

A share code helps when the airline or a border officer asks for extra proof. Two practical points for flights from Kochi, Bengaluru or Chennai:

• Create the code before you leave home. Because it lasts 90 days, a code made a few days before departure still works on your return flight within that window.
• If the airline cannot check your eVisa, GOV.UK says it should contact the UK Border Force carrier support hub. You can politely point check-in staff to this.

If you still have an old physical document, such as a settlement stamp in an old passport, GOV.UK suggests carrying it as extra proof.

Five mistakes that cause delays

1. Sending an expired code. Codes stop working after 90 days. Create a fresh one for each new check.
2. Sending a screenshot of your eVisa. Checkers use the share code service. A screenshot is not the check.
3. Forgetting the date of birth. Without it, the checker cannot open your record.
4. Old phone number on the account. You cannot sign in if the code goes to a number you no longer have.
5. Out-of-date details. A changed name or a photo you no longer resemble should be updated before you create a code.

If you can view your eVisa but the service will not create a share code, that is treated as an error, and GOV.UK has a separate “Report an error with your eVisa” service for it.

How Visa Xpert helps

Many of our clients are parents visiting family in the UK, or students and nurses starting a new job. If the UKVI account feels confusing, visit us at Ravipuram, MG Road, Kochi. We will sign in with you, create the right share code, and explain what to send your employer or landlord. Call or WhatsApp +91 89211 53604.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a UK eVisa share code last?

90 days from the day you create it. You can use it as many times as you need in that period, then create a new one.

Can I use one share code for both my job and my flat?

Yes, a share code is reusable while it is valid. You can also create a separate code for each purpose, which is often clearer for the checker.

Is there a fee for a share code?

No. The official GOV.UK service is free. Be careful of websites that charge to “generate” a code.

What does my employer need besides the share code?

Your date of birth. With both, they can check your right to work online.

Can I get a share code for my child or elderly parent?

Yes, if you manage their UKVI account on their behalf, for example as a parent. Children under 18 usually have their account managed this way.