Run your Share Code Check the right way — every time
A UK share code proves right to work or right to rent — but only if it’s checked on the real GOV.UK service. Share Code Check tells you exactly which official page to use, what to have ready, and gets you there in under a minute. No account, no share code typed in, nothing stored.
Independent guide · not HM Government · zero data collected
Example format
- Starts with W for right to work
- Starts with R for right to rent
- Always checked on GOV.UK, never here
Quick answer
A share code is a 9-character code issued through a person’s UKVI account that lets them prove their UK immigration status online, instead of using physical documents. Read our full guide to what a share code is for a deeper explanation, or a Share Code Check is the process of using that code to confirm right to work or right to rent.
Codes starting with W are for right to work checks — see our UK right to work guide for employers. Codes starting with R are for right to rent checks — see our right to rent with a share code guide for landlords and letting agents. Every Share Code Check is generated and verified only on GOV.UK — never on a third-party site.
Share Code Check is an independent guide. We help you identify the correct official page and what to prepare, then send you there to complete the real check. We do not process, store, or verify share codes ourselves. Worried about a suspicious link or a site asking you to pay? Read how to avoid share code scams.
Start your Share Code Check
Two quick steps: tell us who you are, then optionally confirm your code’s format looks right — before you head to GOV.UK to complete the real check.
Step 1 · Choose who you are
Step 2 · Optional — check your code’s format before you go
Share Code Format Checker
This only checks whether a code looks correctly formatted, live as you type. It cannot verify anyone’s actual immigration status — that happens only on GOV.UK.
How Share Code Check works
Three steps between landing on this page and completing a real, official check.
Tell us who you are
Choose employer, landlord/agent, or individual above. No account, no personal details needed.
Get the right link and checklist
We show exactly what to have ready and link straight to the matching official GOV.UK page.
Complete the real check on GOV.UK
The actual verification happens securely on GOV.UK — always free, always official.
Built to keep you on the correct, official path
Always routes to GOV.UK
Every result points to the real, official government service — never a lookalike or intermediary form.
Zero data collected
No share codes, dates of birth, or personal data are ever collected, transmitted, or stored by this site.
Plain-English guidance
No legal jargon — clear checklists and explanations for employers, landlords, and applicants alike.
Scam & phishing awareness
We explain how to spot fake “share code” services so you never pay for something GOV.UK gives free.
Is Share Code Check official?
No — and we want that to be completely clear. GOV.UK advises against using search adverts, third-party links, or embedded widgets for share code services, because of phishing risk. Here’s exactly where Share Code Check stands. Read more on our About Us page.
Independent, not government
Share Code Check is not run by, or affiliated with, HM Government, the Home Office, or GOV.UK. We are an independent educational resource only.
We never charge for the check
Generating and checking a share code is always free on GOV.UK. We never ask you to pay us for anything related to the check itself. Read our full breakdown of share code scams to avoid.
Nothing you enter is stored
Our format checker runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to a server, logged, or retained — see our Privacy Policy for details.
Content last reviewed by Rehan Mir: August 2026 · Sources: GOV.UK official guidance
Get the details right
W vs. R share codes
The letter a share code starts with tells you what it’s for. Using the wrong type will not produce a valid result. See our full right to work guide and right to rent guide for step-by-step detail.
| Prefix | Used for | Used by |
|---|---|---|
| W | Right to work | Employers |
| R | Right to rent | Landlords / letting agents |
Who doesn’t need a share code
British and Irish citizens cannot generate a share code and do not need one. Their status is checked instead using:
- A valid passport, checked manually
- An identity service provider (IDSP), using IDVT
Guides that go deeper on each topic
Every card below is a full, dedicated guide — pick the one that matches what you’re trying to do.
What Is a Share Code?
A plain-English explainer covering how share codes work, who issues them, and how long they last.
Read the guideRight to Work Guide UK
Everything employers need to run a compliant right to work check using a W share code.
Read the guideRight to Rent UK Share Code
A step-by-step walkthrough for landlords and letting agents checking a tenant’s right to rent.
Read the guideAvoiding Share Code Scams
How to spot fake share code sites, paid lookalike ads, and phishing attempts before they cost you.
Read the guideShare Code Check questions, answered directly
What is Share Code Check?
Share Code Check is a free, independent website that explains what UK share codes are and routes you to the correct official GOV.UK service to generate or check one. It is not run by, or affiliated with, HM Government or the Home Office. Read more on our About Us page.
How does Share Code Check work?
You tell Share Code Check who you are — an employer, a landlord or letting agent, or someone proving their own status — and it shows you exactly what information to prepare and links you directly to the matching official GOV.UK page, where the real check takes place.
What can Share Code Check verify?
Our format checker only reviews whether a code looks correctly formatted (9 characters, valid W or R prefix). It does not, and cannot, verify a person’s actual immigration status — that verification only happens on GOV.UK.
Who can use Share Code Check?
Anyone dealing with a UK share code: employers running right to work checks, landlords and letting agents running right to rent checks, and individuals who need to generate a share code to prove their own status.
Is Share Code Check free?
Yes. Share Code Check is completely free to use. The official GOV.UK share code services are also free — never pay a third party to generate or check a share code. Learn more in our share code scam guide.
How accurate is Share Code Check?
Our guidance is written and reviewed against current GOV.UK published process information. Because immigration rules can change, always treat GOV.UK as the final, authoritative source for anything time-sensitive.
What information does Share Code Check require?
None. You don’t need to enter a share code, date of birth, or any personal information to use our routing tool or format checker.
Is my data stored during a Share Code Check?
No. Share Code Check does not collect, transmit, or store share codes, dates of birth, or any personal or immigration data. The format checker runs entirely in your browser. See our full Privacy Policy.
How should I interpret my Share Code Check result?
A result from our format checker only indicates whether a code’s structure looks correct — it is not a right to work or right to rent outcome. The only valid outcome comes from completing the check on GOV.UK.
Ready to check a share code the right way?
Pick your role, get the correct official link, and complete your check on GOV.UK in minutes.
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